Travel Tips

Emergency passport renewals can be obtained as fast as the same day. If you find yourself pressed for time and in need of getting a passport fast, expediting the process is your only option. Renewing a passport in time can be done in two ways. Either you apply at a regional agency or you go through a professional expediting service.

Apply for Emergency Passport Renewal at Regional Agency

Your fist step to obtaining emergency passport renewal at a regional agency is to schedule an appointment. Call the National Passport Information Center which maintains an automated appointment system at 1-877-487-2778. Often, it can be hard to get through so plan on making several attempts.

What do you do if you can’t get through or there is no appointment available when you need it? Just show up at the regional agency nearest to where you are. While the State Department claims you need to make an appointment, we have never heard of anyone with a legitimate emergency being turned away.

What are the requirements to expedite a passport renewal? Requirements include a completed application form DS-82, your most recent passport and two passport-style pictures that are no more than six months old. If your name has changed since your last passport was issued, you will also be required to submit legal proof of this..

If you arrive at the regional passport agency without an appointment, you will not have a confirmation number. Therefore, you will be required to present your Social Security card. it is important that you also present evidence of your departure date to prove your need for emergency passport renewal.

The total cost for emergency passport renewal is $135. The application fee is $75 and expedited service is an another $60. Payment should be made by personal check, money order or bank draft. Payment should be made to the U.S. Department of State. You should get your renewed passport either the same day or the day after.

Apply for Emergency Passport Renewal at a Professional Expediting Service

There is another option for those who are unable to travel to a regional agency. This method entails authorizing a professional expediter to submit the request for emergency passport renewal on your behalf. Since professional expediters are usually found in the same places as the regional agencies and registered with them, it is a logical means to get your passport.

Many expediters have online forms you can use to apply for their service. Next, you need to send them the completed form DS-82 and the supporting documents. It is recommended that you use a two-way overnight delivery method that allows you to trace the package. You should also use a secure envelope that will protect the contents.

While professional expediters can obtain your passport renewal as quickly as the same day, you will need to factor in mail delivery time if you opt for this method. Of course, traveling to a regional agency could cost you a lot of time, especially if you live far away.

The fees for this service vary depending on the expediter you choose and how fast you need to get your passport renewed. You should expect the cost to be somewhere between $65 to get your passport in a couple of weeks to as much as $300 for applications expedited the same day. This is in addition to the fees paid to the State Department.

Expediting services can be costly and you can save some money if you apply yourself. When you cannot get to a regional agency and you are facing the risk of having to cancel your trip, authorizing a professional expediter to submit your application for expedited passport renewal could be a very wise move.

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