Emergency passport renewals can be obtained as fast as the same day. If you find yourself in an emergency situation and need to get your passport renewed in a hurry, you will have to expedite the application process. Get a passport renewed in such a short period of time can be accomplished in two ways. You can either submit your application at a regional agency or you can authorize a private expediter to do it for you.
Emergency Passport Renewals at a Regional Agency
The first step to getting emergency passport renewal at a regional passport agency is to set up an appointment. Contact the National Passport Information Center which maintains an automated appointment system at 1-877-487-2778. Often, it can be difficult to get through so be prepared to try several attempts.
What do you do if you can’t get through or there is no appointment available when you need it? You can try just showing up at the regional agency closes to your location. While the State Department claims you need to make an appointment, we have never heard of anyone with a legitimate emergency being turned away.
What is required to get a passport renewal expedited? You must submit a completed application form DS-82, your most recent passport and two passport-style photos that are less than six months old. Applicants whose name has changed since their last passport was issued also need to submit legal evidence of the name change.
If you decide to go to the regional agency without an appointment, you will not have a confirmation number. Therefore, you will be required to present your Social Security card. it is important that you also take evidence of your departure date to prove your need for emergency passport renewal.
The total cost for emergency passport renewal is $135. The application fee is $75 and expedited service is an another $60. Payment should be made by personal check, money order or bank draft. Make your payment payable to the U.S. Department of State. Your application should be processed and your renewed passport ready either the same day or the day after.
Apply for Emergency Passport Renewal at a Professional Expediting Service
There is another option for those who are unable to travel to a regional agency. This method involves authorizing a private expediting service to present the application for emergency passport renewal as your representative. Since expediting services are usually located in the same places as the regional agencies and registered with them, it is a logical means to get your passport.
Many expediters have online forms you can use to apply for their service. Next, you must send them the completed application form and the supporting documents. You should use a two-way overnight delivery method that is traceable. You should also use a secure envelope that will protect the contents.
While professional expediters can obtain your passport renewal as fast as the same day, you will need to factor in mail delivery time if you choose this method. Of course, getting to a regional agency could cost you a lot of time, especially if you live far away.
The fees for emergency passport renewals through a professional expediter vary. You should expect the cost to be somewhere between $65 to get your passport in a couple of weeks to as much as $300 for applications expedited the same day. This is in addition to the fees paid to the State Department.
Expediting services can be costly and you can save quite a bit if you submit the application yourself. When you cannot get to a regional agency and you are running the risk of having to cancel your travel plans, authorizing a professional expediter to submit your application for fast passport renewal could be a very wise move.