subject: The U.s. Passport Replacement Development [print this page] Individuals who need U.SIndividuals who need U.S. passport replacement due to loss, theft, or expiration may find themselves waiting for up to eight weeks to receive a new passport. The government's standard processing time for passports ranges from six to eight weeks. This may present problems for people with immediate travel plans.
By going on the Internet and conducting a quick search, one can find a myriad of providers that can help get a new one in as little as 1 to 2 business days if necessary. These replacement US passport services do charge a fee above and beyond that of the standard issuing charge but this can be well worth it should an emergency replacement be needed. The fee can range anywhere from an extra $150.00 to $300.00 per passport, depending on how quickly the new one is needed.
These companies are well-versed in operating within the governmental requirements for passport processing. They are able to expedite the processing times due to the relationships they have established with the relevant government agency. The quickest an individual would be able to receive a new passport is within about four weeks. These companies are able to do it much quicker.
Processing companies post all of the required forms and instructions on their Web sites. The applicant should read the instructions carefully because anything done incorrectly will result in a processing delay. There are instructions regarding how to correctly complete the passport application as well as what is considered acceptable identification to prove citizenship and identity.
New photographs will also be necessary when applying for a replacement and should be done to conform to the guidelines set by the issuing agency. The pictures must be 2" by 2" in size and identical in every way. The easiest way to ensure they are correct is by using a service or photographer that specializes in passport photography as they will know what is needed to meet all the requirements.
Once the paperwork has been gathered and all the necessary items copied, the next step will be to send everything in to the service provider. These papers should be shipped via a private courier service such as FedEx or UPS. This ensures that the items can be tracked during shipping and that they will arrive in the shortest time possible.
When renewing a passport, the existing passport must be returned with the renewal paperwork. This passport will be canceled by the government and returned to the passport holder. The canceled passport will not be valid for use but it may be retained with the passport holder's records.
