| Going through a family tragedy is tough enough | | | | cut some of the hassle out of getting a passport. |
| without it happening and not having a way to get | | | | They will of course charge a fee for their |
| to that family member. Having a child get hurt | | | | services, but when people are dealing with an |
| abroad can be a horrifying experience, especially if | | | | emergency the fee is nothing compared to the |
| you don't have a valid passport and no way to | | | | aggravation that it saves. |
| get over to be with them. Luckily, the State | | | | If the family is in a position where they are going |
| Department does have provision for emergency | | | | to need their passports in 24 hours, these |
| passport services. | | | | services are excellent and being able to make this |
| When an emergency situation arises, the other | | | | happen. As a matter of fact, people that arrive |
| family members can contact the Department of | | | | early in the day can sometimes get their |
| State Passport Information Center and they will | | | | passports before the end of the business day. |
| get guidance on exactly what to do in order to | | | | This is a great relief to those that know that |
| get their passport pushed through. As long as the | | | | they need to be on a plane as soon as possible. |
| situation meets their criteria for emergency care, | | | | For the most part, these agencies can be found |
| they will usually have a passport in hand in less | | | | online and all business can be conducted that way. |
| than 48 hours. | | | | However, there are also plenty of brick and |
| The National Passport Information Center can be | | | | mortar offices if that is preferred. These services |
| accessed via the phone 24/7 and an appointment | | | | are invaluable to someone that simply cannot deal |
| can be made. If the appointments that are | | | | with all of the forms that are required. They can |
| available do not work for the family that needs | | | | supply the agency with their information and |
| the emergency services, they can also reach a | | | | pretty much be done with it at that point. |
| live person from 6am to midnight EST during | | | | It should go without saying, but while these |
| weekdays. This operator will be able to answer | | | | agencies are very helpful, they are there to make |
| any and all questions that the person might have. | | | | a profit. That being the case, the fees that they |
| Because the government options do not always | | | | charge can be substantial, depending upon the |
| fit into our plan, there are also plenty of private | | | | turnaround time that is needed. In many cases |
| passport expediting companies that offer services | | | | the overall costs can be five or six times what it |
| to issue emergency passports. These agencies | | | | would cost to get a passport via normal channels. |
| are approved by the State Department to help | | | | |