The fastest way to get a passport??
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Anonymous
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So both my kids need to renew their passports and we will be travelling overseas in mid-March for spring break. We do not have our tickets as yet. What is the very fastest way to get passports? The regular process can take up to 8 weeks and that would freak me out to be so close to travel dates without passports in hand. Has anyone used a third party to expedite their passport renewal?
Thanks |
Anonymous
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I applied for DDs weekend before Christmas. Got it first week of January. No rush fees.
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Anonymous
| You can get State to expedite your passport. They say 3 weeks. A third party won't get it any faster, and will cost you more. |
Anonymous
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buy the tickets, make an appoint at the passport office in DC, pay all the expediting fees including shipping.
We had a Friday 8 am appointment. Passport was in our mailbox the next Wed. Would cost you over $300 for both though |
Anonymous
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I don't understand why you need to expedite. Just go to the post office at 900 Brentwood Rd NE, Washington, DC 20018.
You can walk in with the kids and complete the entire application and photos. It will require a wait but if you get there early you can get it done and have your passports mailed to you in a few short weeks. |
Anonymous
| State department website is currently estimating 4-6 weeks for regular service and 3 weeks if you pay the fee for expedited service. Not third party expediting, just paying the extra fee and paying for delivery (rather than regular us mail). I have found that their website is conservative, if they say 4-6 weeks you'll have it in 4. |
Anonymous
| I $$ is no object, use a passport expediting service. We used one with an office in Dupont Circle and dropped off documents (eg, forms which we filled out at post office, photos, etc) there. Forget the name of the one we used but easy to find a service online. |
Anonymous
But what do they do that you don't actually have to do anyway in order to submit documents to the service? You still have to fill out all the same forms, I would think. I don't understand the value in this? |
Anonymous
| Go to post office. Pay for expedited service. We got ours in about a week. |
Anonymous
The service is used for business people, frequent travlers who need really quick turnaround, like 48 hours, for visas or emergency passport replacement. OP, you have enough time for regular methods. Don't bother paying expediting fee, especially if you don't have tickets. The estimates are very conservative. I once got a renewal in 36 hours before a flight by going in person to State Department. Long story, but it was definitely an advantage to be a DC local. Enjoy the break. Try not to stress. |
Anonymous
| My adult daughter got a passport at State in 24 hours and paid a $60 rush fee. |
Anonymous
| Don't forget both parent need to be there for application or one parent has to sign a notarized letter. |
Anonymous
| Do they not do expedites anymore? It was maybe five years ago but I went to a post office and they did it while I waited for like $100 more or something like that. |
Anonymous
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I got my son's at the state department, three days before traveling. It was a pain in the butt, but it can be done.
You have to call for your appointment when you have less than two weeks (or a month?) before you travel. You must bring your proof of travel with you (print out your airline confirmation). It's expensive, and it involves a lot of waiting in line. |
Anonymous
| Your Congressman or woman |