In this hectic travel age, when people are globetrotting with regularity, there may be times when an urgent US passport is needed in order to travel quickly. Perhaps one expired and just wasn’t renewed in time or maybe one was lost or stolen. Whatever the case, understanding where to go and what to do to obtain a passport in an urgent manner can be important to know.
When it comes to obtaining a passport in a short amount of time, many people choose to take on the services of express passport processing companies or businesses. Almost all have a presence on the Internet, so keep that in mind. Additionally, the State Department also has set up a website outlining procedures for getting one in a very short amount of time. Use them, if possible.
In actuality, an expedited passport can take from two to three weeks, though that seems a bit long for something so urgent. Using expedited servicing through the government will require overnight deliveries, both to and from a US passport agency or servicing center, so keep that in mind as well. Same-day passports (to use one example of an urgent-need passport), though, can be done in many cases. It just takes work and a bit of time.
For U S passports that need to be obtained in a day or two, there are many ways of working with an express expediter, for one. For another, traveling to a regional passport servicing center is another. With 14 of them spread around the country (three in the Midwest and several on both coasts, including Los Angeles, New York City and Washington DC), one should be relatively nearby.
Outside of making use of an expediter company to get an urgent passport, working through the government will mean having to make an appointment at one of those centers. There’s a toll-free number set up on the State Department website. Use it to call the automated system to schedule an appointment, and try to make it for as early in the day as practicable. Passports can take up to five hours to be processed.
Also remember that no regional servicing center is able to take any sort of passport photograph. Just go to a larger US Post Office or one of many businesses that take such photographs. Remember as well that not having photographs can throw off the whole process, sometimes adding several days to it. That’s a point worth remembering when an urgently needed passport is required.
It’s also advised that a hopeful passport applicant show up with the proper documentation. This includes identification and solid proof of citizenship. Current security regulations mandate that passport service centers collect such proof in every case. Normally, official birth certificates, naturalization paperwork and other forms are acceptable. Check the State Department website if in doubt.
Travel being the way it is nowadays, and given that many people are doing it on extremely short notice, it just might be that knowing how to go about getting an urgent USA Passport issued can be helpful. Outside of using of an expediter service, remember that only those regional service centers are capable of same-day passport production. Also, remember to bring the right documents to ensure smooth processing.
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