Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - PASSPORT quick!

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Hi everyone -- I have an expired passport and I'm due to leave for London and Paris on Sept 15. I know there are expediting services but they are so expensive... I did read that I can have it expedited at the post office but I read somewhere that even if you pay the expediting fee you can have your papers taken and sent the regular way and obviously you would miss your trip. I also read that in order to have it expedited, don't take the paperwork in any sooner than 2 weeks before. Can anyone who has successsfully done this let me in on exactly what I should do? I don't have my ticket yet and this trip is not for business. Thanks!

Government Guide: http://travel.state.gov/ppt_faq.html Info on passports at this link. Looks like you can get one expedited in about 2 weeks, which is plenty of time! Anne

I know several people who have used the expedited service through the post offfice in the past year or two and recieved (new) passport(s) in 10-14 days. I am thinking that renewals would fare just as well or better. I can't remember the turnaround time on my latest renewal. Best wishes, Rex

Use the expediting service. UK Customs are notorious for being very picky and even a British citizen would probably find it difficult to get back in on an expired passport! Better to spend the extra to get the passport than not travel at all...

Go to your local travel agent and ask them to expedite it via your US CONGRESSMAN--- they fed ex it up in 1 day and get it back in about 2 days-- Someone from your Congressman's office does all the leg work-- DEFINITELY DOEABLE.... You don't say where you live, but if you are near a US CONSULATE or STATE DEPT office, you can walk it thru yourself in 1 day............ People do that in DC ALL the time.

Needed a passport quick for my daughter a few years ago. I paid an extra $35 (I think) to have it fast tracted. I then had an aid at my congessmans office follow up on the application. Got the passport in a matter of a few days. Regards - Tom

I am leaving for Europe early Sept. I went to the court house, filed the app w. expedite fee and got my passport in 5 days - I'd say the expedite service works just fine.

Funny how it's taken for granted she is talking about an USA passport without so much as a hint.

July 31 I took passport papers, etc. to my county court house to be sent in as a regular transaction--new passport was in the mail to me on August 12.

I just had my passport renewed using the expedited service. I had it back in about 10 days, using overnight mail both ways. Unfortunately, the passport fees are rising August 19, 2002. You could have expedited your passport for less on Friday than it will be tomorrow. An adult renewal passport fee will rise from $40 to $55. Expedited service fees will increase from $35 to $60.

<<Funny how it's taken for granted she is talking about an USA passport without so much as a hint.>> I don't entirely agree with this. I realize that not many people peer into such things, but Kimberly DOES give an e-mail address of a company based in Monterrey, California. Easy to look at www.redshift.com - - unlikely that she wants a passport from any other country. Best wishes, Rex

Dear Rex, Sorry to be so pedantic, but it's "received". SM

If you cannot provide advice, criticise the spelling. That will always prove your superiority.

Rex- if Kimberly is in Monterrey,Calif, then can't she walk it thru in San Francisco in 1 day-- or get her Calif.Congressman's office to do it....

My daughter-in-law got her passport in SF in one day--called the automated appt number and there was little waiting once she got there and she had to return to pick it up the next day. However, you must be leaving in less than two weeks and you must have proof of dates of travel. I think your best bet is not to wait, but to go to the Monterey PO between 10:00 and 2:00 and pay the expediting fee. You don't need an expensive expediting service. See http://travel.state.gov/ppt_sf.html and http://travel.state.gov/passport_expedite.html

You should thought about your passport last week. The price just went up yesterday (Aug 19). The price for a new one is now $85, renewal $55 and the price for expiditing just went from $35 to $60. 2 years ago when we were thinking of taking a last minute trip (I did not have a passport at that time) my travel agent said that we could get it in a couple of days, but we would have to have itinary, and tickets in hand in order to make it work. We decided not to take that trip, so I got it the normal way, and it only took 2 weeks. If you are leaving on the 15 you should have enough time, but I wouldn't take that chance. In the paper this morning an article mentioned that last friday the post office did triple its normal volume for passports, because everyone was trying to beat the rate increase, so the processing place is probably very backed up.

UPDATE: Just thought I'd let you all know that everything turned out just fine on this issue and I thank you for your very nice help. I ended up taking my expired passport and a bunch of cash into the local post office on August 20. There was a nice man there at the desk who had me fill out the paperwork and assuaged my fears about the fact that I did not have a ticket in hand, a business letter nor anything else that stated I needed to get out of dodge quickly. He just stuck his hand out and said "That'll be a bunch of cash Ma'am" and I obliged. Simple as that. Didn't even think I needed express mail there and back for my little important package and then guaranteed me that my little blue book would be in my hot little hand by the 6th of Sept (the 9th at the very latest). I drove off into the sunset -- still just the slightest bit apprehensive about the bureaucratic brouha and red tape with these sorts of things and managed to have a few good nights of sleep even with the occasional nightmare (you know... no passport -- whoops, there goes that grand European trip!). Well, guess what I have in my hand as I type this on Sept 1 (well, not exactly in my hand but you understand...). YES! That's right, the government did something right for once. My little blue book arrived early and all is well and right with the world and my only worry now is whether or not the airline I choose for this European jaunt will have some nice toilet seat covers and accommodating attendants. Thanks once again everyone! A very relaxed Kimberly

Not saying this will work this way for everyone, but I just got my passport renewed, not using the expedited service. Mailed it to them on 12/30, have it in hand on 1/8. Frankly, I'm amazed.