Life is what happens when one is making other plans and sometimes these plans require an unexpected trip abroad. Those who travel often generally have a valid up-to-date passport and for them, this is not a problem. However, for others without a passport, it may not feasible to wait the common processing time of four to six weeks. Here are the steps that are involved in receiving an expedited U.S. passport as a U.S. citizen.
The State Department does everything that it can to make this process as easy and quick as possible, but there are so many people applying that it is impossible for a truly quick turnaround to happen without paying for it. Besides, what the government considers quick, most of us would consider slow and painful. With millions upon millions of passports being processed every year, it is easy to see why the regular wait is about six weeks. Even the rush service is about two to three weeks.
The two to three week period is considered door-to-door, meaning that it accounts for time in the mail in each direction. There are some ways to short-cut this a bit, such as taking the document directly to a designated passport center, generally the local post office. In some cases, persons apply for a passport in the traditional manner but then request expedition due to a change in travel plans. In this case, it will take about five to seven days to track online the document’s process after asking for a rush on it.
The whole system is powered by fees, fees and more fees. A regular passport will cost $75 and $25 added for the standard processing. If a passport card is added, tack on another $20 to the order. The government offers a small break in the pricing for minors, but all processing fees remain the same. Renewals services are slightly less expensive.
To receive an expedited United States passport, expect to pony up and additional $60 and this can only be done by applicants within the United States. It is not possible for a citizen residing in a foreign country to request expedition. Add to the cost, which is now $180, the Department of State’s strong emphasis on using overnight delivery to receive the new passport book. After spending the extra money to rush the paperwork process, it simply does not make sense to rely on regular mail service to receive the much anticipated document.
The overnight delivery will cost about $15 in addition to all of the other fees that are being charged. While some people may be rolling their eyes at this point as the costs continue to add up, this is a fee that is money well spent. The documents will be secure and able to be tracked this way and considering how important they are, $15 is nothing compared to the aggravation that would ensue if they were lost.
The form to fill out for expedited service is the DS-82. Yes, the government has a form for everything, so be prepared to write. If this is not the first passport being applied for and expedited services are requested, write the word “expedite” boldly and in plain sight on the outside of the envelope. This will ensure that it gets to the right department upon delivery.
Some expedited U.S. passport services may cost a few extra bucks, but it does make the process go much quicker. Instead of waiting for god only knows how long, the passport should be in hand in just a few weeks. The passport can actually be had in as little as 24 hours, but it will cost a pretty penny in order to make that happen. When you just can’t wait or are in an emergency situation, these services are in place to get the passport in hand in no time at all.
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