Imagine having booked a trip two years ago to sunny Cancun because there was no need for a passport. Now, the trip is coming up and all of a sudden a friend asks if you have a passport. Not everyone is aware of the fact that they have to have a passport now and sometime getting an expedited new American passport is required. It will cost a little bit more, but as long as the applicant knows what to do, the process can be fairly painless.

The first thing to understand is that the process for new passport applications  is very involved. The second anyone finds himself or herself in a situation that warrants an expedited new passport, they should do everything in their power to get that passport application in a soon as possible. The sooner the process is started, the sooner the new passport can be issued.

New passports must be done in person. Unlike renewals, the forms cannot be mailed into the proper offices. In most cases, this will require heading to the local post office. However, when expedited services are needed, the post office is not always the best route. Regional passport offices offer more services and can sometimes get a quicker turnaround time.

When getting a new passport, there are certain things that should be gathered before the process even gets started. First and foremost, the applicant is going to need a picture that can be used on the passport. While some passport locations offer this service, it may be a bit cheaper to use a local one-hour photo shop. Just let them know the purpose of the photo and they will crop it properly.

Since a new application must be done in person, anything that the applicant is unsure of can be run by the clerk or agent that is working at the office. The passport application form that has to be filled out is the DS-82. Be sure to mention to the clerk that this is for an expedited passport and make sure everything is marked clearly so that there is no confusion.

An expedited new passport costs $60, plus the normal passport fees, plus the cost of two-way overnight delivery service. Expediting a passport can be rather costly. Right now, the estimated time frame for an expedited passport is two to three weeks. This time frame can vary from year to year, month to month, and even week to week. The State Department website frequently updates the estimated processing time for passport applications.

It is never good to wait until the last moment, but sometimes it is what it is. When things like this happen or the need suddenly arises and a passport is needed, it is good to know that that services are available to make the process go quicker. Today, international travel will generally require a passport number and this should no longer be an issue.

Filling out the United States passport application form for the first time can be a stressful process. Getting an expedited new U.S. passport can ease this stress a little. The processing center most definitely places expedited passports at a high priority, so it is worth the extra $80 dollars to ensure that a passport comes in less than two weeks, especially if travel plans hinge on its arrival.

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