Emergency Passport Renewals as Quickly as the Same Day
March 12, 2010 2:12 am EnglandEmergency passport renewals can be obtained as fast as the same day. If you find yourself in an emergency situation and need to get your passport renewed in a hurry, you will have to expedite the application process. Get a passport renewed in such a short period of time can be done in two ways. You can either submit your application at a regional agency or you can authorize a private expediter to do it for you.
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. Contact the National Passport Information Center which has an automated appointment system at 1-877-487-2778. Frequently, it can be difficult to get through so be prepared to try several attempts.
Is there an option if you are unable to make an appointment before you departure date? You can try just showing up at the regional agency closes to your location. 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 get a passport renewal expedited? You must submit a completed application form DS-82, your most recent passport and two passport pictures that are no more than 6 months old. Applicants whose name has changed since their last passport was issued also need to submit legal evidence of the name change.
If you decide to go to the regional agency without an appointment, you will not have a confirmation number. It will be necessary to present your Social Security card. You also need to take proof of your departure date to prove your need for expedited passport renewal.
The cost of expediting your passport renewal at an agency is $135. The application fee is $75 and expedited service is an additional $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
What do you do if you can’t get to a regional agency yourself? This option entails authorizing a passport and visa expediter to present the request for expedited passport renewal on your behalf. Since professional expediters are usually located 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 must send them the completed application form and the other required documents. It is recommended that you use a two-way overnight delivery method that allows you to trace the package. You are also encouraged to use a secure package.
While professional expediters can obtain your passport renewal as fast as the same day, you will need to factor in mail delivery time if you elect to use this method. Of course, getting 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 same day service. This does not include the fees paid to the State Department.
Expediters can be expensive and you can save quite a bit if you apply yourself. When you are unable to get to a regional agency and you are facing the risk of having to cancel your travel plans, contracting a professional expediter to submit your application for expedited passport renewal could be a very wise move.