When an individual has last-minute travel plans, there is often not enough time to obtain a passport. It takes approximately four to size weeks for the government to process the application. This is not convenient for someone who has travel plans in the very near future. If these individuals are willing to pay some extra money rather than cancel their travel plans, they can have a 24hr American passport.
The federal government offers a rush service for an additional $60 over the current processing fees plus overnight delivery fees. Acceptable methods of payment vary depending on how the customer submits the request. The government agency will accept major credit cards, debit/check cards, checks, money orders, and bank drafts. Those submitting the information at a clerk of court or post office should check with the facility to determine the acceptable forms of payment.
Money order and check are the only accepted forms of payment for applications submitted via the mail. The payment, supporting documents, and application should be packaged in a durable envelope and sent via overnight delivery. Applicants are advised to use a traceable mailing service, such as UPS or FedEx, be used in order to track the package, if necessary. Applicants should also request overnight delivery from the agency in order to speed up the process.
If the traveler already has a passport that needs to be renewed, or if amendments need to be made, the rush service may also be used. Travelers who need more blank pages added to their passports or those who have a name change will qualify for this rush processing. The appropriate form to include in the package, as well as information regarding additional documentation required, can be found on the government Web site.
The current government processing times for an expedited passport, including those that include overnight delivery, is two to three weeks. This takes into account any additional time for the government agency to receive the application and mail the passport to the applicant. Applicants may check the status of their application online in order to see where the processing stands.
Last minute travelers will often find this three-week timeframe unacceptable and there is another alternative. They can use a private company that provides rush processing in as little as 24 hours. The same paperwork and supporting documents will be required. These will be submitted to the private company who will then work with the government agency to speed up the process.
The cost to use these private companies is often rather steep, ranging from $149 for turnaround within seven business days to $300 for 24-hour processing. These services may provide protection against lost or stolen passports for an additional fee. This usually costs less than $20 and provides extra security for the traveler in case of theft.
In cases of last minute overseas travel, individuals should get a 24hr U.S. passport. When ordered through a private company, this will cost about $150-$300, depending on the timeframe within which the American passports is needed. The processing company will take care of everything with the government and the traveler will have the document in-hand prior to the flight.
