# I need a US Passport in a couple days. Help! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 4, 2010, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716 "2010-02-04T21:06:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lightingtool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lightingtool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightingtool)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/1 "2010-02-04T21:06:23Z")
I have a last-minute job opportunity that requires me to have a passport by Tuesday Feb 9th. Has anyone used a passport expediting service that they would recommend? Thanks for your help. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/2 "2010-02-04T21:13:32Z")
I presume you’ve seen this?: [U.S. Passports](http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_831.html) ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/3 "2010-02-04T21:16:36Z")
How do you feel about driving up to Los Angeles? > **[U.S. Passports](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html/about/agencies/agencies_909.html)** > > How to apply for or renew your U.S. passport if you live in United States ---
**Author:** ![Ruminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Ruminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruminator)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/4 "2010-02-04T21:21:10Z")
Do you live near one of the [regional passport offices](http://travel.state.gov/passport/about/agencies/agencies_913.html)? It has to be a real passport _regional_ office – not the US Post Office. If so, you can walk in with your birth certificate and passport photo and get a passport the same day (a few hours.) I went to the Philadelpha passport office in the morning and got my passport before lunchtime. A friend of mine went to New Orleans office and got hers in 4 hours. ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/5 "2010-02-04T21:21:59Z")
I was in a similar situation once and my company used [Visa Network](http://www.visanetwork.com/index.shtml) to expedite the process. I’m not exactly sure how Visa Network gets paid – I wasn’t the one that handled the details – but I think I got my passport in 3 days. ---
**Author:** ![lightingtool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lightingtool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightingtool)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/6 "2010-02-04T21:27:55Z")
Thanks all (that was speedy!). I looked online and saw a bunch of places but I didn’t realize I could just go to the Los Angeles passport agency and wait in line. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/7 "2010-02-04T21:38:06Z")
Take a good book. You might have to wait awhile. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/8 "2010-02-04T22:00:49Z")
What if you mailed yourself in a large crate? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/9 "2010-02-04T22:57:15Z")
Looks like your thread generated an ad for [www.rushmypassport.com](http://www.rushmypassport.com) . I’m sure going to the regional passport office will be faster and more assured. ---
**Author:** ![Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pasta)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/10 "2010-02-04T22:58:27Z")
I once needed a passport renewal on short notice. I did the following: - Paid for expedited service (not cheap) - Sent my request via next-day FedEx - Included in my FedEx envelope another FedEx envelope (addressed, paid for, and ready to go) I was in California and the office I was told to use was in Pennsylvania. I started midday on (say) Tuesday and had my new passport by Thursday morning. I was amazed. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/11 "2010-02-04T22:59:29Z")
> [@lightingtool](#): > > Thanks all (that was speedy!). I looked online and saw a bunch of places but I didn’t realize I could just go to the Los Angeles passport agency and wait in line. My experience has been that you used to be able to get a passport the same day, but nowadays the minimum time is at least two business days. (go up there one day to fill out the application, go there again the next business day to receive the passport). Of course the last time I did this was more than 10 years ago. I was at the Los Angeles regional office both times. (Yes, I did it twice in my lifetime. The second time, since I knew you could get it the same day, I waited until the day before I was leaving, and that’s when I learned that getting it on the same day was no longer an option - it took at least two days. I had to reschedule my flight.) ---
**Author:** ![Ruminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Ruminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruminator)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/12 "2010-02-04T23:24:18Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > My experience has been that you used to be able to get a passport the same day, but nowadays the minimum time is at least two business days. The Philadelphia and New Orleans offices did them in a few hours in 2003. The only significance of that year was that it was post 9/11/2001 and I was worried it would be a huge hassle. It turns out, both offices weren’t even all that busy that day. The VAST majority of folks just mail in their applications and wait a couple weeks. When I look back on analyzing the potential complications at the passport office because of terrorism, I now realize that we’re not so concerned about terrorist _leaving_ the country – we care more about them _entering_ it. Therefore, I guess the new delays should be at the Immigration & Customs checkpoints at the airports. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/13 "2010-02-05T00:27:08Z")
> [@Ruminator](#): > > The Philadelphia and New Orleans offices did them in a few hours in 2003. Interesting. The last time I had to do it in a hurry, and I was told that it would take at least two days, was in Los Angeles, but before 2001. Maybe the process is faster now. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/14 "2010-02-05T13:21:24Z")
My husband needed a passport in a hurry to take a business trip. He contacted his state representative, who was a great help. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/15 "2010-02-05T14:21:23Z")
Argh, the whole thread and the last response is what I came in to say. 🙂 Yes, call your congresscitters’ constituent services people. That’s what they do. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/16 "2010-02-05T15:31:32Z")
I was able to get one in a single day in Miami in 2007. But you had to have an appointment to go wait in line. If you can get an early appointment then you can wait for them to finish that day. If not you may be S.O.L. and have to come back the next day. I’d check that if I were the OP. Also, where’s the fire? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/17 "2010-02-05T15:42:59Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > My husband needed a passport in a hurry to take a business trip. He contacted his state representative, who was a great help. That would be a rare state representative indeed. The staffs of U.S. representatives or senators typically help with this kind of Federal issue. ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/18 "2010-02-05T18:08:13Z")
> [@Ruminator](#): > > Do you live near one of the [regional passport offices](http://travel.state.gov/passport/about/agencies/agencies_913.html)? It has to be a real passport _regional_ office – not the US Post Office. > > If so, you can walk in with your birth certificate and passport photo and get a passport the same day (a few hours.) Okay, this has me seriously floored. You say a passport, not a provisional passport, that is made in a few hours? What are your passports made out of - laminated paper? Our passports (along with our ID cards) are printed on special plastic (and embossed with holograms and stuff) in a federal facility, and thus takes several weeks (it has gotten quicker recently, used to be a few months). The plastic looks like this[http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Datei:MustermannPA.jpg&filetimestamp=20070629114011](http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Datei:MustermannPA.jpg&filetimestamp=20070629114011) How can you make something similar at any dozen places - do they all have the expensive printing equipment for the security stuff? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/19 "2010-02-05T18:16:53Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > Okay, this has me seriously floored. You say a passport, not a provisional passport, that is made in a few hours? What are your passports made out of - laminated paper? > > Our passports (along with our ID cards) are printed on special plastic (and embossed with holograms and stuff) in a federal facility, and thus takes several weeks (it has gotten quicker recently, used to be a few months). The plastic looks like this[http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Datei:MustermannPA.jpg&filetimestamp=20070629114011](http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Datei:MustermannPA.jpg&filetimestamp=20070629114011) > > How can you make something similar at any dozen places - do they all have the expensive printing equipment for the security stuff? Pretty much. I’ve seen German passports. Wouldn’t say that yours are much more hightech. Maybe ours can be done faster because most of the passport is pre-made, then they adhere one page with the person’s info and print a readable barcode on the back page that represents the passport number. German’s take forever to do stuff, although I must admit it’s usually very good quality once it’s done. Ours are probably easier to counterfeit, except for the microchip embedded into the pages. If you can’t detect that then I assume it’s easy to slip by. ---
**Author:** ![Ruminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Ruminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruminator)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716/20 "2010-02-05T18:23:48Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > How can you make something similar at any dozen places - do they all have the expensive printing equipment for the security stuff? Yes, the big regional passport offices all have the expensive equipment to imprint holographs. The little passport booths at the US Post Offices do not. Althought you did trigger a new thought: I got my passport in 2003 which was several years before the new biometric (RFID chip) passports in 2007. I believe they can still make those in a day but it’s possible I’m wrong. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-us-passport-in-a-couple-days-help/527716.md?page=2)