Expedited Passports

On July 13th, the price to get a new passport will go up significantly, as will the cost for a passport renewal.  One county DMV office in New York is helping residents beat the price increases by making it easier to apply before they go into effect.

Erie County, New York, which sits right along the US/Canadian border and depends heavily on tourism, has set up a temporary passport acceptance office in the Amherst, New York DMV office.  Local residents are taking advantage of the help, and the passport team processed 10 applications in the first 5 minutes after the office opened.

In a report on local news website WBEN.com, Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul discussed the rationale for the temporary office:

“We’ re glad there’s a line, because …. our whole idea is to help people beat the 47 percent fee increase,” Hochul said. ” .. It helps people know that they can save a lot of money. It’s going from $100 to $135, a family of four wants to go to Marineland (Niagara Falls Ont,)  that’s a big hit. So I’m encouraging people to come in now. There may be some lines  but I’m telling you it will be worth it in the long run.”

The temporary passport office is open every day except Sunday, from 10 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon. It will close down after the increased fees go into effect on Tuesday, July 13th.

For more about the passport fee increases, see Passport Fees Going Up July 13th

This passport office can help you submit your application for normal processing, which can take about 6 weeks, or for the Department of State’s expedited service, which can take 3 weeks. If you need your passport sooner than that, you’ll need to make an appointment at a different type of passport office, called a Regional Passport Agency office.

Another option, which is much more convenient, is to use a private passport expediting service like RushMyPassport. An expediting company will deliver your application to the Department of State, for processing times as low as 24 hours with no need to wait in line or drive to a passport office.

Apply for your passport today!

It’s July 4th, and while most Americans are setting off fireworks,drinking beer and gorging themselves on hamburgers, hot dogs and potato chips, in France a very different scene is unfolding.  The Tour de France began today in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. This grueling race will not end until July 23rd  in Bordeaux, France. During this time, according to Wikipedia, the riders will climb “the equivalent of three Everests.”  Yikes!

Is it worth it to travel to France to watch the Tour De France in person? That depends-some people feel that they can get a better view of the entire race by watching it on TV. While that may be true, according to former Tour de France spectator Mike from ChainReaction.com, “there’s very little that compares to the thrill of being on a steep mountain climb and watching the shattered peloton come through.  You are so close to the action that you become almost a part of it (especially if you’re flinging a handbag around), and the drama unfolds in front of you over a significant period of time, not fleeting seconds.”

One interesting highlight of the Tour de France for spectators is the sponsor caravan, which stays a little bit ahead of the riders.  The caravan throws bunches of goodies and small souvenirs to the waiting crowds-kind of like Mardi Gras, except there are no beads and everyone keeps their shirts on.

According to FranceTravelGuide.com, the best place to see the Tour de France is in the mountains, so renting a car is recommended. Another important tip to remember is to stay out of the way of the bikes-there are no fences or barriers, and you don’t want to get run over!

Since the race doesn’t end until July 23rd, there’s still time for last-minute trip.  The official Tour de France website has more information about the route as well as additional suggestions for other area tourist attractions to visit while you’re there.

However, if you don’t have a passport yet, you’ll need to get one before you leave. If you apply for an expedited passport directly from the Department of State, you probably won’t get it in time: expedited service costs an additional $60 plus overnight delivery costs and it takes 2 to 3 weeks door-to-door.

However, there are other ways to get expedited passport services that will get your passport in time. Using a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport is the easiest and most convenient method. Instead of having to make an appointment at a passport agency office, taking time off work and traveling to the office, you simply send your expedited passport application to the expediting company and let them do the dirty work for you. RushMyPassport offers processing times as low as 24 hours, depending on which option you choose.

Need an expedited passport? Apply today!

Are you considering getting a passport?  You’ll save a significant amount of money of money if you get your application in before July 13. That’s the day that the US Department of State’s proposed passport fee increases will go into effect.  The new fee structure will increase fees for getting a passport and for passport renewals, as well as adding a hefty price tag to currently free services like adding passport pages.

Here’s a breakdown of the proposed changes:

New passports (for first-time applicants or people who are not eligible to renew by mail)

The current application fee of $75 will increase to $110. The acceptance fee of $25 will stay the same, for a total price of $135.

Passport Renewals

The current application fee of $75 will increase to $110. When you renew by mail, there is no acceptance fee, so $110 would be the total price.

Child Passports

Passport fees for minors are increasing from $60 to $80. The $25 acceptance fee remains the same, for a total cost of $105.

