New U.S. Passport questions

M

mario123

Registered Users (C)
I have to travel within a few days of taking my oath and will need a passport ASAP. For those you you who have already been through this process recently, I'd appreciate some feedback on these questions:

1) How long is expediated svc. taking at this time?

2) Would you recommend a passport expediting agent? If so, can your recommend a few? I live in Austin and the nearest PP office for same day delivery is Houston - a 3 hr. drive. Plus I'm not sure if I'll get it the same day.

3) If I do an expedited process from the USPO - do I have to use USPS overnight or can I use Fedex/UPS?

4) How many visa pgs. come in a new pprt? Do you recommend getting additional pages the first time itself (to save going through the hassel later on) or does it make the pprt. bulky?

Thanks!
 
Expedited typically takes 2 weeks, but if the passport agency is backlogged, your application may take up to 3 weeks.

If you have confirmed travel within several weeks of oath, your best bet is to visit one of the regional passport offices in person. I believe you need to make an appointment in advance, and there is a chance you may not get the passport until the next day, but at least you'll know its coming.
 
mario123 said:
I have to travel within a few days of taking my oath and will need a passport ASAP. For those you you who have already been through this process recently, I'd appreciate some feedback on these questions:

1) How long is expediated svc. taking at this time?

2) Would you recommend a passport expediting agent? If so, can your recommend a few? I live in Austin and the nearest PP office for same day delivery is Houston - a 3 hr. drive. Plus I'm not sure if I'll get it the same day.

3) If I do an expedited process from the USPO - do I have to use USPS overnight or can I use Fedex/UPS?

4) How many visa pgs. come in a new pprt? Do you recommend getting additional pages the first time itself (to save going through the hassel later on) or does it make the pprt. bulky?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

1) Evidence suggest around 2 weeks. But the passport agents have been warning it could take up to 4 weeks.

2)Houston it is then. You surely wouldn't want to fly to a passport agency?

3) It seems lately most post offices force you to use the USPS express mail if you choose the expedited service. No fedex or UPS options.

4) Never heard of anyone asking for extra pages in their passports. It is certainly thick enough for most people.
 
Again, I never heard of anyone actually asking for extra pages. In my experience, US is the only country that put those huge stamps that take up an entire page all over the passport. When you own a US passport, you no longer need to worry about those gigantic stamps.
 
No need for Fedex, the USPS Express Mail is an overnight service. Regular main only takes a couple of days (my processing was done in Houston, and I live in Dallas - I imagine that's what they will do for you).
 
I sent a letter along with my new passport application when I applied at the post office. I was requesting additional visa pages passport since I travel extensively and I obtained my initial passport as 48-page passport (regular is 24 pages). Please see link given by Huracan above for all the information necessary for applying for extra pages in passport.
 
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