The departure date for your international trip is set. You now need to get a passport and want to know which processing option to choose to ensure that your travel document arrives in time. Should you choose standard processing or expedited service?
Choose routine processing to get a passport in 11-13 weeks or expedited service to get it in 7-9 weeks. Neither includes delivery times. Faster service is available at a regional agency or processing center. An appointment is required but none can be guaranteed.
Can't wait 9 weeks? There are other options:
How quickly you need to get a passport is certainly the most important factor in determining whether to choose routine or expedited passport service but there are a few others you might want to consider such as:
Your answers to the above questions will determine the most effective way of getting your passport application processed.
Each of these passport application options involves different procedures, timetables, costs, and considerations. Read on for a more in-depth breakdowns of each. This guide will help you both make the correct choice and follow the appropriate steps to avoid any potential delays.
Routine vs. Expedited Passport Applications
1.1 New Passport
1.2 Passport Renewal
2.1 Traditional Expedited Application
2.2 Rushed Expedited Application
You can get a new passport by completing a three-step process:
That said, there are a number of potential obstacles along the way that can lead to delays and undue stress – especially if a departure date is looming. Applicants must be thorough in both assembling their supporting materials and planning so that they have a passport in-hand prior to actually needing one.
The U.S. State Department suggests routine passport processing takes 10-13 weeks. These estimates may increase during busier travel times (like holidays, international events, and summer vacation). There are also warnings that unforeseen events like natural disasters could prolong the wait.
If you are planning to leave the country, routine passport processing should only be relied upon with a minimum of two months’ lead time – preferably more.
Once you have a completed application, valid passport photo, and all of the required supporting documents, the next step is to bring them to an application acceptance facility. Usually, this will mean a trip to your local U.S. Post Office or any of the more than 8,000 acceptance facilities available nationwide.
Each applicant for a new passport is required to appear in person to submit his or her documentation and complete the application process.
Thankfully, most people should be able to find an acceptance facility within reasonable commuting distance. However, be sure to factor in hours of operation and commonly busy times to avoid wasting time in long lines. Some locations will allow you to call ahead for appointments or, at the very least, to get a suggested time to visit when lines are typically shorter.
The routine passport application process is the cheapest way for most Americans to get a passport (not counting some very specific cases where passports are issued free of charge).
The State department updates the passport fee schedules yearly.
Currently, the costs are as follows:
In most cases, the U.S. government has made it both cheaper and easier to renew a passport than to apply for a new one.
Applicants can apply in person or by mail using Form DS-82 as long as they have a passport that:
Failure to meet the above criteria means that an applicant must apply for a new passport following the routine application process and paying the execution fee again.
If you need or want your passport faster, there are several ways to obtain one in significantly less time than the routine method.
The State Department’s expedited passport service allows applicants a faster application processing option that mirrors the steps of the routine method. With just a few small changes and an additional fee, it is possible to cut the customary wait time for a passport by several weeks.
Expedited applications are typically processed in an estimated 2-3 weeks’ time. Nevertheless, applicants must still allow for potential U.S. Postal Service delivery delays that could create additional wait time.
The process for obtaining an expedited passport is nearly identical to the routine passport application process. New applicants must still appear in person to submit their materials while renewals are still possible either in person or by mail.
Applicants seeking expedited service must indicate their request on their application and include the additional expedited processing fee with their payment. Expedited renewals by mail must be sent to the National Passport Processing Center in Philadelphia.
The traditional expedited processing service offered through the U.S. State Department adds an additional $60 fee to each application.
For example, this brings the total cost of a new passport book for an adult to $225. Similarly, an expedited adult passport renewal would cost $190.
It is worth nothing that opting for 1-2 day delivery service is available, but adds an additional cost.
While expedited applications are usually handled in under 10 weeks, sometimes that is still too long to wait. Applicants can take additional steps to speed up their passport application process further.
Rushed passport applications can be completed within 14 days. This assumes there are no problems with the application, supporting documents and rationales are in order, and the rush request is approved.
Getting a passport in under two weeks' time requires a visit to a regional passport agency.
Applicants must make an appointment and bring proof of travel along with their application documents to qualify for rushed consideration. Failure to do so can lead to a substantial waste of precious time!
Unlike the thousands of passport application acceptance facilities, there are only a select few regional passport agencies nationwide. The limited number of locations means that many applicants have to travel significant distances to reach their nearest option.
The fee for an expedited passport application is the same whether the application is submitted to a regional passport agency or a local acceptance facility. That said, there are often other costs associated with a rush request.
For most Americans – particularly those far from a major city – traveling to a regional passport agency means incurring travel costs (transportation, food, lodging, etc.) as well as the potential loss of income incurred by taking the time off to attend an appointment. These types of expenses should be factored into the decision-making process when it comes to rushing a passport application.
There are a number of reputable and reliable passport expediting services that help passport applicants get passports as quickly as possible. These services serve as intermediaries between the customer and the regional passport agencies. Customers submit their applications and materials to the courier service which then delivers them to the passport agency on the customers’ behalf.
One major benefit to this approach is that these third-party services are often able to use their reputations and experience to “cut the line” and get their clients’ applications handled more quickly than traditional applicants.
This means that even if you live next door to a regional passport agency, and expediting service may still be able to get your passport application processed faster than you could on your own.
It should be noted that new passport applications require the applicant to appear in person – there is no way around this requirement.
Reputable passport courier services like Rush My Passport can usually renew a passport in as little as 24 hours.
In most instances, the only travel a courier service customer has to make is to a mailbox. The passport expediting service does the actual legwork. This is a huge benefit to those without the time or ability to travel to a regional passport agency.
Passport courier services charge additional fees on top of the regular application and expediting fees charged by the U.S. government. These fees often correlate to how quickly a customer needs a passport. The less urgent the request, the lower the cost.
Even with these fees, courier services may end up being a more cost-effective option than an applicant completing the process his or herself – especially for applicants living far from a regional passport agency.
Deciding upon the best way to apply for a passport doesn’t have to be overly complicated. Each of the four most common options come with clear advantages and disadvantages.
As such, returning to the original questions should guide you towards a clear choice for your particular needs:
When in doubt, err on the side of caution. It is always better to have a passport in hand sooner than you need it than too late!
Need to get your passport as quickly as possible? Click for expedited passport courier service in 24 to 48 hours!.
|