When you're applying for a US passport, it's usually fine to just
go through the routine passport application process. After all, the
four to six week waiting time is often reasonable if you don't really
need to travel out of the country soon. But in cases where you can't
wait that long, you have a choice of having an expedited passport
application or getting an emergency passport.
First, let's discuss
applying for an expedited passport. This is the type of passport
application you would commonly need if you want to get your passport
faster than the routine passport application. In cases where you cannot
wait for the four to six weeks of processing that routine passports go
through, an expedited passport is what you need.
Compared to
routine passport applications, expedited passports are usually processed
within a two to three week period. And because routine passport
applications sometimes take longer than six weeks to process, the US
Department of State recommends travelers who need to leave the country
in ten weeks to have their application expedited instead. For some, two
to three weeks is still a long waiting period. However, it definitely is
a huge improvement from the routine application.
Why would you
need an expedited passport? You generally need to have your US passport
application expedited if you need to travel outside of the country in
less than two weeks. Aside from that, expedited applications are
recommended to those who need their passports within four weeks when
applying for a foreign visa.
What if there's a family emergency
outside the country, and you still don't have a passport to travel? You
surely cannot wait two to three weeks for emergencies like this. Your
loved ones cannot wait and you need to be there for them very quickly.
In
times of family emergencies, the US Department of State issues
emergency passports to its citizens. This is applicable to anyone who
has family emergencies outside of the country and has to travel in 48
hours or less. So if this kind of situation applies to you, you will be
eligible to apply for an emergency passport.
Now how does one
apply for an emergency passport? In case you find your family outside
the country in an emergency situation, all you need to do is to contact
the National Passport Information Agency. This agency is the one tasked
to deal with emergency passport applications. Because of the nature of
its work, you can call the agency's office at any time of the day.
However, in cases where you cannot set an appointment with them, you can
talk to a customer service representative who can provide you with
further assistance.
The two that we mentioned above are the two options you have if you need to get a United States passport
quickly, and cannot afford to go through the routine passport
application. Usually, an expedited passport application would work for
most people. But in cases where you are faced with a family emergency,
the emergency passport is what you need to leave the country in less than 48 hours.
