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! 

RushMyPassport.com Blog RushMyPassport.com Blog - The experts at RushMyPassport.com can answer any questions you have about travel and passport requirements.

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.

Step 4: Hurry Up and Wait

The time it takes to replace a lost passport depends on how many applications the State Department has received of late. However, six weeks is standard.

The State Department also has an expedited option available for an additional $60. This will reduce your wait time to three weeks.

If you’ve lost your passport and you’re about to leave the country, obviously that won’t do. In that case, you can make an appointment at one of the 24 regional passport agencies, or you can use a private expediting company like RushMyPassport.

Using an Expediting Company

Since Passport agencies are by appointment only and located in just 24 cities across the country, using an expediting company has several advantages:

• Fast service: Expediters personally deliver your paperwork to the State Department for processing in as little as 24 hours! 
• No need to make an appointment or wait in line at a passport agency- just visit your local post office with the required documents to have your application package “sealed,” then send them to the expediting company.
• No  need to take time off work and travel to a passport agency if you don’t have one nearby.
• Hands-on guidance from a passport professional.

If you need to replace your lost passport quickly and you don’t have the time or patience to deal with a lot of red tape, we can help. Order online today!

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Tax Day is over, and that means we can all breathe a sigh of relief and start impatiently waiting for our refunds to arrive. This year, the average refund is around $2985.

What are you going to do with your post-tax windfall?  We suggest getting a passport, of course.  Here are 5 reasons why:

Ireland

Is a tour of the Emerald Isle on your life list? Get a passport, grab your refund and go!  For the next 5 days, LivingSocial has an awesome deal available on their Escapes tab: for $1,349 you get a round trip ticket departing from Boston, New York or Chicago, six nights in five-star hotels and a rental car.

Or, if you’d like to build your own itinerary, Aer Lingus has summer flights on sale for less than $900 round trip. Sláinte!

 Costa Rica

If the rainforest is more your speed, get in touch with your inner treehugger in Costa Rica.  Right now, you can hit up Groupon for a voucher that will get you three nights this spring or summer for $435 for two adults and two small children at the Lost Iguana resort, near Arenal Volcano.  For $580 you can stay for four nights instead of three.

Or, leave in May to see Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest and San Jose for as low as $777 per person through Latin Destinations.

The Bahamas

The Bahamas is a spectacular choice for a summer trip that will leave you refreshed (and perhaps with some money left over to spare!) CheapCaribbean.com has a package that includes air to and from Fort Lauderdale along with four nights at the Sheraton all-inclusive resort in Nassau  starting at $449 per person if you can travel before the end of May.

Jamaica

If you really need to relax, LivingSocial and Groupon both have great Jamaican deals right now, too. With LivingSocial, you get a four night stay for two for $349 at the Sea Splash resort in Negril. Meanwhile, with Groupon you can get a five or seven night stay for two in cottage on the beach in Negril.

Finally, at CheapCaribbean.com, you can catch a last-minute deal that gives you 4 nights at the Riu Negril resort for $639 per person including air from Fort Lauderdale. Kids stay and eat free, so this is a great choice for families.

Aruba

Finally, if an all-inclusive resort on the sandy shores of Aruba’s Druif Beach sounds appealing, CheapCaribbean.com can get you four nights at the Tamarijn resort for $1,239 including air. However, this rate is only available for the month of May.

Several of these deals are last-minute, so you’ll need to get a passport fast to take advantage of them. Standard passport processing takes at least six weeks. Even if you pay the $60 expedite fee, you’re still looking at three week’s processing time. Faster passport processing is available at the country’s 24 regional passport agencies, but you’ll have to have an appointment and take additional time off work to be there during operating hours.

Not up to wrestling with another hefty batch of paperwork? RushMyPassport can walk you through the passport application process, step-by-step. We make it easy to get a passport, while reducing the chance of  common errors that can trip you up and cause delays. Then, we hand-deliver your paperwork to  the State Department for processing in as little as 24 hours.

Contact us today to find out just how fast and simple it can be to get a passport!

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Realizing that you’ve waited too long to apply for a passport is like being stuck in a bad dream. Terror and chagrin slowly mount as you realize the magnitude of your error. Unfortunately, since it’s not a dream, you can’t wake up.

Good news: there’s no need to panic!

Yes, the passport application process usually takes weeks, but there are ways to order a passport at the last minute.

Using a Passport Agency

One way to get a passport quickly is to apply at a regional passport agency office. These agencies are operated by the Department of State and issue passports on site. Processing time varies depending on which agency you go to. However, they will generally get your passport to you within 24 hours to 5 business days, depending on when your departure date is.

