Are Expedited Passport Services Worth the Money? - Expedited Passports

Traveling in a hurry? There are several ways to get an expedited passport.

According to State Department spokesman Peter Velasco, the Department of State has 26 passport agencies across the nation that can assist U.S. travelers who need their travel documents immediately. The Department of State charges an additional $60 fee for expedited passport service.

If you have to travel abroad for business or family emergencies and you need to leave in a day or two, applying for an expedited passport through the State Department will not solve your problem. But you do have other options.

US Passport Agency – Standard – 4-7 Weeks, Expedited 2-3 weeks
RushMyPassport.com – Standard – 8-12 Days, Expedited 24 hours

If you need your expedited U.S. passport for immediate travel, a passport expediting service is the ideal solution. If one of the tasks on your “to do” list involves getting or renewing your passport, you may discover that an expedited passport service is actually a godsend. Yes, you’ll pay a fee for the service. But you won’t have to do any of the legwork.

People take advantage of expedited passport services when renewing a U.S. passport or getting a first time passport, because the process takes a lot of time and energy. In addition to all the required paperwork, passport applicants can often wait in long lines for hours, eating up all your valuable time. Many feel it simply isn’t worth the hassle. Overseas travelers have plenty of loose ends to tie up before their trips – and very little spare time in which to do it.

How much is your time worth? Is it worth missing a day of work and the aggravation of standing in line at the post office or passport office to handle the passport paperwork yourself? More and more people are saying “no”. When time is at a premium, our expedited passport services can deliver a lot of peace of mind.

If you are about to go on your honeymoon and are traveling internationally, what are your choices if your name is going to change? Well, here are a few options:

For those flying, your tickets need to match your passport. If this is your first time traveling internationally, you should be able to travel under your maiden name as long as your documents match. Simply visit a U.S. Post Office before your wedding and fill out an application. This will prevent you from paying additional fees. Remember, passport applications that are not expedited normally take at least 6 to 8 weeks to process, so make sure you leave enough time.

Americans traveling internationally that already had their name legally changed will definitely need a new passport. If you are limited in time, one expedited passport option is by using a U.S. passport service like RushMyPassport.com. This expedited passport service provides turnkey U.S. passports in as little as 24 hours at a very affordable price. Additionally they provide users with customer support to help in assisting with all aspects of the process.

What is a Regional Passport Agency?

Regional Passport Offices are run by the Department of State and have passport printing facilities on site. Most are only open to US citizens who plan to leave the country in the next two weeks, or who plan to leave within four weeks and need both a new passport and a visa for their destination.

Unfortunately, many travelers find these offices to be inaccessible or just plain inconvenient.  In the entire country, there are only 24 of them, and their office hours tend to be limited.  Some are only open for four hours each day!

They also operate by appointment only. Even with an appointment, you’ll have to take a number and there may be a line.  This US Regional Passport Office Directory  will help you locate the one that’s closest to you, but if you don’t see one nearby, dread the thought of traveling and waiting in line, or can’t get an appointment that works with your schedule, don’t despair. You have other options!

East Coast Regional Passport Offices

These Passport Agencies are located along the East Coast:

• Boston Passport Agency
• Buffalo Passport Agency
• New York Passport Agency: New York, NY
• Connecticut Passport Agency: Norwalk, CT
• National Passport Center: Portsmouth, NH
• Philadelphia Passport Agency
  
• Vermont Passport Agency: St. Albans, VT
• Washington Passport Agency: Washington, DC

Regional Passport Offices in the South

• Arkansas Passport Center: Hot Springs, AK
• Atlanta Passport Agency
  
• Dallas Passport Agency
  
• Houston Passport Agency
  
• Miami Passport Agency
  
• New Orleans Passport Agency
  

Regional Passport Offices in the Midwest

• Chicago Passport Agency
  
• Detroit Passport Agency
  
• Minneapolis Passport Agency
  

Regional Passport Offices in the Western US

• Colorado Passport Agency: Aurora, CO
• El Paso Passport Agency
• Western Passport Center: Tuscon, AZ
• Los Angeles Passport Agency
• San Diego Passport Agency
  
• San Francisco Passport Agency
  
• Seattle Passport Agency
  
• Honolulu Passport Agency
  

Can’t Make It to a Regional Passport Office?

If you have a passport emergency and you can’t make it to the nearest Regional Passport Office, or if you simply hate the inconvenience involved, we can help. We hand-deliver your application paperwork to the Department of State for processing in as little as 24 hours. Even better, there’s no need to make an appointment or wait in line at a passport agency, and you get expert advice and assistance every step of the way.

See how quick and easy it can be to get a passport. Apply today! 

A lost passport is always a hassle, especially if you are planning to leave the country any time in the near future.  Don’t panic…follow this 4-step action plan and you’ll be good to go:

Step 1: Look One More Time

How many times have you called the bank to report a missing credit card, only to find it the very next day? Much like a credit card, you can’t re-activate a passport once you report it lost or stolen. So before you make that phone call, look for it once more, slowly and methodically.  See Finding a Lost Passport for some helpful advice.

