Expedited Passports

Geese migrate south in the fall, and now you can, too.  According to Jaunted, Virgin America is scheduled to start flights south of the border in the fall, to Cancun and Cab0 San Lucas.  The new route was announced at an anniversary party commemorating the launch of Virgin America’s first international destination, Toronto, last year.

If you’d like to be one of the first to fly Virgin’s new Mexican routes, you’d better get your passport application in now. Flights are expected to leave from San Francisco and Los Angeles starting this fall. Jaunted explains:

Virgin America CEO David Cush says that there’s no official date yet set for the first Mexico flights, but we’re guessing they’ll begin when fall temperatures drop the US back into jacket weather and people start dreaming of hot sun and bikinis again.

Passports are required for flights to Mexico, and you won’t be able to board the plane without one.

When you order a passport, you should expect to wait at least 6 weeks for it to arrive in the mail, assuming you order it with normal processing. If you need it sooner, you can expedite your passport application with the Department of State, but you should still allow at least 3 weeks for it to arrive.

What do you do if you find a great last-minute deal? If you have tickets to leave for Mexico in less than 2 weeks and you don’t have a valid passport, you can make an appointment at a Regional Passport Agency office to get one issued. However, bear in mind that the passport agency is appointment only-you can’t just walk in whenever it’s convenient for you to turn in your passport application.  Also, passport agency offices have limited office hours, and are usually only open on weekdays. Finally, there are only 18 of these passport offices to serve the entire US.

A more convenient option is to use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport. RushMyPassport delivers your passport application directly to the Department of State, for processing times as quick as 24 hours and no need to wait in line or visit a passport agency.

Let us expedite your passport application today!

US citizens born to midwives near the US-Mexican border will get a chance to get new passports next month by applying at special mobile units set up by the Department of State.  The mobile units are being set up as part of the settlement for a class-action lawsuit filed by the ACLU on behalf of American citizens who were born at home to midwives near the border.

Because the government suspected some midwives of fraudulently issuing American birth certificates to children born in Mexico, many citizens who had lived their entire lives as US citizens were unable to get a passport.

Now, “certified class members” who have birth certificates signed by midwives, applied for a new passport between April 8, 2003 and Aug. 14, 2009 and had their applications “”filed without further action, “abandoned” or “closed” will be able to reapply for a new passport free of charge. In order to apply at one of the special sites, you will need to have the Department of State verify that you are indeed a certified class member. You can request to be certified as a member of the class here. Getting verified can take up to 4 weeks, but the Brownsville Herald is reporting that it is often much faster.

The mobile units will be set up in the following Texas cities from May 18th to May 23rd: Laredo, San Antonio, El Paso, McAllen, San Antonio, Del Rio, Eagle Pass and Brownsville. For more details, please see the Department of State’s website (link above).

If you qualify as a member of the class, you can reapply without having to pay an application fee. If you apply at one of the sites listed above or at a Regional Passport Agency office, you will also be exempt from paying the $25 execution fee. However, if you resubmit your passport application at an acceptance facility (like your local post office), you will have to pay the $25.00 execution fee.

Getting a new passport generally takes about 6 weeks if you apply with regular processing and about 3 weeks if you apply using the government’s expedited service. Need it faster? RushMyPassport  can submit your passport application directly to the Department of State, resulting in processing times as low as 24 hours.

Apply for your new passport today!

What, exactly, is a “‘honeymoon tester?” Basically, it’s a dream job for any couple that likes to travel.  Here’s the job description, from Runawaybrideandgroom.com:

“Would you be able to sip champagne, while lying in a hammock slung between two palm trees on a white, sandy beach, with your romantically linked partner beside you, without spilling your drink? Well then, you may just have what it takes for the Ultimate Job in Ireland (and probably the world!).”

Sounds like heaven, right? Then hop on over to RunawayBrideandGroom’s website to apply. The Irish travel agency is hiring one lucky couple to spend 6  months testing out luxury honeymoon accommodations in exotic locations like the Maldives, Zanzibar and Thailand.  Not only are all of your (and your significant other’s) travel expenses paid for, Runaway Bride and Groom will also pay you €20,000 to compensate you for all of your “hard work.”

To apply, you and your significant other need to create an 80 second webcast describing why Ireland is an excellent wedding destination and why you and your significant other are the right team for the job.  Entries are due by April 7th.

Travel starts May 10th, 2010, so you should also get your passport application in now, just in case! Typically, it takes at least 6 weeks for your passport application to be processed if you apply for regular service. If you apply for expedited service, you should still allow at least 3 weeks, and that’s cutting it close. Too close for comfort, in my opinion!

If you need your passport sooner, you have two options: making an appointment at the nearest US passport office or using a private passport expediting company to submit your application.  A private passport expediting company is usually the easiest, most convenient way to go, especially if you aren’t located near a US passport agency office.

