Fastest way to get a US Passport?

[scottmandue]

I'm going on a cruise and I need a US passport ASAP!

Story is my parents have booked the trip (60 weding anniversary) and told me "don't think you need a passport".
Well, dad calls me yesterday and says "uh, you do need a passport".

Cruise leaves March 29.

Talked with my brother and he is going through he11 using the post office.

He also said I can get/fill out the forms online so I do a search and find Passport Express:

http://www.passportexpress.com/default.aspx?page=passport

Anyone heard of these guys?

I know many of you guys are world travelers so any of you have a hot tip on how to get a US passport?

Thank you oh mighty PPOters!

[stomachmonkey]

Find your local passport office.

Go there in person with "proof of purchase", your papers and two photos.

Pay the expedite fee.

Expedite looks like a 3 week turn right now

[jtfreels]

we did the "express" method through the passport office (ours went to New Orleans I believe) cost about twice. Got it in about 4 weeks.

Jay

[Rick Lee]

It's gotten pretty tough in the last year or so. I'm on my third passport and I never once went to the post office for one. Though when I go there now to mail stuff, there's always a long line of parents with their kids there for passports. Pretty sure you can just go the State Dept. website, print and fill everything out, mail it in and pay for the double-extra express service. If you need it faster than that, you may need to call your congressman or senator. I have a friend got it done in under two weeks that way, but it was for business and he even got the Russian ambassador to personally issue his visa on the spot.

[nostatic]

go to MacArthur park. You can get a passport and even be someone else while you're at it.

[RickM]

Expeditors claim to be the fastest and I haven't heard otherwise. You can also go to a Regional Passport facility if you need within 14 days:

* LOS ANGELES Passport Agency http://travel.state.gov/passport/about/agencies/agencies_909.html
Federal Building
11000 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 1000
Los Angeles, CA 90024-3615

Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., local time, M-F, excluding Federal holidays
Automated Appointment Number: 1-877-487-2778

NOTE: Los Angeles Passport Agency serves customers who are traveling within 2 weeks (14 days), or who need foreign visas for travel. An appointment is required.



* SAN FRANCISCO Passport Agency http://travel.state.gov/passport/about/agencies/agencies_900.html
95 Hawthorne Street
5th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105-3901

Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., local time, M-F, excluding Federal holidays
Automated Appointment Number: 1-877-487-2778

NOTE: San Francisco Passport Agency serves customers who are traveling within 2 weeks (14 days), or who need foreign visas for travel. An appointment is required.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

It's gotten pretty tough in the last year or so. I'm on my third passport and I never once went to the post office for one. Though when I go there now to mail stuff, there's always a long line of parents with their kids there for passports. Pretty sure you can just go the State Dept. website, print and fill everything out, mail it in and pay for the double-extra express service. If you need it faster than that, you may need to call your congressman or senator. I have a friend got it done in under two weeks that way, but it was for business and he even got the Russian ambassador to personally issue his visa on the spot.

Yeah, sucks these days.

Used to be a time you walked in and could get it done in a day with no expedite.

There was one office in Manhattan that no one knew about. The main office would have people lined up at 4 and 5 am and still not get in that day, the other office would have maybe one person on line no matter what time of day.

Pays to know where to go.

[Jim Sims]

The backlog is old news. My wife and I just renewed our passports (mid-December) through normal means: mine required two and half weeks - I just mailed the old passport in with the form (available at most post offices), two photos and the normal fee - no special agents and no rush charge. My wife's required three weeks as her old passport was expired too long; she had to show up at the post office window with some additional documentation. Cheers, Jim

[red-beard]

If your travel is in less than 2 weeks, and you have proof (Ticket, etc) you can get a same day passport directly from the State Department in certain cities.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

Processing time for passports is 4-6 week, 3 weeks for expeditied service

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/processing/processing_1740.html

[Neilk]

Go here to fill out an online form. The best thing about it the form is that it verifies for you whether it was properly filled out before letting you print it. At least it did 2 years ago.

The link sends you to the Govt passport site

[Jeff Higgins]

I let my last one expire because I was not planning on travelling overseas in the next few years, and didn't want to hassle getting a new one. Lo and behold, I got sucked back into travelling for work because we are short handed and airlines are flying everything they have, and damaging them at a rate commensurate with that. (I provide engineering support on repair operations.) Anyway, we have a crew going out in two weeks, and I was told to go. "Heh heh heh", I thought, "there is no way in hell to even get a passport that fast...", so they can't make me go. Neener neener neener...

Wrong. One day turn-around at the Federal Office Building in Seattle, with an itinerary and note from our director of operations. Curses, foiled again... I'm off to Cardiff to babysit a strut mod... yuk...

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by nostatic

go to MacArthur park. You can get a passport and even be someone else while you're at it.

Don't think it didn't cross my mind... MacArthur park? I thought I would have to drive all the way to Tijuana for that kind of service!

Thanks everyone, by following the links posted it looks like I can get an expedite at the downtown Los Angeles Federal building or my local post office.

Or MacArthur park... my name? Bond... James Bond... now where did I put my white dinner jacket?

[svandamme]

send me a picture + a grand in cash (i'll take Euro's, you can keep yer cheapo money)and tell me what you want written on it, i'll fed ex it to ya, should have it by thursday

[kstar]

I got mine overnight from the L.A. Passport Agency at the Federal Building on Wilshire last year. Just need a air ticket or letter saying that your are leaving soon - 2 weeks like red-beard said. They barely looked at my letter . . .

You need to set an appointment time and be prepared to wait in line for several hours, then wait in another line to pick up the Passport.

It can be done . . .

Best,

Kurt