Now, here’s the catch: you can’t just walk in to a regional passport agency whenever you feel like it. These offices are open by appointment only, and they have limited operating hours as well. Much like a doctor’s office, just getting an appointment doesn’t mean that you’ll be seen at that time. You still have to take a number and wait in line.

Also, there are only 24 passport agencies to serve the entire country. That means you might not even have one in your state, so you’ll have to budget travel time and expenses in as well as time off work.

How to Get an Appointment

To use a passport agency, just call the National Passport Information Center to find the nearest location and make an appointment. To qualify for an appointment at most passport agencies, you must have a confirmed travel itinerary that takes you out of the country within the next 14 days. If you also need to get a visa for your destination, you become eligible for a passport agency appointment within 4 weeks of your departure date.

Be on time… if you’re more than 15 minutes late to your appointment you’ll have to make another one. Bring all of the documents you’d normally need to apply for your passport or passport renewal as well as a copy of your itinerary to prove your eligibility.

Using a Private Expediting Company

Private expediting companies like RushMyPassport give you the same fast service you’d get at a passport agency office without all the hassle. Yes, it costs money, but using an expediter has the following advantages:

• Less hassle: They deal with the State Department for you, so there’s no need for you to make an appointment or wait in line.
• No need to take time off work or spend gas money to get to a passport agency.
• When you use RushMyPassport, you get the benefit of an experienced guide to walk you through the application process and a handy, easy-to-follow checklist showing all of the documents you need.
• Applying for a passport can be a confusing process, but using an expediting company simplifies the procedure and reduces the chance of mistakes.

If you are applying for your first passport or are otherwise required to turn in your application in person, you can still use an expediting company. You’ll just go in to a post office or other passport acceptance facility with your new passport photo and all of the necessary paperwork, and have your documents “sealed” by the passport acceptance agent. Then, you send them in to the expediting company, and the company will hand-deliver them to the Department of State for priority processing, often in as little as 24 hours.

Need to order a passport at the last minute? Contact us today!

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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!

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March 10th was the Department of State’s fourth annual “Passport Day in the USA” event, and by all accounts it was a smashing success. Passport offices around the country pulled out all the stops to make applying for a passport more convenient, less costly and even more fun. Participation was up at most locations, too, especially at agencies in border states.

What is Passport Day in the USA?

Passport Day in the USA is an annual event observed at regional Passport Agencies and passport acceptance offices all over the country. The Department of State began holding Passport Day in 2008 to help citizens prepare for more stringent passport requirements that went into effect in 2009, as part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

Passport Day is always held on a Saturday, usually in spring to help people get ready for summer travel. During Passport Day, the Department of State’s 24 regional passport agency offices are open to accept passport applications on Saturday with no appointment. Generally, these offices are only open weekdays by appointment only.

This year, many of the agencies also waived the $60 expedite fee for people who needed their passports in three weeks instead of the normal six. The passport agency in New Hampshire even offered photo ops with its mascot, a giant passport named Passport Pal.

Post offices, county clerks and other passport acceptance facilities also participated in various ways. Some opened on Saturday when they would normally be closed, or extended their Saturday hours. Others offered free passport photos, and some had cookies and other refreshments out for applicants.

Passport Day By the Numbers

This year’s Passport Day comes in the midst of a busy passport season:

• In El Paso, more than 400 people showed up to apply, compared to 160 people last year.
• The Connecticut Passport Agency in Norwalk, Connecticut, received over 500 applications on Passport Day, which is about the same number they normally receive in a typical week!
• Nationwide, about 25,000 people submitted a passport application during Passport Day.

Did You Miss Passport Day?

Passport Day is a great day to apply for a passport but if you missed it, don’t wait for it to come back around next year. Go ahead and turn in your application! Depending on how busy the Department of State is, you could be waiting around for six weeks or even longer for your passport to arrive in the mail! Even with the Department of State’s expedited service, you’re still looking at around three weeks.

Faster service is available at a regional passport agency, but you may not have one nearby, and except for Passport Day they have limited, week-day only operating hours and require an appointment.

A private passport expediting service like RushMyPassport is more convenient, as there’s no need to make an appointment or wait in line. We hand-deliver your paperwork to the Department of State, so your passport will be on its way back to you in as little as 24 hours. If you missed Passport Day, don’t worry– we’ve got you covered.

Expedite your passport application today!

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The clock is ticking on your dream vacation. Without a passport, you’ll be stuck at home, staring at the cracks on your walls. You know the process usually takes weeks or even months. How can you get a passport quickly enough?