RushMyPassport will hand-deliver your US passport application to the US Department of State, bumping you up to the “top of the stack” for processing times as low as 24 hours!

Submit your US passport application with us today!

What is the Passport Denial Program, and could it keep you from getting your passport?

The Passport Denial Program was set up to prevent parents who owe child support from being able to get a passport and leave the country.  Although it doesn’t say so on the passport application form, all passport applications are checked against a list of people who owe more than $2,500 in child support.

If you owe more child support than that and you apply f9r a passport, your application will be returned along with a letter explaining why you aren’t getting your passport book.  However, the fee you paid along with your application will not be returned. The State Department keeps it-no backsies.

Don’t expect this program to go anywhere anytime soon, either. According to this article on the Fayetteville Observer website, the Passport Denial Program has proven its worth:

The Passport Denial Program has been in place since 1998 and, by the end of 2006, had collected more than $22 million in past-due child support. That figure swelled in 2007 when passports began to be required of people traveling to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

To avoid wasting $175 on a passport application that won’t be accepted, if you make child support payments and you think you might be behind, call your state child support agency to check your balance first. If your passport application does get denied for nonpayment of child support, you will have to pay everything that you owe and apply again when your child support payments are current.

Once you have your child support balance taken care of, it still takes approximately 6 weeks to get your passport if you apply with normal processing and about  3 weeks if you apply with the government’s expedited processing. If you need your passport more quickly, you have two options:

• Make an appointment at the nearest passport agency
• Use a private passport expediting company

Of the two, using an expediting company is often easier, especially if you don’t live near a passport agency office or you can’t get time off work to go when one is open.

RushMyPassport.com hand-delivers your passport application to the Department of State, cutting processing time down to as little as 24 hours. If you need a passport in a hurry, apply with us today!

The University of South Florida’s football team has a chance to compete in the International Bowl in Toronto on January 2nd. There’s just one catch-to fly into Canada, everyone needs to have a passport.

According to this article on TBO.com, the team didn’t hear that they would be going until December 6th, so everyone is having to scramble to get expedited passports. In fact, the passport acceptance facility at the Hillsborough County courthouse ended up processing 178 passport applications for the team in a single week.

The team is having their passports expedited through the Department of State, and officials from the courthouse told TBO.com that they could take up to 4 weeks to process and there was no guarantee that all the players would get their passports back in time. Chris Freet, USF assistant director of athletics, says the team is dealing with the surprise international trip as best they can and keeping their fingers crossed: “It’s not a normal situation and it’s the first time that we’re going,” he told TBO.com. “We tried our best to be as thorough as possible and we hope that nothing gets turned around in Miami.”

Circuit Court Clerk Pat Frank, who helped the team apply for the expedited passports, wished them well, saying “I just hope they get their passports and win that game. We were so happy to do it. They’re excited and nervous. When you take off the padding, they really looked liked fragile kids.”

Getting expedited passports through the Department of State can take 3-4 weeks, but there is another alternative if you need your passport sooner:  a private passport expediting company.  An expediter personally delivers your application to the Department of State, putting your application on the top of the stack for the fastest possible processing.  In fact, if you have your passports expedited through RushMyPassport.com, your application could be processed in as little as 24 hours!

At RushMyPassport, we specialize in expedited passports- apply for yours 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!

From the amazing travel deals department, Iceland Air is currently offering a 2-night Iceland vacation for as low as $469 per person-including both airfare (from Boston, New York or Seattle) and a 2-night stay in either the FossHotel Lind or the FossHotel Baron. Extra nights are $45 per night per person for double occupancy and $75 per night for single occupancy. Rates include a Scandinavian breakfast at the hotel.

What is a Scandinavian breakfast, anyway? According to the book “Scandinavian Feasts: Celebrating Traditions Throughout the Year,” by Beatrice Ojakangas, a typical Scandinavian breakfast buffet includes a variety of baked rolls, pastries, omelets and seasonal fruits. Yum!

Of course, you’re not going to Iceland just for the food-there’s also gorgeous rugged scenery, relaxing volcanic hot springs to soak in, and an exchange rate that’s definitely in our favor.  This package is only available from October 1st through November 25th.  You will, of course, need a passport to board the airplane, so you should get your passport application in now.

Currently, it takes at least 6 weeks to process a passport application with regular processing, and at least 3 weeks with the government’s expedited processing. That’s cutting it close-if something goes wrong with your application, you might not have time to resubmit.

Using a private passport expediting company can greatly improve the processing speed and reduce the chance of mistakes.  At RushMyPassport.com, you’ll work with a trained passport specialist and receive a detailed checklist to use when you submit your passport application, to make sure everything goes smoothly the first time around.

Iceland is waiting for you-submit your passport application today!

