A valid passport is required of all United States (US) citizens who want to travel outside of the country. US passports are issued by the US government; the applications can be submitted at US post offices. Application forms must be completed, and fees are required. One can expect to wait an average of six weeks to receive his or her passport after submitting the application, fees, and necessary verifications. For those who need them in a hurry, the government offers an expedited process which usually produces the document within two - three weeks, for an additional fee. For some, that's simply not quick enough. Private passport expidite service can help applicants get their passports in as little as 24 hours.

First time adult applicants must complete Form DS-11. Adults applying for renewal must complete Form DS-82. Documentation of citizenship must be presented, and two identical photos are required.

There are standard fees which the government charges to process passport applications. These fees change periodically. While there are different fees for different types of applications, a first time adult applicant can expect to pay $135. If he or she would like the application expedited, the additional charge is $60, which is the standard fee for any applicant who requests that it be processed more quickly. An adult renewal application costs $110. The overnight delivery fee is approximately $15.

A number of private service providers have entered the market, available to assist people who can't or would rather not deal with the application process themselves. Sometimes it's more convenient to pay someone else to do the work. Many of these companies can be found in advertisements on the internet.

Some private expediting service companies offer a range of delivery schedules, and charge varying fees accordingly. For example, if you want your passport within 24 hours of submitting all required information, you might expect to pay $300, in addition to the government fees noted above. If you can wait between eight and 14 days, you might pay only $100 in addition to the government fees.

Other services provided by expediting service companies are available. For example, you might need a new one, not because yours has expired or because you lost it. Perhaps you've recently married and have changed your name. They can help you with that application. Or perhaps you have a new baby, or children under 16. Their applications can be handled, too. The fees might vary depending on the service.

As when considering doing business with service providers in any field, it can be useful to ask questions and look for references. In a competitive market, sometimes it pays to shop around and compare. And it's almost always a good idea to be cautious when providing personal identifying information to anyone you don't know.

In summary, be sure that your travel documents are current if you're planning to leave the country. If it's necessary to renew or replace, or if you've just never gotten around to applying for one in the first place, you can find all the forms and information at the post office. However, if you need help or plan on traveling sooner than the amount of time it typically takes the government to deliver, you have options for expedited us passport. There are several passport expediting services available to help.