Hello! We ran a story today about passport expediters. At the moment, we don't have comments enabled on these stories, but I know that there has been plenty of threads about the topic as of late.
http://www.fodors.com/wire/archives/002600.cfm

If you have any comments or experiences feel free to post them here.

I'm curious as to how many of you are opting to use these sort of services now even if you are a solid 6-8 months out from your trip date. The peace of mind of having the passport might be worth it I imagine for many.

I mailed mine in mid-June and waiting for renewal, I think comfortably, as I'm not planning any out-of-country vacation till January at least!

There are too many horror stories on the European website.

There are too many places in the US I haven't visited yet, and now it's the right time while waiting for a new passport.

From what I've heard, even expedited service is not a guarantee of getting the passport in time. So, instead of sending the additional money to a passport agency, I'm boosting the US economy, feeling very patriotic

Thanks for the reply; on your suggestion I have moved this to the Europe forum.

We occasionally received panicked emails from travelers trying to get passports; I usually direct them to the Forums because there are so many varying experiences/timetables here.

It seems this question is asking about the private companies that, for a fee in addition to the State dept fees, walk your application through the Passport office, not about the expedited service offered by the State dept.

My mother mailed her renewals in Mid March... it's mid July. No passport.

I wish we had just paid the expediter. As of right now we have the Congressman working on the issue, but we don't travel for several months. Even so this is unacceptable!!!!!


My company is basically FORCING anyone who has to travel to use or expediter just in case. THey don't want to get an engagment and then discover that your passport is stuck in the pit that the US Passport Service has become!