Expedited Passports

Except for the time he spent fighting in the Philippines, Tony Lopez, a World War II veteran, has never left the United States. According to the Denver Post, that was supposed to change on February 16th, when a combat reunion will be held in the Philippines to mark the 65th anniversary of the Battle for the Recapture of Corregidor, which Mr. Lopez participated in.

Mr. Lopez, who was awarded both a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service, was supposed to “raise the colors” in the ceremony, but when he applied for a new passport, he was turned down. The reason? His birth certificate wasn’t issued within a year of his birth. According to an earlier article from the Denver Post, he was born in a very small town in New Mexico, and getting a copy of his birth certificate was a challenge:

“The Catholic church burned down, and all the records were lost,” he said. “In 1990, my brother and I traced our baptismal records to Santa Fe. The state took those and gave us our birth certificates based on that.”

Unfortunately, since Mr. Lopez applied with normal processing, he didn’t find out about the problem until 6 weeks later, when his wife got her new passport back and he got a rejection letter from the Department of State.

This is another illustration of how easily problems can arise when current requirements for documentation are applied to people who were born in times and places where strict-recordkeeping wasn’t the norm.  It’s also another good reason to expedite your passport application even if you think you have plenty of time.

Sen. Michael Bennet was able to get a one-year temporary passport for Mr. Lopez, but it didn’t reach him soon enough for him to make the necessary arrangements.  Fortunately, he will get a second chance:

“It’s all right. There’s another reunion on March 3, the anniversary of MacArthur accepting the island back from the Japanese,” he said. “Maybe I can get to that one.”

If you need to get a passport quickly, RushMyPassport.com cen help. We’ll assist you with the paperwork and hand-deliver it to the Department of State for processing times as low as 24 hours! Plus, our unique tracking system tells you where your passport application is at all times. That means that if there are any problems with your application, you’ll know about them as soon as possible, so you can get them fixed as soon as possible.

Need a new passport? Apply with us today!

We may still be stuck in the depths of winter, but Spring Break is just around the corner, and it’s time to start planning your spring vacation. If you are vacationing outside of the US this year, it’s important to check and see what kind of travel documents you will need. New passport regulations went into effect on June 1st, 2009, and passports are now required for more destinations than ever before. Here’s the scoop:

On June 1, 2009, the final phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative went into effect.  Now, the law requires that US citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean by land or sea carry a passport book or another WHTI-compliant document, like a passport card,  an enhanced driver’s license or a NEXUS, FAST or SENTRI card. Previously, you could just bring your driver’s license and your birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization certificate.

However, if you’re going on a cruise for Spring Break, you might be able to get by with just your driver’s license and birth certificate, assuming that your cruise begins and ends at the same US port. Check with your cruise line to see what documents are required, but consider applying for a new passport anyway-you’ll need it if you have to fly home for an emergency.

Also, if you’re under the age of 19 and you are traveling outside of the country for Spring Break with a church group, school group, sports group or cultural organization, you can just bring a copy of your birth certificate as long as your group is under adult supervision. Again, though, it’s better to have a passport.

If you are flying anywhere outside of the United States, even if it’s just to Mexico or Canada, you must have a US passport-no exceptions.

The time to apply for your passport is now-in fact, according to the University of Arizona’s passport acceptance office, students only have 5 days left to apply for a passport with regular processing. Applications need to be in by February 12th if you are using the government’s expedited processing option for your new passport.

This is based on the University of Arizona’s Spring Break-you may have more or less time depending on when your school lets out.  Check your dates, and make sure to allow 6 weeks for regular processing and 3 weeks for expedited processing.

You should also be aware that applying for a new passport through a private passport expediting company  can make the application process much easier as well as drastically reduce your processing time.  For example, RushMyPassport.com can have your application processed in as little as 24 hours.

Apply for your new passport today!

Getting a passport is exciting. This is undoubtedly a cliche, but a new passport really does open up a whole new world of travel opportunities.  Where can your new passport take you 2010? The possibilities are almost endless, but we’ve picked out 5 of our favorite up-and coming destinations:

• Gargano, Italy: Unspoiled, uncrowded beaches? Check.  Ancient churches and historic fishing villages? Check.  Excellent food? Check! Gargano, Italy is a peninsula located on the “heel” of the boot-shaped country. Since much of the area is national parkland, it’s a great place to experience a quieter, more peaceful Italy.
• Sri Lanka: The civil war that wracked the country ended last May, making a visit to this beautiful island more appealing to tourists.  Stay at one of the attractive modern hotels that are springing up like daisies and see elephants, water buffaloes and crystal-clear beaches.
• Iceland: The country has always had a lot to offer tourists: glaciers, hot springs and winter sports, plus a vibrant nightlife in the capital of Reykjavík.  Due to the state of the country’s economy, it is now offering these things for less.
• Argentina:  Looking to take a wine tour somewhere a little more exotic than Sonoma Valley? According to the New York Times, wines from the Argentinian wine country of Patagonia have been raking in awards recently.
• Copenhagen, Denmark:  If you’re looking to make your trip abroad as green as possible, Copenhagen is an excellent choice. The New York Times notes that the city has transformed itself into an eco-friendly mecca, with free bikes for tourists and a thriving nightlife.

