In an ideal world, you would have weeks or even months of advance notice before taking an international trip that requires a valid passport. Unfortunately, we live in times where that isn’t always the case.
Maybe your boss just informed you she needs you to fly to China for an important business meeting next Tuesday. Perhaps your child just qualified for a major international soccer tournament held in the UK. Maybe you need to book a last-minute flight out of the country for a funeral.
Regardless of the circumstances, not having enough time to get your passport back before your trip can be incredibly stressful and nerve-wracking. If you find yourself in need of quick passport services, there is both good news and bad news.
The good news is that by having your passport expedited, you can get your passport renewed online or delivered quicker than if you went through traditional government channels. The bad news is that for virtually all cases, you still do need a few days before the time of your trip.
That said, in many cases, having an expedited passport can allow you to take your trip with no issues, even if it seems like it’s too late to try.
Reasons for Having a Passport Expedited
In essence, when you have your passport expedited, you’re hoping to get your passport returned to you quicker than under normal circumstances. You need your passport in the least amount of time possible.
While the US government does offer expedited passport processing, that time frame is often at the mercy of government holidays and whether you submitted your required documents by the end of the business day. That’s where expedited passport services come in.
Most passport services will have extensive experience in helping get customers their expedited passports as quickly as possible. By working with local post offices as well as passport agencies, these companies reduce the chances of holdups due to paperwork and help speed up the process. They also do the majority of the legwork for renewing your passport so you don’t have to miss work or spend time going to post office after post office.
There are a few common reasons to request an expedited passport.
- You need your passport as soon as possible as you must travel for your job.
- You need replace a lost or stolen passport, and it’s urgent you do so quickly.
- You don’t want to have to wait in line at the post office or miss work while sending your passport to another location for processing.
- You don’t have an hour in your day to search for the required passport forms.
- You need to leave the country for emergency medical reasons, such as requiring medication that you can’t find here in the US. (Please note that in life or death situations, going directly to the US consulate can get you your passport handled in as little as 2-3 days.)
Of course, there are many more reasons to have your passport expedited, but the most significant is speed. In general, it takes 4-6 weeks to get your passport when going through the regular process; however, with an expedited service, you can often cut that time down to a few days to a week!
What Is Required for an Expedited Passport?
Like the standard passport application process, there are several steps you’ll need to take to ensure that the process occurs without any significant issues.
First, you’ll need to fill out the traditional forms based on your specific situation. These include the DS-82 if you’re renewing your passport or the DS-5504 if you need to change your name after recently getting married. If some part of your passport information is accurate, you’ll need to fill out the DS-5504 form.
Next, as you would with a normal passport application, you will need to gather proof of citizenship and copies of a valid ID such as your driver’s license or social security card. You will also need to get a 2” by 2” passport photo based on the most recent government guidelines.
Once you’ve filled out the required form and gathered your documents, you will then need to pay for expedited processing. Whether you’re choosing to expedite your passport with the government or by using a service, there is always a fee.
Once the expediting service receives your application and documents, they’ll hand carry your application to the closest passport agency and get the process started immediately. Because the service takes your passport documents directly to a passport agency, they can often get the process completed in just a few days.
Unlike the federal government, which has thousands of applications to process, a passport expediting service is able to give undivided attention to it’s customers to ensure the fastest processing available. Instead of being stuck in line behind hundreds of others wanting to get their expedited passport, you’ll work with a team that has the bandwidth to focus solely on their customers.
Throughout the entire process, you’ll also be kept updated every step of the way so you know exactly where you stand regarding your application. You won’t need to contact your local post office and speak to dozens of representatives to find the actual status of your passport.
Because the expediting process can be a little overwhelming to first timers, these services have a team of dedicated experts who are standing by to help assist you with any questions you might have. There’s probably no passport-related question that they can’t answer.
To recap, here’s how the standard passport expediting process works:
- You sign up for an expedited passport service provider.
- You pay a small fee in exchange for quicker processing.
- The service shares a checklist of everything you need to ensure the process goes smoothly.
- You overnight your application to the passport service with the required documents.
- The service gets to work on returning your passport quickly.
It’s as easy as that. No matter what your reason, choosing to have your passport expedited is often a great decision that can allow you to continue with your original travel itinerary.
Passport Expediting Services
There are a variety of passport expediting services designed specifically for your needs. Whether you’re on a tight time frame or have a few extra days to work with, they’ll work with you and your specific situation.
Even if you’ve only recently discovered you need to leave the country, the sooner you can act on that information, the better experience you’ll have overall. If you need to leave the country next week, it’s crucial you get in touch with an expedited passport service today so they can get to work on your behalf.
Passport expediting services have many benefits. Not only do they help you get your passport situation handled quickly, but you don’t have to take time off work or reschedule your trip if you can’t make it to a brick-and-mortar post office.
They also work closely with passport agencies around the country so that you know your application is in good hands every step of the way. Additionally, in extremely stressful situations, having someone guide you can help reduce your anxiety and give you the resources you need when you’re not sure what to do next.
If you are in need of a reliable passport expediting service, be sure to email us or give us a call today so we can learn more about the exact time frame you’re working with. We would love to help you get your passport as quickly as possible.
