How To Get An Expedited U.S. Passport Service
If you’re a United States (US) citizen and you plan to travel outside of the country, you’ll have to obtain a current passport. You can start by going to a US post office which offers the service on behalf of the federal government which oversees issuance of US passports. You’ll fill out forms, provide certain documents, and pay a fee. You can expect to receive your passport in about six weeks on average, but if you have an urgent need to get it sooner, you can pay an additional expedite fee and most likely receive it within two to three weeks. If you need it quicker than that, you can apply through a passport expidite service company.
Regardless of whether you opt for the do-it-yourself application process, or to hire the help of a private expediting service, there are certain requirements that cannot be sidestepped. The standard application form, depending on whether you’re a first time applicant, applying for replacement or renewal, or a child, must be completed. Citizenship must be proven with documentation. And all must produce two regulation photos to include with the application.
Application fees are set by and paid to the US government. For first time adult applicants, the fee is $135. For adults applying to renew or replace, the fee is $110. The expedite fee, if the applicant wishes his or her application to be processed more quickly than the average, is $60. An additional overnight mailing fee is about $15.00, which would bring the grand total to $210 for a first-time expedited application, and $185 for the quicker renewal/replacement.
There are many private companies which can help people navigate the application process. A quick search of the internet provides pages of links to such companies. It can be useful to compare what they have to offer and their particular requirements.
Some private expediting service companies offer a range of delivery schedules, and charge varying fees accordingly. For example, if you want your passport within 24 hours of submitting all required information, you might expect to pay $300, in addition to the government fees noted above. If you can wait between eight and 14 days, you might pay only $100 in addition to the government fees.
Other services provided by expediting service companies are available. For example, you might need a new one, not because yours has expired or because you lost it. Perhaps you’ve recently married and have changed your name. They can help you with that application. Or perhaps you have a new baby, or children under 16. Their applications can be handled, too. The fees might vary depending on the service.
Ask around before settling on any one service. It’s alright to look for good deals. Word of mouth, references from friends and colleagues, can be helpful in finding a reputable and reliable company. Remember that you are giving very personal information to the people you are paying to help you through the process.
In conclusion, when planning to travel outside of the country, be sure that your passport is up to date. If you need to apply for or renew one, you can do it yourself directly through the federal government. If you choose to hire someone to help you with the expedited us passport process, or if you need it quickly, you can rely on passport expediting services to assist you.
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