Fast Passport Service: How to Get Your Passport in 2 to 3 Weeks
Getting a passport quickly as possible. There are various ways to speed up the process.
The standard processing time for a US passport is about six weeks or longer, but this does not have to be the case. By using a passport expediting service, it is possible to obtain a passport in as little as two weeks.
If you don’t want to wait, or can’t wait, to get your passport, consider a few options for obtaining a passport fast.
Apply with a DS-11 Application
The first step in obtaining a passport is to complete Application Form DS-11. You can download this application immediately. Once you do, you can then print it to complete it offline or you can complete the form online and then print it. In either case, this form is always a requirement for obtaining a passport in the United States, even for expedited services. Complete nearly all of the form, but do not sign the document. You need to wait until the Acceptance Agency tells you to sign it before you do so.
Get the Necessary Documentation Together to Apply
In order to obtain a US passport, you’ll need to have proper identification and information available to present to the authorities. After you complete the DS-11 application, take the time to gather the necessary supporting documents required.
The first thing you will need is some type of evidence that you are a US citizen. For many US residents, a birth certificate is the ideal form of proof of your citizenship. It must be an original, certified copy from the issuing agency. Generally speaking, you can obtain a copy of your birth certificate from the city offices or health department in the area in which you were born. Birth certificates must be in long-form (the complete document) and they must have your parents’ full names on them.
Other types of documentation can also be used to help show your US citizenship. This includes a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Naturalization Certifications, or a Certificate of Citizenship you’ve received. If you were issued a passport in the past, but do not have any additional documentation of your citizenship, it is possible to request a file search, which will come with a fee of about $150.
Other documentation required for obtaining a birth certificate includes:
Proof of identity (such as a state-issued driver’s license)
An identification document
Recent passport photo meeting the size requirements
If you’ve had your name changed, you’ll need to provide evidence of a name change (such as a marriage license.)
Submit Your Documentation
Visit an acceptance facility, such as a post office or county or municipal government office, to submit your documents. The agent will review your documentation, accept your service fee of $60 and application fee of $130, and send it for processing. Expedited service addresses are used when you need to rush the service.
Getting It Faster
For a fast passport, the expedited service is nearly always necessary. Using an expediting service can help to get your passport faster. You can also authorize a registered passport expediter to apply for you. This can help you to get your passport faster, usually under two weeks, but in some cases as quickly as the same day.
