Getting a passport is not the rare occurrence that it used to be. Today, more and more people are using them on a regular basis because of the different law changes that went into effect. Anyone asking “How long will it take to get a passport?” would do well to educate themselves on the whole process to make sure that they don’t get caught without the proper documents during travel.
People are now getting passports like never before. Ever since the rumors of the new laws started to get circulated, the general public started to wise up a little bit in regards to getting a passport just for the sake of having one. It is never a bad thing to have the documentation and because of the long wait, it was safer to have it sitting in the drawer.
The process is not a difficult one, as long as the applicant has all of their paperwork in order. One of the first very first thing that needs to be done is to obtain a passport picture. In addition to that, they will also need a valid government recognized ID and proof of citizenship. If all of these items are valid and ready to go, the application process will go much quicker.
After obtaining these pre-application items, the applicant must apply in person at a passport office. These centers are often in a local post office. Depending on the time of day, the actual application can take minutes or hours. It is best to go at odd hours to avoid the rush.
Once the application has been approved by the application center, it is sent off for processing. This is the longest part of the application process. This is also the part of the application that worries most new applicants, as this part of the application has been known to take a great deal of time.
Today, the whole process is more efficient and worry free. Anyone that wants to go through normal channels can expect to get their passport in about two months. If that seems excessive, compare it to waiting over six months before these new laws went into effect. The entire process is much more efficient now.
If that time frame still does not work, there is actually an expedited service that is offered for $60. Anyone using this service will have their passport back to them in about two or three weeks. If this is still not quick enough, there are other services that cost a bit more, but the passport application literally gets pushed to the front of the pile.
While it would be nice to have a single answer to how long to get a passport, the answer actually varies unless the person is going to pay to get the expedited service. However, it is reasonable to put a two month time frame on the process if you get it from your local U S passport office. If it gets there a little sooner, all the better.