After a few minutes of hyperventilating, I calmed down and tried to figure how to solve my current dilemma. I learned that there is an option to go to a Passport Agency for expedited service. Going to a Passport Agency would only apply if you are traveling in 24-48 hours due to an emergency (serious injury, illness or death in your immediate family) or if you’re traveling within 2 weeks. If the latter, you will need to show paid airline or cruise tickets to prove that you have a trip in 2 weeks. Armed with this information I proceeded to find if there is a Passport Agency in Colorado. Fortunately, there is one located in the City of Aurora. I also learned that you need to make an appointment and can’t just show up. You can make an appointment online (https://passportappointment.travel.state.gov/) or call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778. I opted to call just to make sure I get that appointment. To find out if your state has a Passport Agency, go to the U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs under Passport- Where to Apply.
The U.S. Department of State website not only listed the Passport Agencies naionwide but also has valuable and helpful information on what I need to do. It explained what form I need to complete and submit. It also lists the items I need to bring to my appoinment. The site also helps you figure out what the fees are by using the passport fee calculator, fee chart PDF or an interactive fee chart on the page that you can use depending on your situation. Because I am going to a passport agency, I am able to pay by credit card, personal check, money order or cash.
With my appointment scheduled and with information on what I need to do and bring, I now feel better and back to being excited about my upcoming trip.
Remember, if you hold a U.S. Passport, it is recommended that you renew your passport approximately nine months before it expires because certain countries require that your passport is at least valid for up to 6 months after travel. There are also some airlines that will not allow you to baord if your passport is not valid for at least 6 months at the time of travel. So make sure you check your passport as you plan your next international travel. You don’t want to be like me, panicking at the last minute. I can tell you that you would not want to experience what I felt when I found out,only a few weeks before my most anticipated trip this year, that I may not be able to go because of a non-valid passport. It was no fun at all.
If you don’t have an expired passport but need to apply for a passport for you and your family, below is a great infographic from USA.gov that shows how you can get or renew a U.S. Passport. It breaks down the steps and what you need to provide if you are renewing by mail or applying for a new passport in person. The infographic also shows how long it takes to get a passport and also goes through the difference between a Passport Book and a Passport Card in case you are considering getting a Passport Book in addition to a regular passport.
For more information, visit:
USA.gov – https://www.usa.gov/travel-abroad
U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs – https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html
The infographic below is from USA.gov.
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