Archive for the ‘Passport Processing’ Category

Top 5 Reasons to Use a Passport Expeditor

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

You generally have two options when you apply for your passport: you can either apply directly through the US Department of State (Passport Agency); or you can apply via a private passport expediting service. But why would you want to use a specialist passport expeditor? Here are the five main reasons that people choose to use this service.

1. Save Time

Passport expeditors make it their business to get your passport back to you fast-in as little as 24 hours in some cases. There are many reasons you may need a passport quickly-you might have to make an important business meeting, or maybe you’ve just left it too late. So go with a passport expeditor and relax in the knowledge that you will receive your passport quickly.

2. Convenience

When you get your passport from a passport expeditor, you will still have to fill in all the required paperwork, including signing the forms and taking the photos. But once you have sent your passport off to the expediting company you won’t have to wait in a long line to collect it. Everything is completed by overnight Fedex so you just have to sit back and wait for your new passport to arrive through your door. Expeditors can take the hassle out of getting a passport quick.

3. Avoid Delays

The passport application process can lead to delays. Sometimes things go wrong or you make a mistake in the application which can lead to a hold-up. The passport agency will normally send you a letter in such situations informing you of the problem. But a passport-expediting service does the hard work for you and deals with the problem directly in person, liaising directly with the agency to sort it out as quickly as possible.

4. Detailed Tracking

A passport expediting service like ourselves will provide you with accurate, detailed tracking of your passport application to keep you in the know.. A passport expeditor will deal directly with the agency, so you will get a full tracking report to keep an eye on your passport application.

5. Guaranteed Service

Our expediting company offers a guarantee of our services. We work closely with the US Passport Agency and certainly the issuance of the passport is at the Agency’s discretion. However; if the Agency encounters a problem with your application, we’ll notify you immediately and work with you and the Agency to resolve the problem and get the passport back in your hands faster than you could through the normal process.

More Reasons to Go with a Passport Expediting Service

On top of that, when you go with a private US passport expeditor, you will benefit from a personalized service where you can speak to an actual person who will provide you with all the information you need. So if you want a quick, guaranteed, professional, and personal service, a passport expeditor is the answer.

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US Passport Fees Proposed to Be Increased

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

The Department of State (US Passport Service) has published a proposed rule on Regulations.Gov announcing the intention to increase the fees charged for a number of consular services, including an increase in passport application fees.  These fees are being increased to “ensure that fees for consular services reflect costs to the United States of providing the services.”

Reportedly, the Department of State conducted a study between 2007 and June 2009 and determined that their Agency is not sufficiently recovering the costs to perform various consular services for the public, which the issuance of a US Passport is a major portion of activity.

The proposed fees include a $35 increase in the fee for a new passport or passport renewal and the new fee will be a total of $110 to acquire your passport.  Among other changes, a child’s passport would increase $20 to a total fee of $80.  Finally, the relatively newly introduced passport card will see an increase in fees as well.

No specific date is noted for implementation of the increase; however, we’d expect it to occur sometime this year.

So, how does this affect you?  Naturally, we’d suggest that you plan ahead and apply for a new US passport soon!

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Dept of State and Embassies Closed for President’s Day

Saturday, February 13th, 2010

The Dept of State and all embassies will be closed on Monday, February 15th due to President’s Day.  Our offices will be open; however!

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Snowstorm in Washington DC causing delays

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Washington DC is still in recovery mode from a major snowstorm with another scheduled to arrive later today with a predicted 20 inches of snow.  All government offices, the US Passport Agency and most Embassies are were closed yesterday, the 8th and will also be closed today, the 9th.  Our office; however, is open this morning to service customers. 

Our other offices are open and operating so give us a call at 800-860-8610 and our staff will be able to assist you in determining the right place to send your application.

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Why use a Passport Expeditor?

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Why would you use a Passport Expeditor?

If you are traveling to another country you’ll need a passport.  If you are pressed for time, typically inside 6 weeks, you’ll really be up against a time deadline using the traditional method of going to the Post Office.  If this fits your situation, you may want to use a passport expeditor.  Keep in mind, we are a private company and charge extra for our personal services.

As a private expeditor, we guide you through the steps to obtain the necessary documents to complete your application.  Then, we review and submit your passport application to the Passport Agency for you, essentially “walking” the documents to the Passport Office and picking them up when they are ready.  Above is a chart that explains the different alternatives for acquiring your passport so that you are informed.

Have a question?  Give us a call at 1-800-860-8610

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How to Apply for a New Passport

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

If your old passport has expired or you’ve never applied for a passport before, you’ll need to arrange a new passport application in order to travel outside of the US. Applying for a new passport can sometimes seem like a confusing process, especially if this is the first time you’ve done it. So if you need to apply for a new passport, where do you start?

