When international travel is approaching, a properly prepared passport application may qualify for expedited submission through a passport Courier.
48HourPassport.com coordinates qualifying urgent applications through an established Courier process so customers can complete the required application steps locally and have their documents submitted through the appropriate U.S. Passport Agency process.
“Direct Agency Access” refers to Courier submission to the Passport Agency. It does not mean that 48HourPassport.com controls the government, bypasses Passport Agency requirements, or receives preferential treatment in passport adjudication.
The U.S. Department of State makes the final decision on every passport application.
Passport Couriers are private companies that assist travelers with expedited passport applications.
Depending on the Courier and Passport Agency, registered Couriers may be permitted to:
Courier companies do not issue passports.
They do not decide whether an application will be approved.
Using a Courier can be helpful when international travel is approaching and the traveler:
A Courier provides a way to move a properly prepared application through the authorized submission process without requiring every customer to personally travel to the Passport Agency.
Using a Courier does not eliminate government passport requirements.
The applicant must still:
The Courier cannot complete these personal requirements for the applicant.
Applicants using Form DS-11 must personally appear before an authorized Passport Acceptance Agent.
This includes many:
The Courier cannot replace the Acceptance Agent appointment.
The Acceptance Agent reviews the DS-11 application and supporting documentation.
The Agent typically:
For the 48HourPassport.com Courier process, the applicant receives the:
Sealed Government Envelope
Keep that envelope sealed.
After the Acceptance Agent appointment, follow the shipping instructions supplied with your current order.
For applications requiring a Sealed Government Envelope:
Ship the Sealed Government Envelope via overnight FedEx to the Courier address provided with your current order. Keep the envelope sealed.
Do not use an old Courier address or instructions from a previous order.
Retain the FedEx tracking number and confirm delivery.
Eligible applicants renewing with Form DS-82 normally do not need an Acceptance Agent appointment.
The applicant prepares the renewal package and follows the shipping instructions provided with the current order.
The application may then move through the qualifying Courier submission process.
The Courier reviews the package according to the applicable submission procedure.
The properly prepared qualifying application is then submitted through the Passport Agency process.
Once the application enters government processing, the U.S. Department of State:
The Courier cannot override a government requirement or approval decision.
Courier submission does not guarantee that a passport will be issued.
The Passport Agency may identify:
The State Department may place an application on hold until the issue is resolved.
Passport Couriers provide preparation and submission services for qualifying travelers.
A Courier does not have authority to force the State Department to process an application faster than the government allows.
The advantage of the Courier process is logistical: it allows qualifying customers to have properly prepared applications submitted through the Courier process without personally traveling to the Passport Agency.
48HourPassport.com’s urgent service is designed to achieve approximately:
2–3 days of Passport Agency processing, plus return shipping time
That timeframe refers to the Passport Agency processing portion of a properly prepared qualifying application.
It does not include:
Urgent Passport Agency processing normally applies when international travel is within two weeks.
If your destination requires you to obtain a foreign visa before travel, qualifying travel may be within four weeks.
Proof of international departure is required.
Most travelers use the normal two-week window.
These three parts of the process are often confused.
The Acceptance Facility executes qualifying DS-11 applications.
It may be located at a:
The Acceptance Agent does not issue the passport.
The Courier handles qualifying submission through the Passport Agency process.
The Courier is a private company.
The Passport Agency is operated by the U.S. Department of State.
It:
Courier submission only helps when the application is correctly prepared.
Common problems include:
Our Passport Specialists focus on identifying these problems before the documents move into the Courier process.
One reason customers use passport Couriers is convenience.
A DS-11 applicant can generally:
This can eliminate the need for the customer to personally travel long distances to a Passport Agency.
It refers to qualifying Courier submission through the U.S. Passport Agency process.
It does not mean private access to government decision-makers or a bypass of State Department requirements.
No.
48HourPassport.com is a private passport-expediting service operated through Legal Passport LLC.
No.
Only the U.S. Department of State determines whether a passport application will be approved.
No.
Passport issuance is a government decision.
No.
Applicants using Form DS-11 still must personally appear before an authorized Passport Acceptance Agent.
Eligible DS-82 renewal applicants normally do not.
Not necessarily.
A qualifying application may be submitted through the Courier process after the applicant completes all required steps.
International travel normally must be within two weeks.
If a foreign visa must be obtained before departure, qualifying travel may be within four weeks.
No.
Shipping and application preparation are separate.
U.S. Department of State — Using a Passport Courier Company
https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/get-fast/courier-company.html
If international travel is approaching and you need help determining whether the Courier process is appropriate for your passport situation:
Call 833-220-0002
Email: service@48hourpassport.com
Tell the Passport Specialist what passport you currently have and when you are traveling internationally.
48HourPassport.com is a division of Legal Passport LLC.