Applying through a passport expediter may help if you need a passport faster than routine service but cannot easily handle the process yourself.
An expediter can help you prepare your documents, review your application, manage shipping, and submit eligible paperwork to a passport agency on your behalf.
Passport expediters are third-party services. They are not employees of the United States government although they are registered with the Department of State and make their reputation on trustworthy and quick service.
Some of our favorite couriers have been around for over a decade!
Using a registered passport expediter service provider is different from applying yourself for standard expedited passport service. Expedited service is requested directly through the U.S. Department of State and usually takes 2 to 3 weeks.
A passport expediter is a private company that helps manage the application process, especially when your travel date is close and appointments are hard to get or you want extra help avoiding mistakes.
A passport expediter is also different from emergency passport service. Emergency and urgent travel appointments are handled by U.S. passport agencies and centers, usually for travelers leaving within 14 days or those who need a foreign visa within 28 days.
While a courier cannot guarantee faster processing than applying directly at a passport agency, they can submit the application when no appointment is available for you to do it yourself.
Use the guide below to learn when using a passport expediter makes sense, what documents you need, how the process works, what it may cost, and when you may be better off contacting a passport agency yourself.
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Apply for Expedited Passport Service via a Expeditor: The Process
- Choose a passport expediter (our recommendation) and submit service request.
- Complete the required passport forms and gather necessary documents.*
- Mail or deliver your passport application, supporting materials, letter(s) of authorization and payment for fees to the expediter.
- The passport courier service hand-delivers your materials to a regional passport agency.
- The regional agency processes the application and issues the passport to the courier.
- The passport courier delivers the new passport and any supporting documents to you.
*Important: If you are applying for a new passport or replacing one that has been lost or stolen, you must present your application and supporting document to an agent at a local passport office before mailing them to the expeditor. Inform the agent that you will be doing this.
You will be required to present one authorization letter to be included in the sealed envelope with your application and supporting document. A second authorization letter should be mailed to the expediting service with the sealed envelope.
Apply for Expedited Passport Service via a Expeditor: Pros and Cons
There are several unique advantages and disadvantages to going through the process of applying for expedited service through a registered courier.
Considering each of them carefully is the only way to ensure you are making the best decision for your particular needs and circumstances.
The Pros of Using a Registered Courier
- Proximity – When you need a passport quickly, your application needs to get to a regional passport agency. Depending upon where you live, this may be a challenge.
The best passport expediting companies have multiple offices nearby to the majority of regional agencies, especially those in cities like New York, Boston, Miami, Houston and Los Angeles. This ensures the fastest possible turnaround time for your application and saves you a trip!
- Time – Applications are usually processed the same day or next day at regional agency although it may take longer. An applicant's departure date is taken into consideration.
An expeditor usually cannot reduce the amount of time it takes an agency to process an application form. However, it is important to consider the time required to complete the entire process.
To have a better understand of how much time you can save by contracting an expediting company, calculate the time it would take to schedule an appointment at the processing center, travel to the location, wait in line to submit the application, wait for the processing, return to pick up your new passport and the trip back home.
If you do not live close to a regional agency, getting a passport application expedited can take an entire day or more. This could require you take a day of work or miss classes.
If your deadline is extremely close, review our same-day passport options to understand when courier help makes sense and when a Regional Passport Agency appointment is required.
- Expertise – Passport applications are very detailed and particular documents. Applicants must take every precaution to ensure instructions are followed carefully and supporting materials are in order.
Failure to do so can result in lengthy processing delays and even outright denials.
Reputable passport expeditors are experienced in all aspects of the passport application process. Having the guidance and support of a trained expert can help avoid the mistakes and errors that could prevent you from getting a passport as quickly as you need one.
Furthermore, their familiarity and relationships with regional passport agencies can be the difference in getting your passport as soon as the same day or having to wait several business days.
The Cons of Using a Registered Courier
- Cost – Of course, there is an inevitable cost associated with hiring a private passport expediting company to help with your application. Expeditors' fees vary widely but usually start at about $150 for 2-week service and go up to several hundred dollars for same day processing. This does not include government fees.
While that is a lot to pay, expeditors have saved thousands of people from missing a vacation or business trip. Believe it or not, the additional cost of an expediting service could actually be less expensive than submitting the application yourself.
Weigh an expeditor’s fee against some of the expenses you might incur by applying in person: gas, meals, lodging, parking, and your time. In many cases, the totals are comparable if not tilted in favor of hiring help.
- Trust – When you choose to hire an passport expediting service, you have to entrust your identifying documents and passport to people that you do not know. If they do not (or cannot) deliver on their promises, it could result in serious complications of your travel plans.
If you need a passport as soon as possible, the only way to avoid these types of issues (and the stress they inevitably cause) is to choose your expediting service wisely.
How to Choose a Passport Expediter
There are several key factors that make certain rush passport companies better than others. Three notable features to consider are:
- An express passport expediting service that has been in operation for more than five years. New passport courier companies pop up each year, but they are not all created equal. Companies with a long tenure also tend to have more satisfied customers and better results than startups.
- A Better Business Bureau BBB rating of "B" or better. Surprisingly, there are several expediting services that have ratings of "C", or below. Even more surprising is that some of these are the most visible expeditors on the internet. Just because a service tops your search results doesn’t make it the best. Do your due diligence to ensure you are trusting your passport application to a company that actually delivers on their promises.
- Postive reviews from previous customers. The internet has made it easy to check what others say about a company. If you are like two-thirds of shoppers, you value online reviews. Using Google, Yelp, Facebook or other platforms is a great way to check the rating of almost any company very quickly.
Discover which professional passport expediting service we recommend here.
Compare Your Fast Passport Options
If routine service is too slow, you may need an agency appointment or help from a registered courier. Compare your options before you decide.