Two Options for a New Passport

When it comes to your new passport application, you have two options: apply the standard way through the Department of State Web site, or choose to apply though a private passport expediting company.

What’s the difference? Speed and efficiency. If you apply through a private service then you will be helped through every stage of the process to make it easier for you and to prevent you from making any mistakes. If you send your application form off to the Department of State and there is a mistake it can hold the process up for weeks. But a private passport firm will check through everything first to make sure it’s all correct so you won’t have to worry.

A private passport company can also offer a new passport service in as little as 24 hours, whereas the standard passport application can take anywhere from three to six weeks. If you need your new passport in a rush you only really have one option.

Passport Application Process

Whichever service you choose for your new passport, you will still need to send in the same information. This will include a completed DS-11 application form that has been signed at a passport acceptance facility, two passport photos, fees, travel documentation, and a few other things. For full details of exactly what you will need to send, see our section on new passports.

Once you’ve collected all of the relevant information, you simply need to send it either to the US Department of State or to your passport expediting service who will do the rest for you.

All you have to do then is wait for a few weeks (or as little as a day with a passport expediting company) and your new passport will arrive through your door. Easy!

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US Passport Requirements to go to Canada

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

As of June 1, 2009, everyone from the US arriving in Canada by air, land and sea will need a US passport to enter.

We recommend that you apply for your passport now and if you need it in a rush, apply for your us passport with passportsandvisas.com.  Canada is a favorite destination for many American tourists, canada passport borderbut making the journey used to be a lot simpler. As the rules regarding passports and travel requirements have recently changed, here’s a guide to what you do and don’t need now when heading across the border.

The Old Rules

 

Before June 2009, the only time that you needed to carry a passport with you when visiting Canada was if you were traveling by plane. If traveling by boat or car then you only needed to take proof of citizenship and picture ID.

The New Rules

 

Nothing has changed if you are flying to Canada from the United States as you will still need your passport. However, if you are crossing the border by land or sea then you will now require either a passport or a passport card. This may be annoying for all those people who have crossed many times in the past without needing a passport, but there is not much that can be done about it.

This is all part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), an agreement existing between the United States and a number of other countries including Canada and Mexico. The measure was due to come into force in 2008, but in the end it was put back to 2009. Increased security issues are partly to blame, and as a result if you don’t take your passport or passport card with you then you won’t be leaving the country.

The Passport Card

 

The passport card is a new piece of documentation that was introduced in 2008. It is a small, wallet-sized card that carries all the necessary information on it to cross the border into other countries in the WHTI. It is more convenient and cheaper than a passport, so if you only want to travel to Canada then you could just get one of these.

Exception to the Rule

 

There is currently one exception to the rule of taking a passport with you on a trip to Canada. Children under the age of 16 traveling by boat or vehicle do not need their passports to cross the border, and all they need is to present an original or certified copy of his or her birth certificate. If they are traveling by plane then the same rules apply, but otherwise they will be free from the restrictions in place for everyone else.

Why Canada?

 

Canada is a fantastic place to spend a vacation, and is hugely popular with American tourists. Possible things to see and do include:

• A trip to the CN Tower in Toronto, which at 1,815.4 feet tall has stunning views over the city and Lake Ontario

• The Canadian side of Niagara Falls, known as Horseshoe Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world

• A trip to Old Québec, walking the cobbled streets and admiring the 17th century architecture

Get your Passport Now

Need to get a passport or passport card to visit Canada? Don’t get caught out by the new rules. You can expedite your passport application with us at Passports and Visas.com and receive it within as little as one day. We also offer a number of other services including renewals, replacements, and children’s passports, which you can also expedite, so whatever you need let us arrange it for you.

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How Do I Renew My US Passport?

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

 

Many are asking how do I renew my US Passport with the recent law changes Passport Renewal.  Renewing your passport really isn’t as tricky as some people think it is. It can often seem confusing, and with all those forms to fill in it’s easy to panic and end up making a mistake, which will lead to further delays.

But with a little bit of help, getting your passport renewed really isn’t that difficult.

 

Why Renew?

Why would you want to renew your US passport? Any travel outside of the United States will require you to have a passport in your possession. Even if you’re just hopping across the border to Canada or Mexico for a few days, there are no exceptions. Everyone needs a passport.

If your old US passport has expired then you will certainly need to renew it. However, there are occasions when your passport has not expired but you will still need to get it renewed.

For example, if you are heading to a country that requires a certain time period of validity on your passport before it expires, which could be six months or more, then you will need to renew your passport if it expires within this time.

