Rush Passport Expediting Service

Rush passport expediting service is available to U.S. citizens who need to obtain a passport in a hurry. Applications submitted for regular processing normally take four to six weeks to process. If you cannot wait that long to get your travel document, you can accelerate the process by requesting expedited service. There are three ways to make use of this service. You can apply to expedite your passport at an application acceptance facility, a regional agency or a professoinal expediting service. Each method has its respective demands and benefits. Let’s examine each option more closely.

Apply for Expedited Service at a Passport Application Acceptance Facility

You can request expedited service when submitting your application for a new passport at a local passport application acceptance facility. The first step is to fulfill all the requirements for obtaining a new passport by submitting a completed application form DS-11, evidence of U.S. citizenship, proof of identity, a photocopy of identification document and two passport photos.

Next, pay the applicable fees. The execution fee is $25. This payment is made to the acceptance agent. The application fee is $110 and the expedited service fee is $60. These can be combined into one payment of $135. This payment is payable to the Department of State and should be placed in the envelope with your application and supporting documents. Acceptable payment methods include personal check, money order and bank draft.

Finally, write the word “EXPEDITE” in large letters on the outside of the envelope. Passport Services processed over 15 million applications for passport books and passport cards last year. Due to such a high volume of applications, packets are not opened immediately upon arrival. Writing the word “EXPEDITE” on the outside of the envelope enables agents to identify those in which the applicant has requesed expedited service.

How much will this accelerate the process? According to the U.S. Department of State Passport Services, applications accompanied by a request for expedited service are generally processed in two to three weeks. Note, the State Department cannot guarantee that your application will be processed in this amount of time. This is just an estimate. Your passport could be processed more quickly or it could take longer than usual.

NEXT: Apply for Expedited Service at a Regional Passport Agency

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