Passport Cards

For adults applying for a passport card, the fee will increase from $20 to $30. For children, the fee will go from $10 to $15. Add a $25 acceptance fee if you are submitting your application in person ( required for minors and for adults who don’t have a current passport and aren’t eligible to renew by mail).

Adding Pages

Adding pages is currently free, but come July 13th, it will cost $82 to have pages added to the back.

File Search Fee

A file search fee allows the Department of State to search for records of previous passports or Consular Reports of Birth Abroad for those who are unable to include proof of citizenship with their applications.  As of July 13, file search fees will go up from $60 to $150.

Expedited Service

The fee for expedited service will stay the same, at $60 plus the cost of overnight delivery. However, bear in mind that this expedited service will only cut processing time from 6 weeks to approximately 3 weeks. If you need your passport more quickly, you will need to make an appointment at a passport agency office or use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.

Although using an expediting company to submit your application does cost more money, for many people it is worth it because it is so much more convenient. There’s no need to make an appointment or wait in line, and no need to take off work and spend time and money traveling to a passport agency office. Plus, you get help from a professional passport specialist to help you avoid mistakes that could cause your application to be rejected.

Getting a passport? Let us help!

Are you over Napa Valley? If you’d like to go on a wine tour somewhere new and different, why not give the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia a try?

As the New York Times reported, this wine-producing valley has grown up in the past couple of decades. Once the home of the type of cheap wine that college students tend to consume in quantity, the Okanagan Valley now produces a variety of wines capable of pleasing more mature palates.

One great thing about the region is its variety-you can taste everything from high-quality fruit wines to syrah to chardonnay and Pinot blanc. Another bonus is the scenery. The New York Times explains:

It’s the kind of environment that affects your taste buds: the best glasses I tasted seemed to have the same brimming clarity as the lake itself. And it’s smart to enjoy the wine in situ: between the bureaucracy of wine imports and the jingoistic fervor with which British Columbian wine is consumed in swank restaurants in Vancouver and Whistler, little of the stuff makes it down south of the border.

You can either fly in to Canada and rent a car or drive your own car up. Some of the vineyards have guesthouses, should you not want to designate a driver. If you are flying in to Canada, you will need a US passport book for sure. IF you are driving in, you can use a passport book or one of the following Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative-compliant documents:

• A US passport card
• An enhanced driver’s license (EDL), only available in certain states
• A NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST card

Of course, you need a passport book to fly and there’s always a chance you might have to fly back home for an emergency, so a passport book is your best bet.

If you haven’t used your passport in some time, check it-it may be time to apply for your US passport renewal. Unlike new applications, US passport renewals can generally be processed by mail. The processing time is the same as it would be for a new passport- at least 6 weeks for regular processing and 3 weeks for the government’s expedited processing.

However, if you need your US passport renewal processed more quickly, you do have a couple of options. You can either make an appointment at a passport office for a same-day passport (assuming you have a passport office nearby, which may not be the case), or you can use a private passport expediting company to process your US passport renewal.

An expediting company is much faster and more convenient. There’s no need to make an appointment at a passport office and no need to drive out of your way.  Once you send your documents in, the expediting company delivers them to the Department of State. RushMyPassport can get your application processed in as little as 24 hours.

Apply for your US passport renewal today!

Here’s a great reason to get an expedited passport this summer: Le Domaine de Lonvillies resort in St. Martin is offering a half-price discount for summer travelers. Gadling has the scoop on this travel deal:

You can pick up four nights at Le Domaine de Lonvillies for a mere $210 – the normal price is cut in half. As long as you head down there before August 31, 2010, you’ll pick up breakfast every day, free wi-fi and dinner every night a La Table du Marche.

Since the chef at the resort is the world-famous Christophe Leroy, dinner is worth staying in for.  Of course, guests of Le Domaine de Lonvillies also get to sample the Caribbean island’s many amenities, including lazing around on gorgeous beaches, drinking delicious guavaberry cocktails, and world-class shopping for cheap (but genuine) designer goods.

Note: the special offer Gadling mentions doesn’t appear on the website for the hotel itself, but appears to be available here on Bookit.com. Please give the hotel a call before booking if you have any questions!

The special ends on August 31, so if you don’t have your passport already, you should consider expedited passport processing.  If you are traveling by plane, you do need a passport book- the new wallet-sized passport cards won’t cut it for air travel.