Don’t worry, here’s how to cut through the passport application process like butter:

Gather Your Documents

First, get your paperwork together. The documents you’ll need depends on the application form you’ll be using.

Form DS-11: Applying for a New Passport or Replacing a Lost or Stolen Passport

Form DS-11 is for first time applicants; applicants whose most recent passport was lost, stolen or damaged; applicants whose passport was issued more than 15 years ago or applicants whose passport was issued before they turned 16.

You must submit Form DS-11 in person at a passport office. For a complete list of the required documents, see How to Apply for a New Passport. Also, there are special requirements in place for kids under 16. See How to Get a Child Passport for details.

Form DS-82: Passport Renewals

Use form DS-82 if you’re applying for a passport renewal. You can use this form as long as your current passport meets the following qualifications:

• Is in your possession and undamaged.
• Was issued less than 15 years ago and after you turned 16.
• Is in your current legal name, or you can submit a marriage certificate or court order to support your name change request.
• To get your passport within the next two weeks, you’ll also need a copy of your itinerary.

See How to Apply for a Passport Renewal for a checklist of the documents you’ll need to renew.

Choose Your Approach

Next, decide how you’re going to expedite your passport application. You have three options to get your passport quickly:

First, you can use the State Department’s expediting process. For an additional $60 plus the cost of overnight delivery, they’ll get your passport back to you in about three weeks. It’s a good idea to allow even more time than that in case something goes wrong.

Three weeks isn’t really “quick,” though, so let’s look at our other two options:

• Make an appointment at one of the State Department’s 24 regional passport agencies. Since there are only 24 of them in the entire country, there may be some travel involved in getting there. Also, you will probably have to take time off work, as these offices are only open on weekdays. Even then, their hours of operation are limited.

• Use a private passport expediting company. With an expediter, you get the same lightning-fast service that you’d get from a passport agency, but you don’t have to travel any further afield than your local post office. There’s no need to make an appointment or wait in line at an agency- you pay the expediting company to take care of all of those hassles for you. A good company will also go over your paperwork with you to make sure nothing gets overlooked. When you consider the costs of taking time off work and traveling to an agency office, using an expediter may come out cheaper and it’s certainly more convenient.

Submit Your Application

The Department of State website has a list of all 24 regional passport agencies and their operating hours. There’s also a search form that will help you pull up the nearest passport acceptance location.

If you’re applying via an expediting company and you’re using form DS-11, you must go to a passport acceptance location (usually a nearby post office or library) to have your documents “sealed.” The clerk at the post office will seal your application package in an envelope and give it back to you. Follow the expediting company’s instructions to get the package to them, and they will carry it to the Department of State for priority processing, often within one business day.

Then, your passport will be shipped back to you, using an overnight delivery service if necessary. Without a doubt, this is the easiest way to get a passport quickly!

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Most people are aware that you need a passport to go to Europe, Africa and Asia. But what if you’re staying closer to home?

A decade ago, getting into Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean was as easy as saying “I’m an American citizen,” but not anymore.  After 9-11, The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative was enacted making it much harder to get in and out of the US without a passport.

Don’t get caught off-guard if you’re heading to one of these destinations:

Canada

Visiting Canada? Check your passport, eh? You definitely need one if you’re flying in or out of the country, unless you have a NEXUS trusted traveler card and you are flying to a Canadian preclearance airport with a NEXUS kiosk.

If you’re traveling by land or sea, you need one of the following to re-enter the US: a passport, a passport card, an enhanced driver’s license (currently only 4 states offer these), or a NEXUS, FAST or SENTRI trusted traveler card.

Mexico

If you’re flying to or from Mexico, you need a valid passport.

If you’re traveling by land or sea, Mexico requires all US citizens to have a passport if they’re traveling beyond the “border zone,” about 12 miles in. However, the US government requirements for re-entering the US are the same as for Canada above, regardless of whether you stay within the “border zone” or not.

Aruba

To visit Aruba, you need a passport if you’re flying and a passport or a passport card if you’re traveling by sea.

St. Martin

To hang out in this island paradise, you need a passport and a ticket back out of the country.

Bermuda

Bermuda requires all US citizens to present a passport to get into the country.

The Bahamas

If you’re traveling by air, you need a passport book.

If you’re traveling by sea, you can use a passport, passport card, enhanced driver’s license, NEXUS, FAST or SENTRI card.

The British Virgin Islands

The US Virgin Islands are part of the United States, but should you want to visit their British siblings, you’ll need a valid passport book if you’re traveling by air.

