If you plan to travel outside the United States in four to six months, you won’t need an expedited pass port. You can go through the usual application process and have your passport in hand in plenty of time. If you need a faster delivery time, you can arrange for a delivery date much earlier. In fact, you can receive your passport in as little as twenty-four hours.
Passports are necessary in more travel situations than prior to 9/11. U. S. Citizens must have a passport to travel to Canada or Mexico. Previously, a birth certificate and driver’s license was enough documentation to cross the borders and return to the United States. If you know six months or more in advance that you will be traveling to another country, you can go through the standard passport application process.
2-3 Week Turnaround
If you need a passport in less than three weeks, you may want to expedite the process yourself. This is the least expensive way, given the need for expeditious delivery. When you submit your application and documents at the passport agency office, you simply request and pay additional fees for faster delivery. You will normally receive the documents within three weeks.
Only a Few Days Before Traveling
If you are able to make a trip to the regional passport office, you can still get your passport in less than two weeks. In fact, you can make an appointment, take the documents into the regional office and later in the day, pick up your passport. If you live a long distance from the office, or you have limited time to get the passport, this is a more expensive procedure and may consume more time than you can spend in passport application travel.
The second method for getting a expedited US passport in less than two weeks is to retain the services of a private expediter. This method is intended for people who need the passport in two weeks or less, but cannot take the time to travel to one of the regional passport agencies. Private expediters offer services for rapid delivery of your passport document.
Private Passport Application Agency
If you need your passport the same day, the private expediters can do it. If you need the passport at any time during the next eight to ten business days, the private agency can arrange to get it cone. The cost for such service is generally dependent upon the exact time of the needed delivery date.
Processing times for passport documents delivered by a private expediter can be as little as the same day and up to 11 business days. It may be necessary for really short term needs to hand deliver the documents to the U. S. Passport Agency and return the completed passport book to you. Costs may be less than the cost of dropping everything to complete the rush process yourself.
Help from a private agency to get an expedited passport application removes the concern about aborting your travel plans. If you need the passport, the cost may be well worth it. A valid United States passport is good for ten years.