If you don’t have a passport yet,  see How to Apply for a New Passport for a detailed description of the application process. Remember that it takes about 6 weeks if you apply with regular processing, and at least 3 weeks if you use the government’s expedited service.

However, with RushMyPassport.com, you can get your passport much faster.  Depending on the service you choose, we can often have your new passport application processed in as little as 24 hours.

Apply for your new passport today!

Are you ready to get out of the United States for a while? If you don’t have a passport already, you’ll need to  apply for a new passport before you leave. When you apply for  a passport, knowing what you need before you apply will simplify the process for you.

Here’s how the passport application process works:

Unless you are renewing your passport, you will need to fill out your passport application form in person. (If you are renewing your passport, you may be able to renew by mail-read this post to see if you qualify.) Passport applications are accepted at passport acceptance facilities, usually places like libraries, county court clerks and post offices.  You can find the nearest one here.

Next, you’ll need to gather the required documents:

• Proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth, Naturalization Certificate, Certificate of Citizenship, or an undamaged US passport).
• Proof of identity (usually a driver’s license or state-issued ID card)
• Photocopy of the ID you submitted.
• Form DS-11, an application for a new passport (it’s okay to fill this out in advance. but don’t sign it until you get to the acceptance agency and an agent gives you the go-ahead. If you are applying through RushMyPassport, we require you to fill the form out online and print it, to ensure that poor handwriting does not hold up your application.)
• 2 passport photos.

You’ll also need to pay the required fees:

• For adults, a $75 application fee plus a $25 execution fee.
• For children under 16, a $60 application fee plus a $25 execution fee.
• For expedited service, a $60.00 expediting fee plus $14.95 for overnight delivery (optional, but recommended).

Currently, it takes about 6 weeks for a normal passport application to be processed and about 3 weeks for an expedited application. If you need your passport more quickly, a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com is the easiest way to go. We can have your application processed in as little as 24 hours!

All Larry and Gladys Williams wanted was to go on a cruise to Alaska. However, their dream was denied when they showed up  at port in Seattle without passports, according to the Dallas Morning News. Larry Williams had assumed that passports weren’t necessary for the journey, since the cruise began in Seattle and ended in Alaska.

However, the ship wasn’t sailing straight from Seattle to Alaska-there was also a stop at a Canadian port.   The final part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, a new law that went into effect on June 1, 2009, requires Americans traveling from the US to Canada (or Mexico, or the Caribbean)  to carry their passports.

Since they didn’t have the appropriate documentation, the couple was sent home.  They planned to try again this year, but the US Department of State required additional documentation when Gladys wasn’t able to present an acceptable birth certificate.  She finally has a new passport now, and they plan to set sail next year!

The moral of the story? Apply for a passport as soon as possible.  As Gladys told the Dallas Morning News, “You just never know what kind of problem you may run into. I should have done this years ago.”

If you need a new passport, an expediting company like RushMyPassport.com can assist you with the application process. You’ll work with a professional passport specialist and get detailed instructions to help you navigate the application process. Plus, we’ll forward your application by hand to the Department of State, resulting in processing times as short as 24 hours.

Apply for your new passport with RushMyPassport.com today!

An elderly woman from Texas has been denied the opportunity to get a new passport to visit relatives in Mexico, according to this report from a local ABC affiliate.

The woman, Consuelo DeLeon, is 81 years and says she was born in  small town in Texas. However, her birth certificate was filed late, approximately a year after she was born. Although she sent in both her birth certificate and her baptismal certificate, the Department of State refused to issue her a new passport due her family’s delay in filing a birth certificate.

DeLeon’s situation illustrates the importance of applying early for a passport. It also illustrates why it is a good idea to apply with expedited processing, even if you think you have enough time to just pay the regular application fee.  Circumstances beyond your control, like those of Ms. DeLeon’s, could cause the State Department to deny your application or to request additional documentation.  Mistakes made in the paperwork during the application process can also cause the State Department to turn down your application. The bottom line?  The earlier you know there is a problem, the better your chance of being able to fix it before your trip.

A private passport expediting service like RushMyPassport.com can help. With an expediting service, you get personal service from a trained passport specialist and a checklist to help you avoid mistakes. Plus, you get much faster processing times-depending on the package you order, your application could be processed in as little as 24 hours!

Don’t wait-order your new passport today!

When you apply for a new passport, should you get a passport book or passport card? According to this report, one family learned the difference the hard way.  Sherry Housley and her daughter Whitney  had planned to to take a mother/daughter vacation by the ocean in Cozumel, Mexico.

However, when they went to apply for new passports, the clerk steered them toward ordering one of the wallet-sized new passport cards. Apparently, neither the clerk nor the Housleys was aware of one of the crucial differences between a passport book and a passport card:  A  passport card is only good for travel by land and sea, not by plane. So, when the Housleys tried to board the plane for Mexico, they were not allowed on board and they missed their vacation.

