Citizens of the United States requiring expedited passport service don't have any time for detailed explanations. They are in need of objective information that is straight to the point. The next few paragraphs will present you with useful solutions to the most frequently asked inquiries about getting a passport expedited fast.

How do you expedite a passport?

You will discover three different alternatives to get a passport application expedited. One, you can ask for it when you send the form by mail or take it to an acceptance facility. Two, arrange an appointment to turn in the application at a regional passport agency. Three, get an experienced expediter to take your application to the agency for you.

How long does it take for expedited service?

Your passport will be delivered to you in 2-3 weeks should you send the form by mail (renewals, added visa pages) or submit it at an acceptance facility (when applying for a new passport or one for a minor). Forms turned in to a passport processing agency can be processed the same day. You can determine how soon you would like to obtain the travel document when applying through an expediting service. It can take 10 business days or they can get for you the same day when you submit an application by way of a urgent passport service.

How much does an expedited passport cost?

The expedited service fee paid to the US Department of State is $60 irrespective of whether the application is submitted by mail, at a local passport application acceptance facility or at a passport processing agency. The fees paid to an expediting service range from $65 to $299 or more, depending on the company selected and how fast you need to get your travel document.

Can I expedite a passport application that has already been sent for routine service?

This request cannot be submitted by mail nor can you solicit the intervention of an expediting service. The only alternative is to personally go to the closest passport processing agency. You ought to check the status of your application before you do this. It may be processed faster than anticipated. If it appears that your application will not be processed in time for your trip, contact the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778.

Is private expediting service a scam?

No, professional passport expediters are are part of a legitimate service industry. This does not mean that every single passport expediting service is reliable. Similar to all other service provider, there are those who are competent and reliable and those who are not. You should assess very carefully and pick shrewdly the passport expediter you decide to work with. If you have time, check out how long the company has been in business, if there are any grievances against them and what type of customer rating they have. Also, try to get in touch with them. This should tell you something about how they deal with customers.

Something else you should assess is the cost. As brought up above, a same day passport can cost you hundreds of dollars when you add all the fees together. Having said that, it might actually cost more to present the application form yourself, particularly if you live distant from the processing agency. There are the costs of transportation, meals, parking, possible hotel stay and other expenses. When you take all this into account, applying by means of a professional express passport service may be the best deal.