Best way to get a US Passport quickly

In My Humble Opinion
1

Trying to get one before March 14th…originally seemed impossible, but yet…

According to the US Passport website, an expedited passport takes 2-3 weeks…even if I paid to have it overnighted back, and overnighted it there, that’s another 3-4 days for shipping, since there could be a weekend in there, or it was shipped to late to make the cut off. So we’re at almost 3-4 weeks.

And then there’s the option of going to a regional passport office, which is only 30 minutes from me. According to them, I can get that in less than a week…except they will only let me get an appointment if I am within two weeks of my travel date.

So do I risk the first option, and pray it comes in on time, or wait until March 1st and go in person and assume that they really can get it to me within a week?

Edit: Or, if anyone has experience doing it in person, how strict are they with the 14 day rule? The automated phone thing said they needed official tickets/itinerary…

2

Call your Congresscritter and ask if they can help. They have interns for just this sort of thing.

Nars Glinley
Former Congressional Intern

3

Recent thread.

4

I got a new US Passport in 2010. I filled out the form, took it to the post office and had my picture taken on 29 October. My passport was issued on 2 November. I had it in my hands on 6 November. I did not pay the extradited fee.

My advice is to just get it all done and send it all in.

5

I got a new one last year. It took a month.

6

I would advise against this. Just because you received the passport quickly without expediting doesn’t mean it will arrive quickly this time with normal processing.

7

That’s good advice. Getting yourself extradited really won’t help your situation.

8

I paid the fee and got my passport in exactly 2 weeks.

9

WAG. The Passport Office is basing its timeline for regular processing and expedited process on heavy travel periods. Because so many travelers do not plan ahead of time the Passport Office builds into the process extra time to play it safe. Still, they get overwhelmed at times. But ultimately, the expedited processing fee only exists to make money from the gullible.

10

I did mine in person. Had to set up the appointment, which was 4-5 days in the future. I showed up on appointment day with all my info, waited in several lines, and had my passport in hand by late afternoon. It did cost extra, but the peace of mind was worth it. They did ask to see the airline tickets I’d brought to verify that my travel date was within the specified time frame.

11

You could try http://www.rushpassport.com/?

12

Anecdotal: My SO submitted an application for a passport (renewal) on January 2, and recieved it January 24 (2012).

But do what you think you need to do!

13

One other suggestion, that the State Department probably wouldn’t like… When I was in the midst of a quick renewal myself, I ran into the problem you have of not being able to get a rush appointment unless travel was within two weeks. I called an agency and a woman told me, “Hon, they just need to see proof that you’re travelling - you don’t actually need to go. Buy an international plane ticket, print out the confirmation to show at your apppointment, then cancel it and get a refund.” Luckily it didn’t come to that for me, but FYI in case it helps in your situation…

14

Yes - I’ve heard of travel agencies who will do this specifically to help out their clients.

Of course you have to have the room on the credit card to afford a fully-refundable airline ticket for a few days!!

15

Worthless anecdote: I got my passport about a month ago, and it took two weeks. I did not pay the expedited fee. They said it would take 4-6 weeks.

Edit: It arrived via Priority Mail (which I did not pay for). I had no idea what it could be until I opened it.

16

True, though one-way tickets to Mexico or the Caribbean are pretty cheap from many parts of the US!

17

Same here. I was pleasently suprised by the promptness. Not that this helps at all.

18

Thanks for the responses! I decided to do it in person at the office, when I get to within two weeks of travel…it seems the most reliable, and it’s not anymore expensive than the regular expedited service…actually, cheaper, because no postage!