Although some of us consider ourselves to be the most organized, as compared to most people, sometimes, we may discover, at the last minute, that we require a newly issued or renewed US passport - in a very short period of time. There are many things which could affect us that require such. Some of these may be:* Quick Decision, Last Minute Business Trips
* Family, friend, or Health Emergencies
* Spontaneous Desire of a Get Away
* Eloping
* Sheer Forgetfulness
It is a good thing that in such situations, procedures and services are easily in place for you to get a US passport fast, and you can receive it in as little as 24 hours.
While some may know that these services exist, many do not realize that the whole process can be taken care of online - whether you need it fast or not - without leaving the comfort of your own home, and without all of the run-arounds and hassles that are sometimes encountered with the United States Post Office and the United States Passport Office.
The usual fee for getting a new or renewed United States passport for adults - 16 and older - is $75.00. Passports for children under 16 years of age are $60.00. These fees are always constant, no matter how quickly it is that you need a passport issued to you. There is also an additional $25 application and processing fee.
The general waiting period for getting a US passport, whether it is a new issue or a renewal is 4-6 weeks. Depending on the workload, it is possible that you can receive it faster, but it is unsafe to take your chances in this regard. Instead, plan on it taking the full 6 weeks for delivery, as most people report the average wait time to be between 5 1/2 to 6 weeks.
If you are in need getting your US passport issued faster, there is an extra expediting fee that you can pay to get the process done faster within your required time frame.
If you need to get your passport within a 24 hour time frame, there are two additional fees which need to paid in order for it to be processed in that period of time.
The expediting fee is an additional $60.00, which bumps your US passport order up to the front of the line. Also the expediting fee, you must pay an additional fee to whatever channel is doing the actual processing of the order(i.e. post office). This additional fee depends on how fast you need it, and which third party processor you go with.
You can receive a passport in a relatively short period of time, and depending on the processor and how pressed you are for time, it can cost you up to $300, if you need it within a matter of hours. If you need it within 24 hours, it can cost up to $250 - again, depending on where you go to get this done. Once payment of these additional fees are processed, then an applicant is 100% guaranteed - certified by the US government - delivery within the time frame requested.
Whether you need a passport quick or not, it is generally a good idea to get a passport now, rather than later, if you do not have one; or, get yours renewed if it has expired. It is also becoming a popular idea, as well as currently being proposed, that the US passport will replace the standard drivers license as a primary form of official citizen identification.
This has already taken place in many countries in Europe, as they require a passport for even domestic flights and hotels - tourist or not. Because of this, more than likely, many others will follow suit, including the US in the near future.
If you do not have a trip planned at this time, acquiring a passport right now will save you a bunch of money, just in case an emergency happens, or something else unplanned occurs. A US passport is valid for 10 years for ages of 16 and up - only five years for those under 16.
Just remember, you need the following in order to get any US Passport in any given time frame:
* US citizenship Documentation. Birth certificate if it is a new issue, or your old passport if it is a renewal. It may be wise to bring along your birth certificate anyway for renewals, as some areas are requiring it even for renewals.
* Some Sort Of ID Card. That is, a driver's license, state issued ID, a naturalization certificate, or government or military ID
* You will need also two passport photos of yourself, which match the required dimensions. They can be easily purchased at local drug stores for no more than $5.00 Home-produced photos are generally not accepted unless you have proper equipment and a backdrop, and can produce the professional quality required.
There are now websites which can take care of the whole process online, most of the time cheaper than other third-party processors, if you were to do it physically. It does not matter whether you need your passport right away, or need it in a few hours, they can take care of the whole process even quicker, saving you money in the process. This can aid you in many ways, including:
* Saving You Time in Traffic.
* Keeping You From Being Sent Home For Not Having Everything You Need.
* No Need To Take Off Work or Juggle Family Time.
* No More Missed, Late, Or Canceled Appointments.
Going the online route is definitely the wisest option, as it is a bit cheaper, and a whole lot quicker to do everything from your home.
If you are in need of a passport, whether it be soon, very fast, or in the future, check the online resources today, and save time and money in the process - and get your passport within 24 Hours if need be.
Need to know more about getting your passport online, or need to take care of it right now? The best time is now rather than later! Get your copy of our 7 page guide, "The US Passport Blueprint," absolutely free and check out this site today to save yourself money and time, and get your passport today.
Do not delay the processing of your passport! The longer you delay, the more expensive it gets -- the best thing for you to do is to get started on it now so you can save some $$$.
Tom Netau is the operator of the website, Get US Passport Fast, which processes expedited US passports and standard issue US passports -- both new issues and renewals. The URL for Get US Passports Fast is http://www.GetUSPassportFast.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Netau