The passport book is only type of passport that is accepted for international air travel. The passport card was really meant to be a cheaper form of identification for people who live near the border and drive across frequently, to make it easier for them to comply with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative that requires passports for border crossings.

Unless you drive across the border frequently,  go ahead and spring for a full-fledged passport book when you apply for a new passport.  Also, make sure to allow enough time for your passport to arrive-it can take at least 6 weeks with regular service and 3 weeks for the government’s expedited service.

However, a private passport expediting company can speed this process up by personally dropping off your passport application at the Department of State. With an expediting company, depending on the package you buy, your new passport could be on its way back to you in as little as 24 hours!

Apply for your new passport today!

Centuries ago, in medieval Europe, fierce pirates known as Vikings left Norway, Denmark and Sweden in search of treasure. They gained a fearsome reputation that persists to this day, but they were also imaginative storytellers, cunning tradesmen, and politically savvy administrators. They left behind giant carved runestones, stories and mythology that has inspired fantasy novels like the Lord of the Rings, and very little else.

Right now, you can cruise through Denmark and Norway for a very reasonable price.  Check out this last-minute deal from Royal Caribbean (via Expedia): A five-night cruise  starting at just $282 per person for an inside cabin!  Coincidentally, Scandinavian Airlines is also having a sale, with round-trip fares from the US to Copenhagen starting at $500!

Of course, if you don’t have a valid passport, you’ll have to get a new one before you travel.  The cruise special runs from August 16 to August 31.  At this point, the safest way to secure a new passport in time to take advantage of the special would be to go through a private passport expediting company. When you submit your new passport application directly through the government, you’ll have to wait at least 6 weeks for regular service and at least 3 weeks for the government’s expedited service.

However, a private passport expediting company will deliver your application by hand for immediate processing, so your new passport could be on its way back to you in as little 24 hours! To see what’s required, check out this step-by-step guide to getting a new passport before you apply.

Are you ready to set sail? Order your new passport today!

So, you just got your new passport in the mail? How exciting! An adult passport is good for 10 years if cared for properly. To avoid having to apply for another passport before your renewal date, here are some tips on how to take care of your new passport and protect it from being lost, stolen or damaged.

1. Invest in a passport case. A case will keep your passport from being bent or frayed in your pocket or purse. As long as your passport stays closed, nobody should be able to read the information stored in the RFID chip in your passport. However, an RFID-proof case can provide an extra layer of protection.
2. Always store your passport in the same place when you aren’t using it. This will help keep it from getting lost.
3. When you travel, make copies of the information on your passport. Leave a copy with family at home and keep a copy in your bag. Keep the passport itself close to you, on the front side of your body and underneath your clothing, so you’ll feel it if someone tries to get a little too “friendly” with it.
4. Keep your passport dry. A little bit of moisture won’t hurt it, but if it goes through the washing machine, you’ll have to get  a new one.
5. Store it out of the reach of children and pets.

If your passport gets lost, stolen or damaged, you’ll need to fill out and application for a new passport along with the lost/stolen/damaged passport form DS-64. Expect to wait at least 6 weeks if you apply with normal processing, and at least 3 weeks if you use the government’s expediting service.

Replacing a lost, stolen or damaged passport is easier and faster when you use a private passport expediting company. An expediting company can save you time and frustration by providing you with easy instructions on how to apply for a new passport. Then, they’ll deliver your new passport application by hand to the US Department of State, resulting in processing times as quick as 24 hours.

Apply for your new passport today!

Have you ever wondered how a new passport is made? In this video from the US State Department, the State Department Under  Secretary for Management Patrick F Kennedy describes the process of making  a new passport.

The raw material used to make the outside of a passport book is actually produced overseas, because the State Department couldn’t find an American firm to manufacture the radio frequency identification (RFID)  chips that are installed in all new passports.  However, according to the video, the only step in producing a US passport that takes place overseas is manufacturing the plastic covers with their embedded RFID chips.

The covers are sent to the US, cut to the appropriate size, and the chips are formatted. Then, pages are installed in the new passport books and printed with the appropriate lettering and design. After that, the blank passport books are shipped to one of the regional passport processing facilities. Once your application is received and approved, your personal information and photo will be printed on the passport. The RFID chip is also loaded with your information, as well as with encryption and security features that keep the data from being altered or read by unauthorized parties. Then, it is sent back to you.

Currently, it’s taking at least 6 weeks to process a passport application with regular service and at least 3 weeks for expedited service from the government.  If all the government has to do to issue a new passport is to put your data on a blank passport book, why does it take so long to get one?

Simply put, the US Department of State gets a lot of passport applications. Even after your application arrives at the passport processing center, you still have to wait your turn to have it processed.  A private passport expediting company can put your application at the top of the stack, so you get a much faster turnaround time without the hassle and bother of going down to the Regional Passport Agency office yourself.  With an expediting company, your passport can be processed in as little as 24 hours!

Don’t waste time waiting-order your new passport today!