Step 2: Report It Missing

If you still can’t find your passport, go ahead and call the National Passport Center at 1-877-487-2778  weekdays between 8:00 am and 10:00 pm to report it missing. This will invalidate the passport so that it can no longer be used to travel in or out of the country.

Step 3: Get Thee to a Post Office

Even if you don’t have immediate travel plans, you should replace your lost passport as soon as possible. To do so, you’ll need to appear in person at a post office or another facility that accepts passport applications on behalf of the State Department. If you’re using an expediting company to speed up the application process, you’ll go to the post office with all your paperwork, get it “sealed” by an agent there, and then forward it on to the expediter.

Pro Tip: In addition to the post office, you may also be able to turn your application at a local library or county court clerk.

See Passport Replacement Services for a list of the documents you’ll need to bring with you. (more…)

It should go without saying that Washington, DC is one of the nation’s top cities for international travel. Politicians, business people and tourists alike pour in and out of the city’s three major airports, heading out to destinations around the world.

No matter which corner of the globe you’re heading to, it’s easy to find a flight out of DC — as long as you have a valid passport, of course! If yours has expired, don’t wait until you need it to renew it. Follow the instructions below so you’ll have your passport ready:

Passport Renewal by Mail

Most DC residents are able to apply for renewal through the mail. This eliminates the need to go to the post office, except to turn in your application. You are eligible for passport renewal by mail as long as you can answer “yes” to all of the following questions:

• Do you still have your passport in your possession?
• Is your passport still in good condition (not damaged or mutilated)?
• Was your current passport issued after your 16th birthday?
• Was your current passport issued less than 15 years ago?
• Was your current passport issued under the name you currently use, or can you provide legal documents to support a name change request?

If you meet the criteria listed above, see Passport Renewal by Mail for details on how to renew.

If you don’t, you can apply in person at one of 10 DC post offices that serve as passport acceptance facilities. See How to Apply for a New Passport for details on what to do.

Processing Time

If you apply for a passport renewal through the mail, be sure to allow at least six weeks for your application to be processed and the new passport returned.

You can get somewhat faster service by enclosing an additional $60 payment and writing “EXPEDITE” on the envelope you use to send in your paperwork. However, you should still allow at least three weeks for your passport renewal to come back.

The Washington, DC Passport Agency

Short on time? The Washington, DC regional passport agency accepts passport applications from travelers with emergency passport needs. You can use this agency if you have a travel itinerary that takes you out of the country in the next 14 days. Emergency passport services are also available if you’re leaving within the next four weeks and you need your passport to get a visa for your destination country.

The Washington Passport Agency is located on the first floor of 1111 19th Street, N.W. But wait! Don’t just grab your keys and start heading that direction. First, you’ll need to make an appointment. The passport agency does not accept walk-ins!

Also, it’s only open from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. On Wednesday, it doesn’t open until 9:00am but it still closes at 3:00. If you’re normally at work during those hours, you’ll have to request time off.

Once you’ve arrived at your appointment, you’ll still have to take a number, sit down and wait for an agent to become available.

If that sounds like too much of a hassle, you also have the option of using a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport. We personally deliver your application to the Department of State, resulting in processing times as low as 24 hours. Plus, we assist you with the paperwork by providing easy-to-follow checklists as well as personal assistance and attention. This reduces the chance of you making one of many common errors that could delay your application.

Need a passport renewal in a hurry? We’d love to help- Contact us today!

Image Credits: Some rights reserved by sdixclifford, Some rights reserved by thisisbossi

Spring Break is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to start planning for some fun in the sun. Here’s a rundown of some of the most popular spring break destinations, but be careful: you’ll need a valid US passport!

Cancun, Mexico

Cancun has made virtually every “Top 10 Spring Destinations” list, ever. At this point, generations of American teens and college students have been heading to Cancun to party next to the crystal-blue ocean. If drowning yourself in alcohol is not your preferred method of bidding winter goodbye, consider quieter nearby towns like Tulum instead.

If you are flying to Cancun, you absolutely have to have a passport. In the unlikely event that you’re driving, you can get by using one of the new wallet-sized passport cards, or, if you’re a member, a trusted traveler card from one of the following programs: NEXUS, FAST or SENTRI. These requirements went into effect in 2009 as part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which governs travel between the US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Cabo San Lucas

Located on the other side of Mexico from Cancun, Cabo boasts excellent surfing, scuba diving, beaches and exciting nightlife. Along the “Golden Corridor,” you’ll find lots of hotels, resorts and rentals to serve as your base of operations while you relax and regroup. Don’t forget to visit El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, the area’s most distinctive rock formation.

Since Cabo San Lucas is also in Mexico, passport requirements are the same as those listed above for Cancun.

Barbados

Less frenetically insane and more buttoned-down than Mexico’s spring break cities, Barbados is a good option for those of you whose ideal spring break involves activities other than beer pong,  like lounging on the beach (including one of the 10 best beaches in the world), swimming in the ocean, surfing and scuba-diving.

