How Long Does It Take To Get A Passport?

How long does it take to get a passport is dependent on how soon you will need your travel document. At the many acceptance facilities, there are different processing options. These options will determine the speed of the process. However, each choice requires a combination of documents. So, if you are ready to get a new passport here are the choices available to you.

Neighborhood Facilities to Submit an Application

There are places in your neighborhood to submit a passport application with instructions on documents you will need to obtain your passport. You might have passed by or went inside one but not realize it was an acceptance facility. For example, a post office, county clerk’s office, courthouse, or the public library will all accept your documents and fee to commence the process. However, the time to process your application takes the longest at these sites.

At all these locations, there are two options offered to process a passport application. The first is standard or routine processing. By selecting it, your documents are sent to a processing center to get verification for approval. The time it takes the audit to complete is roughly 4 to 8 weeks.

The other processing choice is expedited and is usually used by individuals who will travel in less than four weeks. For approval, proof of travel abroad must be provided and can be in the form of a flight itinerary or any other document. Once the papers go through verification and after completion, you get a new passport in about 2 to 3 weeks. An additional fee is added to the application cost which increases the total cost of a new passport.

Rush Passport Services

Other services will decrease application processing time tremendously. However, there are documents to provide that will demonstrate a need for the urgency. Without these essential papers, you cannot use this choice.

A private expeditor offers this service. With an expeditor, you can get a new passport anywhere from a day to two weeks. It all depends on how soon you will need it and your willingness to pay their service fee. You contact and hire an expeditor in the US. To get your documents to them can be done by overnight mailing service. Likewise, your new passport will be delivered back to you with the same service. If there is one in your vicinity you wish to visit, you can hand deliver your papers.

A regional passport agency offers the same service as a private expeditor. However, you must deliver your papers in person. The agency will not accept mailed applications. Also, not every state has a passport agency, so you may need to travel out of the state you live. You can call the National Passport Information Center to locate the nearest agency and get an appointment to submit your documents.