Expedited Passport

Many people can be intimidated when applying for a U.S. Passport. After all, a passport is used for international travel, and as such the restrictions and requirements are much more stringent than getting a drivers license or state-issued identification card.

While there are many options when applying for a passport – such as additional visa pages, consent forms for those under the age of 18 who are traveling abroad, and special requests for change of information (if you recently moved or your name has changed) – this article is going to focus on the basic application, to help make the entire process as quick and painless as possible.

What You Need

 Before you walk into the travel agency and before you start dealing with filling out forms, there are a few things you should get to take with you.

•   The first thing you need is proof of your United States citizenship. If you were born in the United States, the best way you show this is with a copy of your birth certificate. This will be returned to you. If you were born outside of the U.S., simply present a Certificate of Citizenship or a Certificate of Naturalization
• Proof of identification. In this case, not only bring your drivers license or state-issued identification, but also make a photocopy of the front and back of it. Military identification and expired U.S. Passports are also accepted. You will need to present the real thing, and also submit the photocopy along with your passport application
• A recent color photograph. This needs to show the full front of your face and must be 2 inches by 2 inches in size.

 

The Paperwork and DS-11 Application

 

Now that you have all the necessary things needed to get started on filling out the appication for your U.S. Passport. You can get the application at most most state municipal builtings (your local City Hall should cally the forms). If you want to save some time, you can find the form online and print it out.

 

The DS-11 U.S. Passport application and all required papers/certificates/photos must be filled out and presented in person at any of the following offices:

•  County Clerk’s Office
•  Designated municipal or county official
• A judge’s office who is accepting passport applications
• Passport Agengy

A quick search on-line will be able to tell you which offices nearest to your work or home are accepting the DS-11 U.S. Passport Application.

Fees

 The cost for obtaining a United States Passport vary throughout the year, but not by much. The price for processing the application and the physical passport can be paid by check, credit card (AmEx, Visa, Discover, Master Card), money order, bank draft, or cashier’s check.

The usual turnaround time between submitting the application and receiving your passport is, on average, 6 weeks to 2 months. This can, for a little extra, be waived and cut down to only a couple of weeks via the expedited or rushed passport. Most people opt for a rushed passport to bypass the waiting time, and possible errors in delivery.

Right now, there has never been more of a demand for people to have U.S. Passports. Posessing a U.S. Passport not only allows you the freedom to travel wherever you like, but, because it is a Federally-issued and standardized ID, it trumps all other forms of identification.

So do yourself a favor. Whether you plan of short-notice traveling for business, family, or personal pleasure – or whether you just want to have the security of having a nationally (and internationally) accepted form of identification, get a U.S. Passport today.