Passport Services Available Now

"Passport Services Available Now

What to Expect:

• Mail delays are impacting when we receive passport applications for processing. Our processing times begin the day we receive your application, not the day you mail it.
• Routine service can take up to 18 weeks from the day an application is submitted to the day a new passport is received. The 18-week timeframe includes up to 12 weeks for processing and up to 6 weeks for mailing times on the front and back end.
• Expedite service (for an additional $60) can take up to 12 weeks from the day an application is submitted to the day a new passport is received. The 12-week timeframe includes up to 6 weeks for processing and up to 6 weeks for mailing times on the front and back end.

We suggest you:

• Send your application to us via trackable mail, so you can track your application before it enters our system. This can be done whether applying at an acceptance facility or by mail.
• Pay an extra $17.56 for 1-2 day delivery for the return of your completed passport.

Use Self-Service Tools Online: You can get your questions answered immediately by using one of the self-service tools available on our site. Check online for your passport status. Customer service representatives will not give status updates over the phone. 

Planning to Travel? Apply Early! Apply at least six months before planned travel. Due to limited availability for urgent travel appointments, we cannot guarantee you can receive in-person service at a passport agency or center. We are prioritizing customers with life-or-death emergencies. We do not charge a fee to make an appointment. Visit our Passport Agency and Center page to learn more.

Appointments are Limited, Must Be Scheduled by Phone: Call 1-877-487-2778 or 1-888-874-7793 TDD/TTY from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, Mondays through Fridays. Learn more to see if you qualify for an appointment.

Renew By Mail: Adults with 10-year passports can renew them by mail instead of appearing in person..."
Passports 

Passports: Current Regulations
"Prior to 2007, little or no documentation was required to enter the United States from Canada,
Mexico, Bermuda, or the Caribbean. In December 2004, with the 9/11 Commission
recommending tighter borders to help prevent another terrorist attack, Congress passed the
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), which now requires passports for anyone entering
the United States. As of mid-2009, approximately 30% of American citizens hold a passport.

After the January 2007 implementation of phase I of the new passport regulations (requiring
passports when entering by air), the Department of State was deluged with passport applications.
The time necessary to get a passport expanded from the typical four to six weeks to several
months, ruining many Americans’ travel plans.

On January 31, 2008, another change occurred. Government-issued proof of identity and
citizenship documents are required to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda,
and the Caribbean, according to the Department of Homeland Security. People under the age of
18, however, are allowed to present only proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.

Phase II, implemented on June 1, 2009, adds to the existing requirements that travelers have
passports for all land and sea crossings. U.S. or Canadian children under the age of 16, however,
are allowed to present an original or copy of their birth certificate or other proof of citizenship. Groups of U.S. or Canadian children under the age of 19, when traveling in church or school groups, social groups, or sports teams, and when entering under adult supervision, also can
present birth certificates or other proof of citizenship, rather than a passport..."

New Travel Requirements (Western Hemisphere Initiaive)
"AIR TRAVEL

* All U.S. citizens traveling by air are required to present a passport book to enter or re-enter the United States.

LAND AND SEA TRAVEL

The following summarizes information available on the Department of Homeland Security’s website.

* CURRENTLY:
All U.S. citizens must show proof of identity and proof of U.S. citizenship when entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the countries of the Caribbean by land or sea.

Acceptable documents include: U.S. Passport Book, U.S. Passport Card, or other document approved by the Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. citizens who do not have a single document verifying identity and citizenship must present both an identification and citizenship document; for example, a driver’s license and a copy of a birth certificate or naturalization certificate.

* LATER:
On June 1, 2009, the U.S. government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or other travel document approved by the Department of Homeland Security.

o CHILDREN: U.S. citizen children under the age of 16 will be able to present the original or copy of their birth certificate, or other proof of U.S. citizenship such as a naturalization certificate or citizenship card.

Groups of U.S. citizen children ages 16 through 18, when traveling with a school or religious group, social organization, or sports team, will be able to enter under adult supervision with originals or copies of their birth certificates or other proof of citizenship. See the Department of Homeland Security's GetYouHome.gov for more information on the changing travel requirements..."