Expedite Passports

[nitedreamer 0]

My husband has been here for about a year now, so we are planning on visiting New Zealand in a month's time...but my passport has gone missing! I need to get a new one, and I need it fast, but because of the new passport restrictions with Mexico and Canada, there's that big backlog...so I think I'll be using a company that hand delivers your passport for you, so that I'll get it in less than two weeks.

My question- has anyone used any of these companies before? I saw three in the yellowpages, arushpassport.com, abriggs.com, or passportexperts.com. The prices vary a little, but if anyone has used one company or the other, I'd appreciate hearing about your experience.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

A private company does seem to be the answer for a fast passport. Not sure which company is best though.

"Because of the glut, it could take 10 weeks instead of the usual six to process routine applications, according to the department. And expedited requests, which cost an extra $60 on top of the normal $97 fee, could take four weeks instead of two."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17651115/

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

you don't need to use a company to expedite your passport -- you can do it directly with the US Passport agency, for an extra fee of course. You can get it as quickly as 2 working days.

However, if you have lost your passport or had it stolen they will treat it as a new passport application (not a renewal) -- you must do this IN PERSON at one of the regional passport offices. Not very convenient if you don't actually live near it. First, you must file a police report reporting it lost or stolen.

I had to do this recently and it was not fun. I'd recommend turning your house inside out first to try and find that thing.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Lost or stolen passport

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

It looks like you can do it at the post office (but in person) -- though I do warn (as someone who has lost my passport AND had it stolen) that you can encounter significant problems with this situation. You need to take care of it tout suite if you are leaving in a month. I don't think you need to use an agency (I didn't) but it's up to you.

[eric&gen 0]

We used our local post office that issues passports to have our sons passport expedited. It took almost 2weeks for delivery.

[fozzie 41]

A PRIVATE company to get your passport for you? Sounds like a croc of sh** to me! How the government can let a private company get involved when security and identity theft is such a poblem beggars belief!

[Caladan 19]

Just an anecdote, so take this with a grain of salt, but a friend of mine recently paid for an expedited passport and due to the gigantic backlog, he *still* experienced delays.

[zyggy 9]

A PRIVATE company to get your passport for you? Sounds like a croc of sh** to me! How the government can let a private company get involved when security and identity theft is such a poblem beggars belief!

Not really.. what they do is act as a courier.. you go to the post office and give them your application in person.. they seal it for you in an envelope.. you give it to these people.. and they go to the Passport Agency for you wait in line to get it the same day...

It's something you could easily do yourself, if you felt like going to the Passport Agency and wait in line... but a lot of people don't have that luxury...

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

you lose the passport you have to wait in line anyway because you have to apply in person -- I personally wouldn't pay the $$$. All the company is going to do is write a letter saying you have travel plans in the next 2 weeks, which it sounds like the OP has anyway.

[nitedreamer 0]

Just for future reference, if anyone is ever in need of ultra expedited passports...

I used A Briggs 7+ day service. They have services as quick as a couple of days, but of course that costs a lot more. I just sent my application away today, because I had a little confusion over their directions. If you ever use one of these services (or at least this specific one)- your application is sealed in an envelope, and then you place that along with other requested documents into another envelope. I didn't realize I was going to have an envelope within an envelope, so I sealed some extra paperwork into my application envelope. They ask for a second copy of your DS-11 (passport application) outside your envelope- this is for the bar code, so presumably you could cut that part off and attach it to another sheet of paper, and then you don't need to give them all your details. I think those were the two biggies that held me up. But I am going to be careful from now on to never again need a rushed passport!

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Just for future reference, if anyone is ever in need of ultra expedited passports...

I used A Briggs 7+ day service. They have services as quick as a couple of days, but of course that costs a lot more. I just sent my application away today, because I had a little confusion over their directions. If you ever use one of these services (or at least this specific one)- your application is sealed in an envelope, and then you place that along with other requested documents into another envelope. I didn't realize I was going to have an envelope within an envelope, so I sealed some extra paperwork into my application envelope. They ask for a second copy of your DS-11 (passport application) outside your envelope- this is for the bar code, so presumably you could cut that part off and attach it to another sheet of paper, and then you don't need to give them all your details. I think those were the two biggies that held me up. But I am going to be careful from now on to never again need a rushed passport!

thanks for the follow up. it does save money to plan ahead

[fozzie 41]

A PRIVATE company to get your passport for you? Sounds like a croc of sh** to me! How the government can let a private company get involved when security and identity theft is such a poblem beggars belief!

Not really.. what they do is act as a courier.. you go to the post office and give them your application in person.. they seal it for you in an envelope.. you give it to these people.. and they go to the Passport Agency for you wait in line to get it the same day...

It's something you could easily do yourself, if you felt like going to the Passport Agency and wait in line... but a lot of people don't have that luxury...

It still sounds a bit strange to me. I don't think a third party should be given your passport. Its one of the most important forms of ID you have. Like someone else said - Plan ahead. I would imagine that most people on here already have a passport? If not then its probably a good idea to get one whether you intend to travel soon or not. You just never know if you might have to travel to your SO's country for some reason. Same with renewing your passport, do it 6 months before the old one runs out and you should have no problems.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

A PRIVATE company to get your passport for you? Sounds like a croc of sh** to me! How the government can let a private company get involved when security and identity theft is such a poblem beggars belief!

Not really.. what they do is act as a courier.. you go to the post office and give them your application in person.. they seal it for you in an envelope.. you give it to these people.. and they go to the Passport Agency for you wait in line to get it the same day...

It's something you could easily do yourself, if you felt like going to the Passport Agency and wait in line... but a lot of people don't have that luxury...

It still sounds a bit strange to me. I don't think a third party should be given your passport. Its one of the most important forms of ID you have. Like someone else said - Plan ahead. I would imagine that most people on here already have a passport? If not then its probably a good idea to get one whether you intend to travel soon or not. You just never know if you might have to travel to your SO's country for some reason. Same with renewing your passport, do it 6 months before the old one runs out and you should have no problems.

Many countries require you to mail your passport to their embassy to get a visa. That is scary.