Email Us!
service@48hourpassport.com
Call Us!
833-220-0002
Call Us!
833-220-0002
Email Us!
service@48hourpassport.com
Call Us!
833-220-0002
Call Us!
833-220-0002
U.S. passport processing time depends on how soon you are traveling and which type of service you use.
There are three basic levels of passport processing:
Understanding the difference is important because processing time does not necessarily include mailing or shipping time.
The U.S. Department of State currently lists routine passport processing at approximately:
4–6 weeks
This is the time the application is being processed by the government.
Mailing time is additional.
The State Department advises that it may take up to two weeks for an application to reach a Passport Agency or Center and additional time for the completed passport to reach the applicant after processing.
Routine service is generally appropriate when international travel is not approaching soon.
Applicants who need faster service can pay the U.S. Department of State’s additional expedited-processing fee.
Current government expedited processing is approximately:
2–3 weeks
Mailing time is additional.
Government expedited service should not be confused with urgent Passport Agency processing.
Travelers with urgent international travel may qualify for direct processing through a U.S. Passport Agency.
The normal urgent-travel window is international travel within two weeks.
If the traveler must obtain a foreign visa before departure, qualifying travel may be within four weeks.
Proof of international travel is required.
48HourPassport.com assists qualifying travelers with properly prepared applications submitted through an established Courier process.
Our urgent service is designed to achieve approximately:
2–3 days of Passport Agency processing, plus return shipping time
This refers specifically to the time the properly prepared application is being processed through the Passport Agency portion of the expedited Courier process.
It does not mean the entire passport process takes two or three days from the moment you place an order.
Depending on your application, additional time may be required for:
These steps are separate from Passport Agency processing time.
Urgent passport processing leaves little time to correct mistakes after submission.
Common problems that can cause delays include:
Careful preparation before submission is one of the best ways to avoid preventable delays.
Consider routine processing when your travel is well into the future and you have sufficient time for both government processing and mailing.
Consider government expedited processing when routine service may not leave enough time before departure but your travel is not yet within the urgent Passport Agency window.
Urgent Passport Agency processing is intended for travelers with qualifying international travel approaching quickly.
Travel must normally be within two weeks, or within four weeks when a foreign visa must first be obtained.
This distinction is important.
Passport processing time is the period during which the U.S. Department of State reviews and processes the passport application.
Shipping time is the time required to move documents to or from the applicant, Courier, Passport Agency, or delivery carrier.
When planning international travel, consider the entire timeline, not just the government processing period.
Even an urgent application can be delayed when the Passport Agency needs additional information.
Possible causes include:
The U.S. Department of State makes the final decision on every passport application.
The U.S. Department of State currently lists routine processing at approximately 4–6 weeks, not including mailing time.
The State Department currently lists expedited processing at approximately 2–3 weeks, not including mailing time.
No.
Government expedited service is the State Department’s standard paid expedited option.
48HourPassport.com assists qualifying urgent travelers through an expedited Courier submission process designed to achieve approximately 2–3 days of Passport Agency processing, plus return shipping time.
No.
Shipping, document preparation, Acceptance Agent appointments, and other steps occur outside Passport Agency processing time.
International travel must normally be within two weeks.
If you must obtain a foreign visa before departure, qualifying travel may be within four weeks.
Yes.
The U.S. Department of State may request additional information or documentation before issuing a passport. Such a request can extend the processing time.
No private passport-expediting company controls the government’s final adjudication or issuance decision.
If your international departure date is approaching, call before choosing a processing option.
Call 833-220-0002
A Passport Specialist can review your travel date and passport situation and explain the appropriate next step.
48HourPassport.com is a division of Legal Passport LLC.