The fastest way to get a passport will allow you to get your
travel document the same day. Routine service takes from four to six
weeks and expedited service through an acceptance facility or by mail
takes from two or three weeks. When you cannot wait that long, then you
have to get your application to a regional passport agency.
Regional
passport agencies serve American citizens who must travel out of the
country in two weeks or less. Individuals who also need to obtain visas
for the countries they plan to visit can submit their passport
applications at the regional agencies up to four weeks before their
departure dates. All requirements for the type of passport service you
need still apply when visiting a regional agency.
Passport
application processing agencies can be found in several major cities
throughout the United States. A couple of new centers were opened in
2009 and the State Department has plans to open another in Buffalo, New
York in 2010. Agencies are located in Aurora (Co.), Boston, Chicago,
Dallas, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New
York, Norwalk (Ct), Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Tucson and
Washington DC.
In order to apply for a passport at a regional
agency, you first have to set up an appointment by phoning
1-877-487-2778. Due to the high demand, it often takes several attempts
to get through to the automated system. It is possible that the next
available appointment is later than you can wait. In this case, you have
two alternatives.
One thing you can do if you have difficulty
scheduling an appointment is merely show up at the nearest passport
agency. While the State Department states that applicants need to make
an appointment and they have no obligation to receive applicants from
those who do not schedule one, I have never heard of anyone being turned
away. In fact, many travelers have shared how they were able to get
same day passports without an appointment.
A second option you
have if you are unable to set up an appointment or you just do not have
time to get to a regional agency is to authorize a professional
expediting service to submit your application in your place. Expediters
have been around for decades and are a reliable means for getting your
passport fast. Just be sure to choose one that allows you to request
their services online and has good reviews and ratings with prior
customers.
If you are in a hurry, applying at a regional passport
agency is the fastest way to get a passport. Whether you do it yourself
or go through an expediter, you can obtain your travel document as
quickly as the same day.
Visit U.S. Passport Service Guide for reviews of rush passport expediters. Download application forms and learn about the latest passport requirements.
