| A standard delivery time estimate for passports is four | | | | time for your scheduled departure. The first method is |
| to six weeks. If you need it expedited, due to last | | | | to personally take your documentation to the regional |
| minute international travel plans, you can still meet the | | | | agency and walk it through the approval process. An |
| deadlines. Some can be processed as soon as the | | | | appointment must be scheduled, but you will have your |
| same day that you submit the documents and | | | | passport the same day if you follow this plan. If you |
| application. If you need to travel before the four to six | | | | live close enough to the regional office, this might be |
| week deadline and are willing to pay the extra fees, | | | | the best solution; even there will be extra costs. |
| there is a solution. | | | | If making a personal visit to the regional agency won't |
| Since the enactment of additional regulations following | | | | work for you, you can take the alternate route of |
| the attack on the Twin Towers, U. S. Citizens need a | | | | contracting with a private expediting agency. These |
| passport to travel outside of the continental United | | | | agencies take your documents and deliver them to the |
| States. Previously, a visit to Canada or Mexico only | | | | U. S. Passport agency for immediate processing. |
| required a birth certificate and a driver's license or | | | | Service fees vary according to how fast the |
| other photo identification. The preferred method of | | | | documents are needed. |
| getting your passport is to allow four to six months | | | | Private Passport Service Agency |
| and use standard methods for submitting and obtaining | | | | Handling through a private expediter can be done as |
| the documents. | | | | quickly as one day. Other service delivery dates |
| Less than Three Weeks | | | | include two days, four days, seven days, ten days or |
| If you need a passport in less than three weeks, you | | | | eleven days. You will be charged an amount that |
| may want to expedite the process yourself. This is the | | | | increases according to how quickly the documents are |
| least expensive way, given the need for expeditious | | | | delivered. |
| delivery. When you submit your application and | | | | If you need your documents in eleven business days, |
| documents at the agency, you simply request and pay | | | | the agency may use an overnight courier service to |
| additional fees for faster delivery. You will normally | | | | speed up the process. As the time required before |
| receive the documents within three weeks. | | | | delivery is lessened, the costs go up. The agency may |
| Fewer than Ten Business Days | | | | hand deliver documents and pick up your passport the |
| If you are unable to apply until two weeks or less | | | | same day. You can have your documents back in |
| before you will be traveling, you can use either of two | | | | your hands the same day in some instances, but this |
| methods to be sure the passport is in your hands in | | | | solution requires individual handling. |