Regular passport processing usually takes around 6 weeks. You can order expedited passport processing for an additional $60 plus overnight delivery costs, but that still takes 3 weeks or more. If you can’t wait 2-3 weeks for your passport to arrive, you can either make an appointment at a Regional Passport Agency office or use a private expediting company.

Companies like RushMyPassport.com make getting expedited passport processing much easier. There’s no need to make an appointment or wait in line at a passport office- we do all of that for you. By hand-delivering your passport to the Department of State, we cut processing time to as little as 24 hours!

Apply for your expedited passport today!

According to Jaunted, many of the major airlines are adding new international routes to their lineups, possibly making it easier for you to see the countries you want to see. Here’s a quick rundown of the new routes.
If any of these appeal to you, you might want to start packing your bags and check to see if you need to renew your passport:

American Airlines: Chicago to Beijing

American Airlines now flies from Chicago to Beijing.  If you are a member of their frequent flier program and you don’t mind being a guinea pig, you can earn an extra 15,000 miles for being one of the first passengers to fly the new route.

Continental: Houston to Auckland

This particular route hasn’t been finalized yet, but starting in 2011 you may be able to fly from Houston to Auckland on Continental. This is one to watch.

Delta: Atlanta to Liberia

You’ve probably never thought of visiting Liberia, but maybe that will change when Delta’s new route opens in September. Planes leave from the Atlanta airport and stop in Ghana before continuing on to Monrovia.

Spirit: Fort Lauderdale to Columbia

Spirit is now flying from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Barranquilla. That’s exciting news if you’ve always wanted to visit Columbia, and even more exciting if you happen to snag a coveted $9 fare!

Of course, before you book your tickets, make sure to check your passport expiration date. Remember, you may need to renew your passport even if yours is still technically valid-if it expires in less than 6 months, many countries won’t let you in.

Passport renewals usually take at least 6 weeks. If you select the government’s expedited service, you can expect to wait at least 3 weeks, and you’ll pay $60 extra for the privilege. If you need to renew your passport more quickly than that, a private passport expediting service is the fastest and most easiest way to get it done.

Expediting companies like RushMyPassport.com can forward your application to the US Department of State, so you get super-fast processing without having to make an appointment at a passport office.

Let us help you renew your passport today!

For the past several years, traveling to Europe has been an expensive proposition. With the euro worth more than the dollar, US travelers would lose an irritatingly large portion of their trip budget at the exchange counter.

Now, the euro is falling, which means that traveling to Europe is becoming cheaper than it’s been for quite some time.  Is it time to apply for your passport renewal and book a flight?

Perhaps so.  Jaunted notes that for the euro, “a continued slide is more likely than not,” but the US dollar faces significant challenges as well. Jaunted concludes that “if you’ve got some money and time lying around, now is a very attractive moment to hop across the pond.”

Of course, to do that you will need a US passport. If you’ve let yours expire waiting for an affordable European travel deal to show up, now would be a good time to apply for that passport renewal.

Passport renewal usually takes about 6 weeks if you choose the standard processing option. If you choose the government’s expedited passport renewal option, there’s a good chance you’ll still be left hanging for at least 3 weeks.

Of course, sometimes the best travel deals are last-minute deals, like this special on flights to Europe from Aer Lingus. Fortunately, you can still take advantage of deals like this, even if you can’t afford to wait 3 weeks for your expedited passport renewal.

To get your passport even more quickly, you can make an appointment at a Regional Passport Agency office (assuming, of course, that one is located close to your home). However, this can be time-consuming and inconvenient, plus many people live to too far away from the nearest office to make this option feasible.

The fastest and most convenient way to get your passport renewal done quickly is to use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport. RushMyPassport.com’s experienced passport specialists will personally deliver your passport renewal application to the Department of State, for processing in as little as 24 hours.

Apply for your passport renewal now!

Are you an amateur filmmaker? Do you love to travel?  If you’d like to turn your passion for film and desire to see the world into an actual career, Gap Adventures and National Geographic have a contest that will probably interest you: They are offering one lucky young filmmaker the chance to film a travel documentary about sustainable tourism in the Amazon rainforest with industry veteran Trent O’Donnell. (h/t Gadling)

Do a good job, and National Geographic will even show your video on their Nat Geo Adventure Channel. Nice!

To enter, you need to wow the contest judges with a brief, 3-minute video based on the theme “Local Encounters.”  Further instructions, from the contest website:

“Your ‘local encounter’ may be from your travels or somewhere closer to home. You should explore how this encounter changed your perspective on the world…The documentary may be compiled from previous travel videos you’ve shot.”