If you’re traveling by sea, you’ll need a passport, a passport card, an enhanced driver’s license or a NEXUS, FAST or SENTRI card.

The Cayman Islands

As of January 23, 2007, you must have a valid passport book to enter the Caymans.

Trinidad and Tobago

Unlike many Caribbean countries, a US passport book is the only accepted form of ID to enter this island nation, no matter how you’re traveling.

Jamaica

If you’re flying, you need a passport book. If you’re traveling by sea, you can use a passport card, enhanced driver’s license, NEXUS, FAST or SENTRI card instead.

Dominican Republic

To enter the Dominican Republic by air, you need a passport book. For sea travel, you can use a passport card. Authorities will not allow you to enter the country by sea with an enhanced driver’s license, even though the enhanced license is compliant with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

Panama

Want to see the Panama Canal? You’ll need a US passport, valid for at least three months from the date you enter the country. Even if you only plan on staying a week, Panama will not let you in if your passport expires within this timeframe.

Costa Rica

To get into Costa Rica, you need a passport valid for at least three months after the day you enter. Also, you need a return ticket home…they don’t want you getting TOO comfortable in paradise. Finally, Costa Rica is known for being a little bit more picky than other countries about the condition of your passport. Make sure yours isn’t damaged in any way, and if it is, get a replacement before you travel.

Exceptions for Cruises and Children

There are a couple of exceptions to the rules listed above. These only apply if you are traveling to Canada, Mexico or one of the Caribbean countries listed below:

• Anguilla
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Aruba
• Bahamas
• Bermuda
• Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba (BES)
• British Virgin Islands (includes Anegada, Jost Van Dyke, and Virgin Gorda)
• Cayman Islands
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Dutch Caribbean
• Grenada
• Jamaica (except for business travel)
• Montserrat
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Turks and Caicos

The first exception applies to travelers on a closed-loop cruise, one that begins and ends at the same US port. Closed-loop cruise passengers can use a driver’s license along with proof of citizenship, such as a certified birth certificate or naturalization certificate to re-enter the US. However, some of these countries may still require a passport in order for you to get off the boat and explore. So, check with your cruise line for the exact requirements for your itinerary before you leave without one.

The next exception is for children traveling by land or sea. Kids under the age of 16 can use a birth certificate to re-enter the United States, as can kids under the age of 19 who are traveling with an organized church, school, volunteer or cultural group. Remember, though, this is only for land and sea travel- all children need passports to fly to or from the US.

Did these passport requirements catch you off guard? We can help you get a passport quickly and easily!

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You know you shouldn’t travel on a damaged passport, but how much of a beating does your passport have to take before it qualifies as damaged? If you travel frequently, your passport will eventually end up in less-than-pristine condition. How do you tell the difference between “normal, acceptable wear and tear” and “too damaged to travel”?

One Family’s Story 

Unfortunately, there’s not a bright line between these two states. As one Colorado family learned recently, that means that should you encounter an overzealous official, even normal wear-and-tear can leave you grounded.

Kyle, Dana and little Kye Gosnell were all set to head to Belize for a beach vacation.

Unfortunately, Kyle Gosnell’s well-used, well-loved passport had a large crease on the back cover. Though the family received boarding passes from Denver to Belize, they had to change planes in Dallas, Texas. After airline officials there noticed the crease on Mr. Gosnell’s passport, that is where their trip ended.

As Mr. Gosnell explained to Fox 31 Denver, “They took a look at our passports and said that my passport was mutilated, therefore I wasn’t able to fly.”

The Gosnells are unhappy about missing the first part of their vacation, of course, but what makes it even worse is that they got all the way to Dallas before they got stopped. As Dana Gosnell explained, it would have been better if they’d been stopped at the Denver airport, close to home: “There was no protocol. They don’t have the same system of rules for the Denver airport that they do for the Dallas airport.”

That’s because enforcement of the rules is left to the discretion of the airline. Since airlines can be fined heavily if they let you on an international flight without the proper documents, there’s an incentive for them to be overly cautious.

Definition of a Damaged Passport

So, should a crease in the back of your passport keep you from traveling? Not according to the Department of State, which told the news station that “From Passport Services perspective this problem seems to originate with the airlines. We generally don’t consider a crease to be damaged or mutilated such that it would prevent travel.”

According to the State Department’s website, the following conditions DO qualify as damage:

• Water Damage
• A rip or tear
• Markings on personal data page
• Visa pages that have been torn out
• A hole punch
• Other significant injuries

Of course, once you’ve been denied boarding, being in the right is cold comfort, indeed. If your passport is worn out enough to be a concern, you may decide to renew it anyway, just to be on the safe side.

