Oct 15 2010
Obtaining An Overnight Passport – Details You Should Know
When traveling internationally, it is very important to prepare yourself by understanding what types of travel documents are essential for your trip. Whatever else might be needed, it is certain that a passport is first and foremost. Even if you dont need it to enter some countries, you will surely need it to pass through customs on your return to the United States. So, if you dont yet have a valid one, and you are departing soon, you will need to apply for an priority passport.
If you are applying for a passport for the first time, or your previous passport was issued more than 15 years ago, you must personally present your application to an agent of the issuing agency. This is normally done at acceptance facilities, which are located in post offices or other local government buildings, such as your city hall or courthouse. There are specific identification documents that must be presented in conjunction with your official application form. It is important that you pay close attention to these document requirements in order to provide an error-free application. You can find detailed definitions and examples of the acceptable documents on the agencys website.
Be sure to understand the travel document rules of the locations you will be visiting. Some countries require that your passport be valid for a minimum amount of time beyond your scheduled stay, usually anywhere from 90 days to six months. If you already possess a valid passport, but it will expire soon, you may need to file for a renewal to meet these guidelines. Obtaining a renewal is somewhat easier than an initial application because you have already passed the acceptance process. You can complete a renewal by mailing in your application.
Whether you need a new or renewal urgent USA passport, when time is short before departure it is important to know what your options are for getting your documents fast. There are two vastly different ways in which you can speed the application when dealing with the issuing agency. You can also hire a private company to work for you. There are companies that have representatives at the ready to assist travelers in this function.
The first option is the simplest. When you submit your application, whether in person or by mail, you can pay an extra fee of $60 to the agency and request faster service. This will allow your application to take precedence over others, and can cut the wait time for receipt of your document by half. Normal processing times are published on the agencys website, allowing you to check if this option will meet your travel needs.
Sometimes when dealing with a passport agency, you may find that your departure date is sooner than the time it takes to get priority service. If this happens, you can ask for an appointment to visit a Regional Agency Office, where you directly hand your application and documents to the agent, pay all fees, including the extra $60, and prove that you indeed have a departure date this is very near. In this case you can receive your documents more quickly. This option is not always easily available for some travelers since these regional offices are geographically based and there might not be one very close to where you live.
If you have ruled out doing it yourself through the issuing agency, the next option to consider in hiring a company to act as your agent in this matter. The specialty of these companies is fast acquisition of travel documents for their clients. Some promote themselves as being able to get your documents in a range of one day to two weeks. As you can imagine, the more immediate your need, the higher your fee to the company will be. Please keep in mind that using one of these expediting services will not free you from the responsibility of completing the application and all other paperwork that must be submitted. The only part that changes is that you present your documents to this company and they act as your agent in walking them through to completion.
As it turns out, this new world traveler doesnt have to worry about getting an fast passport. With the options now available it can be accomplished quickly enough that it will not get in the way of most any planned departure date. The key is learning the options and deciding which one satisfies the conditions of the situation most effectively.
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