Also, if you’re going away for a long trip and your passport will become invalid during the time you are away, you will again have to renew your passport before you leave.

 

Passport Renewal Service

Your best option is always to go with a company that provides a dedicated US passport renewal service. You can often find a number of different levels of service, depending on what you need. For example, if you need a passport very quickly then you can get it in as little as 24 hours. Or if there is no rush you could opt for a standard 10-day service.

Whatever option you choose, a passport renewal service will make the process as simple as possible so there’s no chance of making a mistake. It involves filling in an application form and sending it together with two passport photos, a letter of authorization, and order form, and a few other details. You can find the complete list of everything you need to get your passport in the time specified.

Then just send it all in via FedEx and your passport renewal service will do the rest, so your passport will arrive in the allotted time.

 

Get it Faster

If you need your passport renewed fast by an expediting service, it’s always best to leave it to the experts. Save time and hassle and make sure you get your passport renewed in time for your trip, wherever you’re heading.

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How to Get a Passport Fast

Friday, December 11th, 2009

How do you get a Passport Fast?

It’s everyone’s vacation nightmare: you’ve been planning your vacation for weeks or months, you’ve been dreaming about sandy beaches, hot sun, relaxing days by the pool … but you’ve got so carried away with it all that you’ve forgotten the most important thing of all: your passport.

What do you do? How do you get your US passport sorted out fast? Luckily there’s a way that’s quick and easy.

Same Day Passport Service

With a same day passport application service, you can get your passport within 24 hours. It seems impossible, especially when you visit the US Department of State Web site and find out there’s an average wait of six weeks. But with a private passport application service you can get your US passport delivered on the same-day with ease.

Why Bother Going Fast?

There are many reasons why you may need to arrange a passport application fast.

Perhaps a business meeting has just come up out of the blue and it’s hugely important that you attend, but after buying your flight and booking your accommodation you realize that your passport expired a few weeks ago.

Sometimes even the most careful planners can get caught. Even if you have your passport ready and you’ve checked and double checked that it is still valid for a few months, you might find out at the last moment that the country you’re visiting requires at least six months validity on your passport or they won’t let you get a visa.

Most people start to panic when they find they need a passport immediately, and some give up all hope of ever making the trip.

But with a same day fast passport expediting service you just have to fill in a few forms online, send the required documents, pay the fee, and your US passport will get delivered straight away.

Streamlined Process

When you go with a passport expediting service your passport application is handled by a dedicated team who streamline the whole process. That means you’ll bypass all the restrictions that come with applying for your passport in the standard way.

When you apply for a passport with an expediting service, you get the same passport but just a lot quicker. It makes your life easier and means you never have to worry about missing your vacation or important trip ever again.

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Want to Visit the Great Wall of China? Apply for a China Visa Today!

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009

The Great Wall of China is surely one of the most incredible structures ever built. This remarkable monument has enthralled tourists from across the world for decades and is surely one of the highlights on any trip to China.

If you would like to head to China and see the Great Wall, make sure you get your passport early. We offer a passport application service for US travelers, and if you end up leaving your application to the last minute we also offer a passport expediting service.

You’ll also need a visa if you’re heading to China, and you’ll need the visa for China before you leave the US. Let us take care of your visa for you so you know there won’t be any problems on arrival. You can find more about our China Visa Service.

History of the Great Wall

The Great Wall of China was first built in the 7th century BC as a protective barrier along the northern border of the country, and work continued on it right up until the 16th century. It stretches for over 5,000 miles all the way from Shangaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west. Despite the popular belief that it can be viewed from space, there has never actually been any proof of this.

Best Places to See the Great Wall

The Great Wall is made up of lots of smaller walls, trenches, lookout towers, and natural defenses such as hills. As it is so vast, the first thing many tourists want to know is where they should visit it. As most tourists head to Beijing at some point in their trip, the following options are all located near to the city.

Badaling is by far the most popular spot to visit the Great Wall. Located very near to Beijing, the area is easily accessible and the wall has also been restored. All of this means there are more tourists here than at most other locations.

If you want to get further away from the tourist hoards then you could head to Mutianyu. This is about an hour from Beijing, and is therefore less busy. The wall is about 1.4 miles long here, and you can go up to the top in a cable car.

Further still is Simatai, about 2.5 hours from Beijing. Here you will find some impressive watchtowers, and it is also the starting point for the 7.5 mile trek to Jinshanling. It is hard going but is definitely one of the best ways to see the wall.

Get Your Passport and Visa Now

If you’re heading to China or Beijing, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Great Wall. Get your passport and visa today using our speedy and affordable service, and you could soon be on your way.

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