Once you’ve compiled your masterpiece, upload it to YouTube and then add it to WorldNomads.com.  More detailed instructions can be found here.

To enter the contest, you do need to be over 18 and have a valid passport. If you don’t have one yet, or if yours is expired, you’ll need to work fast-the deadline is August 1st.

Generally, it takes at least 6 weeks for your passport to arrive if you renew it using the standard service. You should allow at least 3 weeks for the government’s expedited passport service.

If you need your passport in less time than that, you have two options: Making an appointment for expedited passport service at a Regional Passport Agency office, or using a private passport expediting company. Of the two options, the easiest way to apply for an expedited passport is to use a private company-there’s no need to make an appointment or drive out of your way to the passport office as the expediting service handles all of that for you. 

Apply for your expedited passport today!

The warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico are the summer vacation spot of choice for many American families, supporting a tourism industry worth $20 billion per year.

However, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is growing larger every day, making tourists understandably nervous about vacationing anywhere that might be in its path. Currently, no oil has washed ashore in Florida, home of some of the most popular beaches.  However, as of Monday of last week, the Miami Herald was reporting that the oil was about 80 miles away from a “loop current” that could coat Southern Florida’s white sand beaches in oily muck.

The bottom line? Nobody is sure if or when the spill will hit Florida’s beaches.  The Miami Herald quoted Igor Kamenkovich, a professor at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science:

`It’s highly unpredictable,” said Kamenkovich. Any major changes in wind or weather patterns such as a cold front or a hurricane could change the forecast, he said.

This unpredictability is what’s scaring off tourists. On the one hand, this could be a great year to go to Florida-if the spill stays far offshore, the beaches will stay gorgeous with the added bonus of being much less crowded than usual.

On the other hand, if the oil spill hits Florida during your vacation, it’s not going to be pretty. And while many hotels are relaxing their policies on cancellations and even offering credits for future visits if the spill ruins this year’s vacation, having to cancel at the last minute is a still a huge inconvenience.

If you decide against going to Florida this year, the Caribbean has beaches that are just as pretty and is expected to remain out of harm’s way.  Apply for an expedited passport renewal (or an expedited passport if you don’t have one already), and this year could be the year you finally take that Caribbean vacation you’ve always wanted.

There are a couple of different ways to obtain an expedited passport renewal.  First, you can order expedited service for an additional $60 when you mail in your passport renewal forms.  This will cut the expected processing time from 6 weeks down to three weeks.

If you need your expedited passport renewal more quickly, the simplest and most convenient option is to use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.

RushMyPassport.com offers processing times as low as 24 hours, with more affordable options that take just a few days longer.

Apply for your expedited passport renewal today!

It’s already May, and that means it’s time to start shopping around for summer travel deals. Here’s how to end up with an incredible, affordable summer vacation in 3 easy steps:

Step 1- Apply for your US passport renewal

Some of the best travel deals this summer will take you out of the country. Since you now need your passport even for most trips to our neighbors in Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean, it makes sense to go ahead and apply for your passport renewal now.

Step 2- Friend/Follow your favorite airlines and hotels

One great way to get the inside scoop on travel deals is to connect with your favorite airlines or hotels on Twitter and/or Facebook. For example, CBS’ “The Early Show” reported that the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort is offering discounts of up to 40% off to travelers who “like” the resort’s Facebook page.

Likewise, many airlines announce specials on Twitter. For example, JetBlue airlines uses the @JetBlueCheeps account to broadcast discounted fares to its followers.

Step 3- Monitor sites for deals

Many discount travel sites will send you updates by email to show you what their latest deals are. For example, Orbitz has a service called “Deal Detector” that lets you name your desired price for a specific itinerary. If the price for the trip drops down below a certain point, Orbitz will notify you by email.

Other travel websites will send you email newsletters with hand-picked travel bargains. If you don’t want these clogging your inbox, consider changing your email settings to have them routed to a special “travel” folder, which you can then review at your leisure.

While it makes sense to book ahead most of the time, last-minute deals do also come up. That’s why it’s so important to have a valid passport. US passport renewal can take 6 weeks if you apply with regular processing, and 3 weeks even if you apply for the government’s expedited processing.

If you need your passport renewal more quickly, there is hope-a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport can get your application processed in as little as 24 hours, without you having to spend a lot of time in a passport office.

Apply for your US passport renewal today!