For most people, the four to six week processing time in routine passport processing is already reasonable enough. However, if you need to get your passport in a hurry, then chances are the routine passport application is not the option for you. What you need is an fast US passport. It’s the type of passport application you need if you have to leave the country in less than four weeks.
In fact, the US Depart of State strongly recommends to those who need to leave for another country in less than ten weeks to have their passport expedited. But beyond that, do you really need an expedited passport? We think you do, and let us show you some of the reasons why.
Probably the most obvious reason why you’d want to have your passport expedited is that doing so will save you a lot of time. Expedited Passports typically take two to three weeks to process, so this is the most sensible option you have if you need your passport in less than four weeks. And since expediting your application saves time, it’s no wonder why most people choose this application option.
If there’s another reason why you need an expedited passport it’s that it saves you from all the stress and the hassle of waiting for the processing of your passport. Again, for those who really need to get their passports quickly, four to six weeks is just too long a waiting period. So if routine passport processing is not an option, go for the expedited passport instead.
Then of course there’s the need for some to have their passports expedited because they need to leave in less than four weeks. If you fall under this category, you of course don’t have any choice but to choose the expedited option. If you have to leave, then you really have to leave.
People who choose to have their passports expedited often fall into two categories. One category is the group of people who need to leave the country in less than two weeks. The other one is the group that needs to have their passports ready in four weeks’ time in order to apply for a foreign visa. If you fall into either of these categories, then chances are you need to have your application expedited.
Should you choose to have your passport expedited, there are things you need to ensure. If you are sending your passport application by mail, you should clearly indicate on the envelope the word, ‘EXPEDITED’. Also, make sure that you have a way of tracking your mailed application until it is received by the addressee. And finally, go the extra mile and make your documents secure by putting them on an envelope that’s not easily destroyed by mishandling or when exposed to the elements.