<p>We just discovered that son’s passport has expired. Reading through the U.S. State Dept.'s web site, it looks like he can’t renew it because he was 14 when it was issued. They also make it sound like he has to report, in person, to a regional passport center to get one. Yet, H’s company uses some type of agency that claims they can get one in 4-5 days from the time S submits his paperwork to them. Of course, the fees are over $300. Does anyone know how I can “walk” his passport through the system?</p>
<p>[Schedule</a> an Appointment at a Regional Passport Agency](<a href=“U.S. Passports”>U.S. Passports)</p>
<p>Husband paid $300+ by using a courier service a few years ago. It was touch and go as I remember and his was only expired by a few months.</p>
<p>I know my Mom several yrs ago, had to go to the regional center and she had it in a few days…can’t recall if she walked out with a new one that day…she might have. It was a pain in the arse because she had to go into NYC, and that was a whole day affair.</p>
<p>We went to a local satellite passport location and expedited the passport. I think it was an additional $60 to expedite, but we received in about 1 week. Double check if both parents need to accompany the child. It changes at age 16 or 17 to only one parent.</p>
<p>Alert to all who are sending their kids abroad… remember that your passport has to be valid for 6 months after your arrival in a foreign country.</p>
<p>If he was 14 last time around, he would be 19 now and thus gets an adult passport. The US Dept of State is quoting expedited times at 2-3 weeks if the materials are overnighted both ways, so that will not work. He is going to have to go directly to a passport agency. See [Application</a> Processing Times](<a href=“U.S. Passports”>U.S. Passports) for more information.</p>
<p>Yea I would suggest going to the nearest Passport agency as well. I was in a similar position last week and they processed my passport in 4 hours (at the Chicago agency) for an extra $60 (total: $160).</p>
<p>Oh, yes, I’m sorry! He is 19 now.</p>
<p><a href=“at%20the%20Chicago%20agency”>quote</a>
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<p>Did you go to the one on Dearborn? I’m trying to figure out if my only choice is to go directly to one of the regional offices.</p>
<p>Toledo did you call the post office and ask them? Only suggest that since I bet they get many calls similar to yours and they may be able to offer suggestions or your best bet.</p>
<p>My company used an expediting service (like your husband’s company used).</p>
<p>They are expensive, but I remember getting my passport really fast (one or two days, I think).</p>
<p>i don’t remember which passport expediter my company used, but here is one I found:</p>
<p>[US</a> Passport Service - US Passport Renewal Service and New United States Passports](<a href=“http://www.passportsandvisas.com/]US”>http://www.passportsandvisas.com/)</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Another thought is call your Congressman.</p>
<p>I have heard that they can help in difficult situations, like this one.</p>
<p>I went through the regular process a few years ago with Fed Ex as the courier and it took about a week. There were no guarantees though. I have a friend that did use an expedited service and he applied on Thursday and had his passport on Monday.</p>
<p>When I got myself into the same situation I went to the local passport office and had my passport the same day … it was a very long day … but I had my passport the same day. I do not know if this is the only way but it does work</p>
<p>I did it at Chicago–it’s on Dearborn in the Kuczinski building. I called the hotline first for an appointment, and I had to take my travel information (proof of need) with me and have everything done. We went in the morning, paid the fee plus the surcharge for immediate processing, went to lunch and picked up the passports in the afternoon. Not too bad. I think you must be within two weeks of your travel date to use this service.</p>
<p>Does he need a visa too?</p>
<p>Change vacation from Jamaica to Puerto Rico.</p>
<p>Yep, the Passport Agency on Dearborn is where I got mine at. Do remember to make an appointment of course! And you do need proof of travel within 2 weeks and appropriate passport photo. Best of luck.</p>
<p>No visa is needed. I did call the post office and they quoted 5-7 business days. The third party expiditer is quoting 3-5 business days. H thinks the safest bet is to make an appointment and drive to a regional passport office, which would be Detroit or Chicago. It will be a long day, but at least you’re guaranteed to get one. Thanks for all the help on this. It’s good to know we aren’t the only ones who have been in this situation.</p>
<p>Go to the passport agency. I was in a similar situation recently (except I didn’t realize my passport was expired until I was checking in a the airport). Make an appointment at the passport agency and you need proof of travel to get an expedited passport. I ended up having to get a state rep to call and get me an appointment (since all appointments for the next day were booked, of course). Since I had proof that I had a flight out that afternoon, they did it really fast and I had it in a couple of hours.</p>
<p>For anyone else in a suimilar situation, but with a little more time, go to your local agency with all the paperwork filled out, two checks and legal photos. See what they say. We were able to renew three expired passports this January at the local post office - one was a child-to-adult passport like the OP’s son. Delivery was just under three weeks, non-expedited. Passports fees may be increasing by $35, so it’s a good time to check.</p>