As in Mexico, Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative passport rules apply. Since driving into Barbados isn’t an option, the only way you could possibly get out of having a passport would be to see the island as part of a closed-loop cruise embarking from a US port. (more…)

A friendly reminder, folks – just because your passport hasn’t expired yet, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can use it for travel.

That sounds counter-intuitive, but it’s true: just ask the Patton family of Ottawa, Canada. Although all four family members had valid passports (in the sense that they had not expired yet), Costa Rica refused to admit them when they arrived in the airport. Instead, they put them right back on the plane and sent them home. The reason? Costa Rica requires all visitors to have at least three months left on their passports, and three of the four family members had passports that expired before then.

The mishap was frustrating, emotionally grueling and expensive, costing them about $6,000. Unless the spotlight of publicity causes the airline and/or the travel agency that the family used to book the tickets to relent, they aren’t getting any of that money back, either. Both United Airlines and travel agency Travel by Jen are pointing the finger at each other as well as the family for not catching the mistake in time. (more…)

One of America’s oldest cities, Boston has been one of the country’s gateways to the rest of the world since before the US even existed.  Today at Logan International Airport, you can catch a plane that will take you directly to Canada. Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa. Later this year, Japan Airlines will add service to Asia, as well.

Renewing Your Passport in Boston

Of course, to take advantage of these convenient international travel opportunities, you’ll need a valid passport. If yours has been gathering dust in a drawer for too long, here’s what you need to know to renew it.

The first step is figuring out whether or not you are eligible to apply for your passport renewal by mail. Take this quick quiz to see whether or not this will be an option for you:

• Is your current passport still undamaged and in your possession?
• Was your current passport issued to you after your 16th birthday?
• Was your current passport issued to you less than 15 years ago?
• Are you still using the name that your last passport was issued under, OR do you have legal documents to support a name change request?

If you answered yes to all of the following questions, you can apply for your passport renewal by mail. Here’s how:

• Fill out passport renewal form DS-82, and send it in to the address listed on the form. Also include the following items:
• Your current passport.
• One new passport photo
• If you need to change your name on your next passport, include legal documents like a marriage certificate or court order to support your request.
• A check or money order to cover the required passport fees. (more…)

Until yesterday, it was impossible to apply for a US passport exclusively online. Sure, there are application forms and other resources available to get the ball rolling, but you had to use snail mail to send in the application. Now, if you already have a passport and would like a passport card as well, you can take advantage of a new online application procedure that allows you to send off for the card without entering a post office or even licking an envelope.

This option may not be around forever- at the moment, it is part of a 90-day pilot program being conducted by the Department of State.  According to a State Department press release, “This pilot program is the Department’s signature initiative under Presidential Executive Order 13571 to simplify customer service interactions and streamline related processes, making them more efficient.”

The online application is available here. To be eligible to participate, you must already have a US passport book, valid for ten years from the date on which it was issued.  You’ll also need a digital passport photo that meets the applicable State Department requirements, and a credit card and/or a bank account so that you can pay for your passport card on the Pay.gov website.Finally, you must have an email address so that the Department of State can communicate with you about your application. (more…)

Just married? Newly divorced? Whatever the story behind your new name, you need to make sure that the change is reflected on your passport. Here are the steps to take to make that happen.

If Your Passport is Less Than a Year Old

If your passport is less than one year old, you can get your name changed free of charge.  Simply complete passport application Form DS-5504 and mail it in to address listed on the form, along with the following documents:

• Your current, valid US passport.
• Legal evidence to back up your name change request, such as a copy of your marriage certificate or a court order referencing the change.  Send either the original document or a certified copy, not a photocopy.
• One new passport photo.
• The Department of State will correct passports less than one year old for free. However, if you need your updated passport in the next six weeks, it’s a good idea to go ahead and pay the $60 expedite fee. This will reduce the processing time to approximately three weeks.

If Your Passport Was Issued More Than a Year Ago

If your passport was issued more than one year ago, you’ll need to go ahead and renew it in order to get your name changed.  To start, fill out passport renewal Form DS-82. Send it in to the address listed on the form, along with the following documents:

• Your current, undamaged US passport.
• One new passport photo.
• Legal documentation, such as a marriage certificate or court order, that supports your request for a name change.
• A check or money order to pay the fees. A passport book alone is $110, a passport card (valid only for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean) is $30, and both together are $140.

Passport applications are generally processed within six weeks, though you can pay an additional $60 expedite fee to cut that time down to three weeks. If you need the name on your passport changed more quickly than that, you have a choice of either making an appointment at one of the State Department’s 24 regional passport agency offices, or using a private company like RushMyPassport.

We take your paperwork and deliver it directly to the State Department for priority processing, often in as little as 24 hours. There’s no need to make an appointment, wait in line, or travel out of town to a passport agency. Plus, we walk you through the process, step-by-step, reducing the chance of errors that can cause delays.

For a quick passport name change with a minimum amount of hassle, contact us today!