What You Might Want To Know About Acquiring A Priority New Passport

What to know about getting a priority new passport will involve a realization that it is, indeed, imminently possible to do so, though a bit of legwork – and the expenditure of money – will be necessary. In the first place, almost everyone who needs a passport issued on priority chooses to work with an expediting service. However, the US government also can assist in this matter.

It’s not exactly the easiest thing in the world to get a passport issued quickly, but it isn’t the most difficult either. Usually, to do so one will need to apply for the document through one of the 14 different regional centers that have been set up. Doing so, for just expedited processing, may take 2 to 3 weeks. Expect to pay additional fees for this service as well.

People who need passports issued on a priority basis (meaning, within one or two days) are also advised to work either with an express processing company or to travel directly to one of those centers. If a trip to a regional center is going to be undertaken, remember to follow the steps outlined by the government as closely as possible. This can ensure that all goes well on the big day.

When express expediting isn’t going to be used, and getting the passport on one’s own is going to be undertaken, visit the State Department’s passport website first of all. While it’s not really complicated get the document in a hurry, there are a number of steps that need to be taken. Doing so will help to keep the drama to a minimum, quite frankly.

The first thing to remember is that nothing that has to do with passports and the US government can be done without an appointment. There’s a toll-free number that can be found at the State Department passport section website. Making an appointment for passports to be issued on a priority basis will usually mean making an appointment at one of those regional centers, by the way.

When it comes to those regional centers, understand that there are many of them located around the country. Usually, the largest cities on each coast (including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle as well as Boston, New York City and Miami) host these centers. There are three in the Midwest, including a large one in Chicago, Illinois. Make an early-morning appointment. Processing could take more than five hours.

Because these are expedited services that are going to be needed, it’s only natural that fees will be higher. In order to have a passport processed on the same day, a fee of from $220 to $300, in addition to standard passport fees, will need to be paid. An additional $60 fee – if any background citizenship or identity investigation is needed – may also need to be paid.

Always try to make an appointment for as early in the day as possible, always show up with passport photos (most centers don’t take photos) and always appear with proof of citizenship and identity. Expect to pay up to $300 in fees to obtain a priority U.S. passport, as well. If all of those items can be addressed, it’s very possible that a passports can, indeed, be issued on the same day.