Expedited Passports

UPDATE: Effective June 1st, 2009, the requirements to travel to the Bahamas have changed. Please see this entry for the most up-to-date information.

Changing travel regulations have left many people scratching their heads, wondering whether or not you need a passport to go the Bahamas.

Actually, it depends. Right now, if you’re traveling to or from the Bahamas by sea, all you need is government-issued photo identification and proof of citizenship, such as your birth certificate.  However, if you’re flying, you have to have a US passport to re-enter the US from the Bahamas.

On June 1st, 2009, the rules are changing again. After that date, almost everybody who is traveling to the Bahamas will need a passport to re-enter the US, whether they are traveling by land or by sea.  There are only a few  exceptions: (more…)

UPDATE: New travel regulations for Mexico are in effect. See this article on passport requirements for Mexico for up-to-date information!

Right now,  whether or not you need a passport to go to Mexico  depends on two factors: how you’re getting there and when you’re planning to go. Passports are already required for travel to Mexico if you are traveling by plane.  However, currently land and sea travelers can cross the border with state-issued ID (like a driver’s license) and proof of American citizenship  (like a birth certificate).

On June 1st, the rules will change as the final phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative becomes effective. After June 1st, everyone will need a passport to go to Mexico, whether you’re flying, sailing or walking across the border. The only groups of people who will still be able to cross the border using birth certificates after this date will be children under 16 traveling with family and children under 18 if they are on an organized trip with a school, church or sport group.

These exceptions only apply for children traveling by land or sea. Everyone flying to or from Mexico will still need a passport, regardless of age. As a safety precaution, it’s best  that all travelers to Mexico have a passport in case they need to fly home unexpectedly.

If you’re planning a trip to Mexico, it’s important to apply for a passport at least 6 weeks and preferably several months in advance.  Since the rules are about to change, the wait time for a US passport may get longer as the deadline approaches.

If you need a passport to Mexico in a hurry, you should consider using a private passport expediting service to submit your passport application. With an expediting company, your application will be processed more quickly, bypassing the normal wait times. With RushMyPassport.com, you can have your passport processed in as little as 24 hours!

Click here to view our passport processing options, and order your passport to Mexico the easy way!

Before you go in to have passport photos taken, it’s a good idea to be aware of the US Passport Agency’s requirements for passport photos. If your photos don’t measure up, your passport application could be rejected. To make sure you get your passport in a timely manner, review the rules below before you strike a pose for the camera: (more…)

UPDATE: Passport requirements for many cruises have changed . Please see this article for updated information.

Are you considering taking off on a cruise to the Caribbean for some fun in the sun? How about sailing to Mexico or Canada? Starting June 1, new passport regulations go into effect, and you may need to pack your passport.

What are the new passport requirements for cruises? Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, starting June 1 passengers on cruises that go outside the US will need a passport to re-enter the country.  There are two exceptions: (more…)

Naturally, this is a critical question for anyone planning an international trip. If you don’t have your passport in hand when it’s time to board the plane, you won’t be allowed on.  If you have to cancel or even postpone an international trip, you’ll lose a good deal of money! (more…)

One of the most common questions people have when they’re obtaining a passport is “How much is this going to cost me?”

Passport prices vary, depending on the circumstances. Here’s a quick breakdown of current government fees: (more…)

When you use an expediting company to expedite your passport, there are some things you need to know before you submit your application.  For example, when you expedite your passport using an private expediting company, in most cases you have to mail all of your documents to the expediting company using an express mail service. However, the government requires you to apply for a passport in person in most cases. Only passport renewals that meet certain criteria can be submitted through the mail.  How can you expedite your passport by mail if you’re supposed to apply in person?

When you expedite a passport, if you are required to appear in person to submit your application, you’ll need to go in person to a passport acceptance facility to have an acceptance agent look over your documents, watch you sign your application, and seal the documents using a special government seal. Acceptance facilities are usually found in libraries and post offices. You can find a nearby acceptance facility here, at the US Passport Agency website.

Once your application package is sealed, nobody can open it again, except for the US Passport Agency. So, it’s extremely important that the application is filled out correctly and all appropriate documents are included in the package.  Then, you can mail your package to the expediting company for processing.

When you expedite your passport with RushMyPassport.com, you’ll be assigned an individual case manager and given specific instructions to make sure that the application process goes smoothly. Plus, you can have confidence that your passport will be there when you need it. Expedite your passport with RushMyPassport.com today!

If you have an international trip planned, it’s absolutely essential that you have your passport before it’s time to leave. Since an international trip is such a major investment, waiting for your passport to come back to you in the mail can test even the most serene Zen master. To help you keep your cool, there are systems in place that will allow you to track your passport application as it makes its way through the US Passport Agency.  The tracking method differs depending on how you applied for your passport. If you submitted your application directly to the US Department of State, here’s what you need to do:

• Go to the US Passport Agency’s website, and use this link to check the status of your passport online.
• Enter in your last name. Include suffixes like “Jr” or “II,” but don’t include punctuation unless your last name is hyphenated.
• Enter in your date of birth like this:  MM/DD/YYYY
• Enter in the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number.

You should be aware that your passport application won’t be in the government’s tracking system until at least 5-7 days after you submitted it.

If you use a private passport expediting company to submit your passport application, make sure to choose a company that allows you to track your order.  For example, at RushMyPassport.com, you can track your passport application using our online tracking system 24 hours a day using the tracking number we provide when you place your order.

How do you know when it’s time to renew your passport? This may sound like a trick question. After all, isn’t the expiration date written right there next to your picture? Not so fast…just because your passport hasn’t expired yet,  that doesn’t mean that you can actually use it to travel. Many countries require that your passport be valid for a certain amount of time after you enter the country-usually 3 or 6 months. If you try to leave for your trip with a passport that’s valid now but doesn’t have enough time left before the expiration date, you won’t be allowed to leave the country until you renew your passport.

How do you know how much time you need to have left on your passport? The US Department of State maintains a website of country-specific information. Visit the site, look up the country you are visiting, and find that country’s entry and exit requirements. This will tell you what travel documents are required and how long your passport needs to be valid after the date of your departure.

If you need to renew your passport, you have two options: going directly through the US government, or using a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com. If you need your new passport quickly, a private expediting company can provide a high level of personalized customer service to make sure your plane doesn’t leave without you! For more information on the passport renewal process, check out our step-by-step guide to passport renewal.

Some passport requests, including renewals and name changes, can be handled through the mail.  However, the government requires many passport applicants to apply in person. If any of the following conditions apply to you, you’ll need to submit your passport application in person at a passport office:

• This is your first time applying for a US passport, or your current US passport was issued before you turned 16.
• You are currently under 16 years of age.
• Your passport has been lost, stolen or damaged.
• Your most recent passport is more than 15 years old.
• Your name has changed and you don’t have legal documentation for the name change.

There are actually two types of US passport offices. The first is called an acceptance facility. Libraries, post offices county clerks can act as US passport offices by accepting your application, witnessing your signature, and sealing your application documents. There government also has 15 Passport Agency offices scattered throughout the country. These passport offices accept applications by appointment only, usually for emergency passports that are needed in less than 2 weeks. A list of Passport Agency offices and instructions for making an appointment is available at the Department of State’s website, along with a list of passport acceptance facilities.

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