Expedited Passports

After you’ve returned from an overseas journey, what do you do with your family’s US passports? Most people put their passports in a drawer and lock them away until their next trip.  However, there are some things you can use your passport to do here at home:

• Get a job:  US passports can be used to establish both proof of identity and proof of eligibility to work in the United States when you get a job with a new employer.
• Buy alcohol: In some states, US passports can be used as proof of age to buy alcohol. .So, if you lose your license, you can try using your passport. However, some states will only take a driver’s license or a state-issued ID card, and the final decision is always up to the individual store clerk.
• Open a bank account:  Passports are generally accepted as ID to prove your identity when you open a bank account.
• Apply for a driver’s license:  In most states, a US passport serves as proof of identity and verification of your birthdate when you go to apply for a driver’s license.

As you can see, US passports are handy documents to have even when you are not traveling.  However, they do take  a little bit of time to acquire. Currently, if you apply with regular processing, you can expect to wait at least 6 weeks for your passport to arrive in the mail. If you apply with the government’s expedited processing, you can expect to wait at least 3 weeks.

The quickest and easiest way to get a passport is to use a private passport expediting company. You’ll get personal service from a passport professional, help with the paperwork and much faster service. in fact, with RushMyPassport.com, you can get your passport application processed in as little as 24 hours!

Order your US passports today!

The Berlin Wall has been down for almost 20 years. However, Checkpoint Charlie, the most famous border crossing between East and West Berlin, is still a major tourist attraction. And, for a fee, you can still get your passport stamped just as you would have if you crossed from East Berlin to West Berlin when the wall was still up.

“Souvenir” passport stamps are also available from popular tourist destinations like Machu Picchu. Plus, tiny countries like Liechtenstein and San Marino may not bother to stamp your passport unless you pay them for the privilege.

Think carefully before you do! Jaunted points out that since US passports are technically supposed to be legal documents that document the countries you’ve been to, fake passport stamps from street vendors at tourist destinations might cause problems at some border crossings. However, “souvenir” passport stamps from actual countries like Liechenstein should be fine.

If you’ve already filled up your passport’s visa pages, you’ll need to make sure you have enough room for additional stamps before you travel out of the country again.Most countries require 2 to 4 blank pages. For more details, see How to Add New Pages To Your US Passport.

Whether you need to add pages, renew your passport or get a brand new one, a private passport expediting company can help simplify the process. You’ll get personal assistance from a trained passport export, as well as speedy processing time, so you won’t have to worry about missing your vacation.

Apply for your US passports today!

In just 6 days, on June 1st, US travel document requirements will change for Americans traveling to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean by land or sea.  US passports were previously only required for air travel to these countries-people traveling by land or sea could simply use their driver’s licenses and birth certificates (or other proof of citizenship). Now, all adults are required to show a US passport or another approved type of ID to return to the US, no matter what method of travel they are using.

To help residents comply with these travel regulations, some states are offering Enhanced Drivers Licenses, or EDLs.  EDLs contain a radio frequency identification chip that contains information about the person the EDL was issued to, so they are harder to fake than a regular driver’s license.

Currently, only 4 states offer EDLs: Michigan, New York, Vermont and Washington. If you live in one of those states, should you get an EDL or a passport?

An EDL will allow you to make quick trips across the border to Canada or Mexico by car or by boat. However, you should be aware that an EDL cannot be used for travel to countries other than Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean nations included in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. To visit those countries, you would still need a US Passport.

The EDL is also not valid for international air travel. Even if you are only flying in to Mexico or Canada, you still need a passport if you’re leaving the country by air.  Which brings us to another good reason to choose a US passport over the EDL-what if there’s an emergency while you’re in another country and you need to fly home unexpectedly? Your re-entry into the US will go much more smoothly if you have the proper form of ID!

What are the advantages of having an EDL?  First of all, they are cheaper than getting a passport. Secondly, they fit more comfortably in your wallet than a passport book does, so they are more convenient. If all you need a WHTI-approved ID for is quick excursions on the other side of the border, an EDL may be fine. However, if you’ll be visiting our neighbor to the north (or south) for any length of time, it’s safest to travel with your passport.

Currently, it takes about 2 months to get a passport if you apply directly to the Department of State with normal processing. If you pay the additional $60 to have it expedited, you’ll still be waiting at least 3 weeks. However, a private passport expediting company can often have your passport processed in as little as 24 hours.

June 1st is almost here: Order your US passports today!

Naturalization can be a long, drawn-out process, but navigating it successfully provides many benefits to new citizens, including becoming eligible for US passports. Traveling with US passports allows y0u to get assistance from the US government if you are traveling overseas and you need help.

Depending on your specific situation, the requirements for naturalization can vary. Specific requirements for citizenship and more information about the process can be found here. However, here’s a brief rundown on how the process works for most people:

• You must live in the US as a permanent resident for at least 5 years.  If you are married to and live with a US citizen,  the requirement drops down to only 3 years.
• You must be physically present in the US for at least 30 months out of that 5 years, or for at least 18 months out of 3 years if you’re married to  a US citizen.
• You must live in a US state or USCIS district for at least 3 months before you apply for citizenship.
• You must pass an English test and a civics test.
• You must demonstrate “good moral character” by not committing certain crimes or engaging in certain behaviors.
• You must take the Oath of Allegiance, swearing loyalty to the US Constitution and the country as a whole in a public naturalization ceremony.