When you apply for a passport, you need to be able to convince the government of two things: you are who you say you are, and you are a US citizen.  Usually, this is easily accomplished by submitting proof of identity and proof of citizenship.

The following documents can be used to prove your identity:

• An old US passport in good condition.
• Naturalization certificate.
• Valid driver’s license issued at least 6 months ago.
• Government-issued ID
• Military ID

These documents can be used to prove that you are a US citizen:

• An old US passport in good condition.
• A certified birth certificate with a raised or embossed seal
• A Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth (if you were born overseas to US citizen parents)
• A naturalization certificate or a certificate of citizenship.

What if you don’t have any of the above documents? The best thing to do is to obtain them before applying, but what if you can’t? In that case, you may have to use secondary documents to prove your identity and/or citizenship. Even if you have the right primary documents, if the Department of State has doubts about your application, they may request that you submit secondary documents to provide more proof. For example, people delivered by midwives along the border with Mexico have been  asked to submit secondary documentation along with their birth certificates due to concerns about midwives falsifying  birth certificates.

Secondary documents that prove US citizenship can include:

• Baptismal certificate
• Hospital birth certificate
• Census record
• Early school record
• Family bible record
• Doctor’s record of post-natal care

You may also need a Birth Affidavit form signed by someone who witnessed your birth (preferably an older blood relative).  Secondary documents that prove identity can include a combination of signature documents (such as a credit card, social security card and library card) and a signed, notarized affidavit from someone who is willing to vouch for your identity. (more…)

The passport card is a new  type of identification that is designed to be easy to carry in your wallet. It is the size and shape of a driver’s license, but is valid only for certain types of international travel. To apply for a new passport card, you will need to use one of the following procedures:

If You Already Have a US Passport:

If you already have a US passport, you may be able to apply for a new passport card using passport renewal form DS-82. To use this option, your current US passport must be undamaged and in your possession. Also, it must be less than 15 years since it was issued, and if your name has changed in the interim, you need official documentation of the name change.  Finally, in order to apply for a passport card by mail, your passport must have been issued when you were 16 or older. If you are eligible to apply by mail, fill out the form and send it in along with:

• Your passport.
• Legal proof of any name change.
• Two recent passport photos.
• A check or money order for $20.00

If you don’t have a passport already or are otherwise ineligible to apply by mail, you’ll need to do the following:

• Fill out form DS-11, Application for a New Passport, in person at a Regional Passport Acceptance Facility.
• Pay the fees: a $20 application fee and a$25 execution fee if you are over 16, and a $10 application fee and a $25 execution fee if you are under 16.
• Submit 2 passport photos.
• Submit proof of identification and proof of citizenship.

However, before you apply for a new passport card, consider carefully whether or not you might be better off getting a US passport book. A US passport card can only be used for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. It cannot be used to travel to any other countries, and it cannot be used for international air travel at all.

A US passport is more expensive and bulkier, but it can be used to travel anywhere, by any means. Plus, you can’t expedite a passport book-so you’ll have to wait at least 6 weeks before you get yours.

However, you can expedite a new passport. The easiest way to do this is to use a private passport expediting service. An expediting service like RushMyPassport.com can help you with all the paperwork and will hand-deliver your passport application to the Department of State. Your new passport could be on its way back to you in as little as 24 hours.

We’ve already written about how new passport laws are hurting tourism to Canada. However, it seems that our neighbors to the north are not the only ones feeling the pinch as the result of the final phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

According to this story in the Arizona Republic, the new passport regulations are also hurting tourism south of the border, the icing on the cake of what was already a less-than-stellar tourism year.  The swine flu panic and a sour economy had already impacted travel, but the passport requirement is keeping out Americans who would otherwise be willing and able to travel across the border.

Agencies that provide travel services for Americans traveling to Mexico have experienced a drop in business, as have auto insurance companies that provide insurance for Americans driving across the border.  Yes, making sure you have a valid passport can be a little bit of a hassle, but there’s an incentive to get your passport application in.

As Mexico struggles to recover from the rough tourism season, hotel and resort owners are trying to cut their losses, seeking to attract customers by any means necessary-even if it means slashing prices. The article in the Arizona Republic quotes travel agent Debbie Winnie as saying that prices on many all-inclusive packages have been discounted up to half off!

To take advantage of these deals, you need to get your passport application in now. Currently, it takes at least 6 weeks from the day you apply for your new passport to arrive in the mail. If you apply with the government’s expedited processing, you could still find yourself waiting 3 weeks or longer.

Getting a passport is much faster and less of a hassle when you use a private passport expediting company. An expediting company will provide clear, easy-to-understand instructions on how to fill out your passport application and rush it directly to the US State Department for faster processing. With an expediting company, your application could be processed in as little as 24 hours.

Now is a great time to go to Mexico. Don’t miss out-get your passport application in today!