How To Apply For Expedited Passports - Necessary Documents And Processing Times

When an individual decides to become a world traveler

, he may be more interested in where he is going than how to get there. If inexperienced with international travel, it is easy to be ignorant of the documents required to enter and leave the country. In such a situation, the traveler may already have a departure date when he realizes that he must acquire an express passport before leaving home.

If your old passport that was issued at least 15 years ago or you have never had one, the application process is very specific. After completing the application form and securing all of the necessary documents that go with it, you must apply in person. This appearance takes place at what is called an acceptance facility, which is normally located at your local post office or in a local government office. The types of documents that are filed in support of your application are all specified on the website of the passport agency. To ensure that your application can be accepted on your first visit, make sure you understand the pertinent requirements.

If you have a current passport you should check to see how long until it expires. This could be important, depending on where you are traveling. When traveling, some locations insist that your travel documents be valid for a period of time beyond your expected travel dates. As a matter of prudence, it makes sense to give yourself some leeway, just in case your trip is extended unexpectedly. If you determine that a renewal is in order, you will find that the process is fairly simple, and can be completed through the mail.

When there is limited time prior to departure in which to acquire a new or renewal urgent United States passport, there are options available that help the traveler advance the application through more quickly. Two of these options require a little something extra from the traveler in dealing with the passport agency. The other option is to hire a company to act as the traveler's representative to complete the application.

The easiest choice is to check a box on the application form requesting expedited service. This can be done whether applying at a facility or through the mail. There is an extra fee of $60 for this service, which basically allows the application to move to the top of the pile for processing. As a general guideline, using this option will shorten the total time by about one half. The traveler can see if this option will be sufficient by checking the published processing times on their website.

Sometimes when dealing with a passport agency, you may find that your departure date is sooner than the time it takes to get priority service. If this happens, you can ask for an appointment to visit a Regional Agency Office, where you directly hand your application and documents to the agent, pay all fees, including the extra $60, and prove that you indeed have a departure date this is very near. In this case you can receive your documents more quickly. This option is not always easily available for some travelers since these regional offices are geographically based and there might not be one very close to where you live.

In situations where the first two options are not viable, there is at least one other option available to the individual. A private firm can be hired to act as the representative of the traveler. There are several companies that exist purely for the purpose of assisting travelers in getting their documents in a hurry. The traveler would still have to provide a completed application, all supporting paperwork, and the necessary government fees to this representative. In addition, there are fees for this expedited service. The difference is the representative will take the application package directly to a passport office for immediate processing. These companies proclaim that they can get a passport within 24 to 48 hours. Keep in mind that the faster the service, the more expensive it will be.

by: Ben Pate

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