Once you take the Oath of Allegiance, you’re officially a US citizen. You’ll get a Certificate of Naturalization, which can be submitted as proof of citizenship for your passport application.

When applying for a passport, an expediting company like RushMyPassport.com can help make the process easier and get your passport to you quickly-sometimes in as little as 24 hours!

We offer a variety of different processing options to make sure you have your passport when you need it. Apply for your US passports today!

US citizens planning a trip to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean need to be aware of new travel requirements that will become effective June 1st, 2009. After June 1st,  the days of being able to cross the border by flashing your driver’s license and your birth certificate are over.  US citizens traveling to these regions will need to show US passports or passport cards to re-enter the country…or else!

Right about now, your inner three-year-old is probably asking “Oh yeah…or else what?” What happens if you try to get back in to the US without a passport after June 1st? Will you be trapped at the border forever? Arrested?

Fortunately, the consequences for American citizens trying to re-enter the country without US passports after the deadline are not quite that grim. According to the US government’s fact sheet on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, travelers will “likely experience a delay as U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers attempt to verify your identity and citizenship.” In other words, expect to be massively inconvenienced.

Being held up by Customs and Border Protection is no small matter…delays in getting home can result in having to pay extra for lodging, missing work and many other inconveniences. It’s also worth noting that if you are planning on traveling on a cruise or with a professional tour group, they probably won’t let you leave the US with them in the first place if you don’t have the right documents for re-entry.

So, please, don’t forget your US passports!

If you have a trip planned for Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean, the fastest way to get US passports is to use a private passport expediting service.  When you use an expediting service, you get the benefit of faster processing and more personal customer service.

RushMyPassport.com offers a variety of processing times for applications for US passports to make sure your trip stays on schedule. For the fastest service, order your US passports from us today!

Applying for passport services is a little bit different if you were born overseas.  Almost all US citizens can get a passport, no matter where you were originally from. However, the documents you’ll need to submit are different than they would be for someone who was born in the US.

For example, if you were born overseas to US parents, you can apply for passport services using a Consular Report of Birth Abroad as proof of citizenship instead of a birth certificate.  Or, you can use a Certificate of Citizenship.

If you were born abroad and adopted by US parents, you can use your adoption decree and a copy of both parent’s US birth certificates as proof of citizenship.

If you are a naturalized US citizen, you can apply for passport services using your Certificate of Naturalization. What if you’ve lost your  Certificate of Naturalization? You can order a replacement, but it may take up to 6 weeks to arrive. So, if you’re applying for expedited passport services, here’s what you can do:

• Submit a letter from USCIS, which verifies the facts of the naturalization and bears the original signature of the issuing official.
• Submit your signed statement giving the details surrounding the loss or theft.

• Submit a receipt (or cancelled check) from the USCIS  to prove that you have applied for a replacement naturalization certificate. (more…)

Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes, so does the US Passport Agency. Whenever you get a new passport, you should look it over carefully, just to make sure all of the information is correct. If there is a printing error, you’ll need to get it corrected before you travel.

How do you fix a printing error on your US passport? Fortunately, you don’t have to go through the entire application process again. Instead, submit Form DS-5504. You’ll also need to send in your US passport, and evidence to show that the change you’ve requested is valid. For example, you can send in a copy of your birth certificate if you need to have the spelling of your name or your birthday corrected. If it’s been more than 90 days since your US passport was issued, you’ll also need to get new passport photos taken.

Fixing a printing error is free if you request regular processing. However, it could take several weeks for you to get your passport back in the mail. If you have an international trip planned in the near future, a private expediting service like RushmyPassport.com can have your passport sent to you more quickly. Depending on how long you have before you have to travel, an expediting company can get your passport in as little as 24 hours!  The price of the service varies depending on the processing time you select, and more affordable options are available that take just a few days more. Considering how much money you’ll lose on your international trip if you don’t have a passport in time, the expediting fee is a bargain!

Are you traveling overseas? Go to RushMYPassport.com to make sure your passport is ready when you are!

Every girl grows up dreaming about her wedding day. Then, she actually starts trying to plan a wedding. There are two types of brides: those who revel in deciding on every tiny detail, and those who quickly begin to contemplate the joys of eloping.  In fact, eloping to escape the obligations of a wedding is becoming increasingly common. So are destination weddings, where couples and their families hold the wedding ceremony in an exotic locale, often on a cruise ship or overseas.  After all, who wouldn’t want to get married in paradise? Hotels and cruise ships that offer destination weddings usually offer no-stress, pre-planned wedding packages so you don’t have to obsess over the details.

Whether you’re driving across the border to say “I do” or planning a fairytale wedding at a castle in Europe, a US passport is indispensable.  Right now, a US passport is required for anyone leaving the country by air-even if you’re just jetting off to Cancun.  You can use a birth certificate and driver’s license for land travel and cruises instead of a US passport, but starting June 1, 2009, you’ll need a passport for that, too.

You can visit the US Passport Agency online to find out what you need to do to get a passpport. However, if you need your US passport quickly, using a professional expediting service like RushMyPassport.com is the best way to go.  With an expediting service, you can have your passport in as little as 24 hours, and you’ll have a professional to walk you through the process every step of the way!