If your passport is damaged, you’ll need to apply for a replacement in person. See Passport Replacement Services for more details on what to do.

Need help replacing a damaged passport quickly? Contact us today!

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Without a doubt, Niagara Falls is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the world. The sheer amount of water surging around you is simply sublime. In fact, when Austrian composer Gustave Mahler first encountered the falls, he is said to have exclaimed, “At last, fortissimo!”

Over 28 million tourists visit the falls every year. If you’d like to be one of them, first make sure you have the travel documents you need for your desired itinerary.  Do you need a passport to go to Niagara Falls?  The Niagara River straddles the Canadian border, so the answer depends on which side of the attraction you’ll be touring.  The American Falls and Bridal Veils Falls are both on the US side of the border.  However, their bigger brother Horseshoe Falls is on the Canadian  side. There are plenty of waterfall-related activities and vantage points on both sides of the border, but the view from the Canadian side is generally considered to be the most impressive.

Obviously, if you’re going to stay in New York, you won’t need a passport. However, if you want the full Niagara Falls experience, you’ll need to cross the border into Ontario. In that case, you may need a passport.  Here’s what Niagara Falls Live has to say about the matter:

U.S. CITIZENS RETURNING TO THE U.S. AFTER VISITING NIAGARA FALLS CANADA ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A PASSPORT, PASSPORT CARD OR ENHANCED DRIVERS LICENSE AT THE IMMIGRATION CHECKPOINT. If you  are a U.S. citizen living in the U.S. and cross the border to Canada and attempt to re-enter the U.S. you will need one of the above listed forms of identification.

Until June of 2009, this wasn’t the case, and you can see from the emphatic combination of all-caps and red font that many travelers still show up unprepared.  Don’t be one of them- get a passport, a passport card or another acceptable form of ID.  Trusted traveler cards like NEXUS, FAST and SENTRI cards can also be used to cross, though they are much less common and more of a hassle to acquire.  Please note, if you are flying from the US to Canada, you’ll need a passport book, not a passport card and not one of the alternate IDs. See Do You Need a Passport to Go to Canada? for more information.

Niagara Falls Activities

• Maid of the Mist tours:  The Maid of the Mist boats take travelers on either side of the border past the American and Bridal Veil Falls, and then right into the mist coming off the Horseshoe Falls.
• The Cave of the Winds takes you right up to the base of Bridal Veil Falls, where winds can reach over 60 mph.
• On the American side, the Niagara Scenic Trolley takes you around the American Falls and Goat Island.
• Queen Victoria Park, in Ontario, provides a lush, gorgeous setting in which to view the falls.
• Skylon Tower, also on the Canadian side, lets you take in the view from 520 feet in the air.
• The Whirlpool Aero Car is an old-fashioned cable car, built in 1916, that takes you over the Niagara Whirlpool.

Fun Facts About Niagara Falls 

When you go, here’s some interesting trivia to keep in mind:

• During high season, about  100,000 cubic feet of water tumble almost 200 feet down the falls. If the falls weren’t used to generate hydroelectric power, the volume would be about twice that. The falls are at their peak during the spring and summer. Unfortunately, so are the crowds.
• The first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel was a 63-year-old teacher named Annie Edson Taylor. She survived, but immediately proclaimed ”No one ought ever do that again.” Daredevils and publicity hounds alike have spent the past century ignoring her advice.
• The first mammal to go over the falls in a barrel was a cat named Iagara. Taylor sent her down first, only attempting the stunt herself after the cat emerged from the falls unscathed. PETA would definitely not have approved.
• Stunts are prohibited at and around the falls without a permit, but both the US and Canadian governments have agreed to make an exception for the Flying Wallenda family, who will be walking over the falls on tightropes this summer.

If you’re planning a trip to Niagara Falls and you need a passport, check the Department of State’s current processing times before you apply. In general, it takes about six weeks to get your passport back in the mail if you apply with regular processing. If you pay the extra $60 for the State Department’s expedited option, you’ll still find yourself waiting about three weeks.

For faster service, you can either make an appointment at one of the country’s 24 Regional Passport Agencies or you can use a private expediter like RushMyPassport. We personally deliver your application to the Department of State for processing in as little as 24 hours, so you can see Niagara Falls from both sides. If you need help getting your passport application processed quickly, contact us today!

RushMyPassport.com Blog RushMyPassport.com Blog - The experts at RushMyPassport.com can answer any questions you have about travel and passport requirements.