Getting a Passport as Quickly as Possible

It is possible to get a new passport or renew an old one within a few days. To get a passport quickly requires proof that departure is imminent, such as a copy of an airline ticket.

Usually the process takes about two weeks. That balloons to three weeks during the peak season, March 1 through June 30. No matter when you apply, however, give yourself plenty of time.

When visiting a passport office, avoid the lunch period, when lines may be longest. And make sure that applications are filled out correctly.

“The most important thing is to fill in departure dates,” said Marlene Schwartz, chief of the passport service’s field coordination staff in Washington.

“That’s the first thing we look at to determine in what priority the application is handled. If there are no departure dates, the application is processed in a routine fashion.”

Where visas are concerned, there can be other problems.

“In the (space) where you list countries to be visited, some people just put ‘Europe,’ which isn’t a country. Some people also write ‘Africa,’ which isn’t as much of a problem, because most countries there require visas. But it would help us to know how many countries in Africa you plan to visit.”

The passport office isn’t the only place to get passports. They can also be obtained at some post offices.

The form for a first passport is DSP-11, for renewals, DSP-82. The passport office will mail out forms.

For a first passport you need to apply in person and submit evidence of U.S. citizenship (birth certificate, naturalization certificate), plus two photos and a $42 passport fee.

If a passport was issued to someone 16 years or older within the past 12 years, renewals can be made by mail for $35. It’s necessary to submit the passport with the pertinent application.

Passports for adults are now issued for 10 years and five years for children under 18.

Each family member must carry a passport. Children 13 and older must apply in person. Parents may apply for children under 13. The fee for children under 18 is $27.

Frequent travelers can get a passport with 48 pages rather than the usual 24.

If a passport is lost, report it immediately and apply for a new one at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. A replacement costs $42.

When traveling, keep an extra pair of passport photos with your passport number. That will save time if the passport is lost or stolen.

Never pack a passport in checked-through luggage. Carry it with you.

The Los Angeles Passport Agency is at 11000 Wilshire Blvd., Room 13100, Los Angeles 90024, open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call (213) 209-7070.