Table of Contents
What is a Passport and why is it necessary?
A passport is valid legal document issued by the government of its country to their citizens for the purpose of identification and traveling abroad. The United States or any other country would not legally allow entry (with exceptions to some circumstances), if one does not have a valid passport.
The passport booklet has two option; a standard passport book which has 28 pages or a non-standard passport book which has 52 pages. This booklet contains your private information such as; name, birth date, place of birth, place of passport issued, passport issue and expiry date and a unique passport number.
Adult U.S. passports are valid for 10 years while child U.S. passports (15 years or younger) are valid for only 5 years. The additional pages are for the stamps from the immigration or visas while entering or leaving a country.
You may not require a passport if you do not intend to travel outside of the country. If your travel plan is within countries including Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean you can apply for a passport card. It comes in the size similar to your driver s license and are technologically advanced. However, they are limited to land border crossing or entry through sea port only. To know more about US passport card, click here.
Where do I apply for a US passport?
There are two types of US passport applications services; routine passport and expedited passport, that you can decide from. But before you decide to apply for a passport, you need to assess the duration in which you require the passport service and the payment you are willing to make for your passport applications.
Through expedited passport service, the application process to apply for a new passport, renewal of an expired passport or other passport related matters is shortened. The estimated processing time is 4 to 6 weeks when applied through the post office. It can be renewed in as little as 24 hours when expedited with a passport agency such as 24 Hour Passport and Visas. Click here to know the cost of service 24 Hour Passport and Visas charge. If you opt for expedited passport service, 24 Hour Passport and Visas is the best place to guide you. Through our step by step instructions, you can easily apply for an expedited passport. Browse through our website for detailed information.
If time is not a constraint to you, it is advisable that you apply for a routine passport service. When applying for routine passport service, you must apply directly through the U.S. Department of State website or applicants can mail their documents through passport office. You can also apply through post offices, county clerk offices, and courthouses. In some cases, you will have to appear in person to place your application.
What do I need to do to get a passport?
Applying for a passport consist of gathering many of your personal documents. It can be stressful but our detailed steps of the application process provide tips and make it easier to break down the things on which you need to get started on. For you to be able to apply for a U.S. Passport, you must have these documents ready:
Citizen of the United States: in order to be eligible for a US passport, the applicant must be a citizen of the U.S.A. A green card holder is not eligible to apply for a passport as they are rather called Non-citizen nationals.
Application Form: if you are applying for a new passport, renewing a passport, applying for a second passport, applying for a child passport or any other passport service you must complete an application form. Each of these services has a different form of requirement. Browse through our website or call us at our regional office to know which form is required for your application. Many of the forms require you to print and NOT SIGN the application form as it will be done in front of an Acceptance Agent who will assess the documents. Some application forms such as the application to renew passport (form ds-82) might require you to sign the form. If you wish to fill the application by hand, make use of only a black pen.
Required Documents: each passport service is different, therefore the documents required are also different. However, the documents listed below are the general documents needed for all applications.
- Photo ID (driver’s license)
- Passport Photo (2″ x 2″ with a white background and taken within the past 6 months). A photo service is available at our office.
- Original certificate of citizenship
- Birth Certificate (it should contain parent names for a child passport)
NOTE: A certified birth certificate has a registrar’s raised, embossed, impressed, or multicolored seal, registrar’s signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar’s office (which must be within 1 year of your birth), or an expired US passport or original naturalization certificate.
If additional documents are required, you will receive a notification by mail. For detailed information about a particular service can be found through links in the header menu of the website.
Visit Acceptance Agent: some passport services require applicants to visit an application acceptance facility. This is where the agent will verify all your documents and act as a witness as you sign the application form which was left unsigned.
Passport Fee Payment: depending on your passport service selection, your fee will be determined. If you chose to expedite your passport service, an additional fee will be charged by 24 Hour Passport and Visas. Click here to know about charges for the service you desire. There is a compulsory government fee (execution fee) associated will all passport services. You will also have to pay an acceptance agent if you require to visit their facility.
How long does it take to get a passport?
This depends on the service you have chosen. If you have decided to apply for a routine passport, the processing time can be 12-16 weeks depending on the volume of applications. There is an increase in passport application submissions during peak travel times and that may cause additional delays when applying through the post office. This peak travel time is usually when the holiday season approaches and people plan for vacations. If you need your passport faster than this you have to expedite your application process.
Through the expedited option, the application process to apply for a new passport, renewal of an expired passport or other passport related matters is shortened. The estimated processing time is 4 to 6 weeks when applied through the post office. It can be renewed in as little as 24 hours when expedited with a passport agency such as 24 Hour Passport and Visas. With this option, 24 Hour Passport and Visas charges an additional fee in order to speed up the processing of your application. Check the price here.
Apply through 24 Hour Passport and Visas?
Getting your new passport in the U.S. starts with filing up the application form and ends with the submission of the documents. We are the most trusted US passport and visa expediters in the country offering speedy passport and visa services for US passport holders. We are based in the Greater Los Angeles region, we also serve adjoining communities as well that include San Francisco, Chicago, Raleigh, and other nearby regions. Click here to order now! Expedite renewal passport process, new passport or any other passport services in 2-3 weeks or in as fast as 24 hours.
24 Hour Passport and Visas provide the following expedited services:
- New U.S. Passport
- Second Valid Passport
- U.S. Passport Renewal
- Replace Lost or Stolen Passport
- Child Passport
- Passport Name Change
- Passport Gender Change
- U.S Passport Card
- Visa Services
Birth certificate is required if a parent is applying for a child passport but is not required to renew a passport. Similarly, each passport service has its own requirement, therefore click on the link suited to you for more information. Our step by step detailed approach will guide you through the application process. Browse through 24 Hour Passport and Visas website for more information or contact our nearest regional offices, who will be able to assist you with your queries.
Upon receiving your U.S. Passport, it is very important to sign your passport for it to be considered valid. You are required to sign on the page opposite of the photo page. On the page opposite of the photo page, sign in the blank space where a line indicating reads “Signature of bearer.” This must be done using a non-ballpoint pen and make sure you do not smudge your signature. If you renew your passport than the old passport will cancel, however you must keep the old passport with you.
For more information please contact our regional offices, who will be able to assist you better.
24 Hour Passport & Visas Offices
8170 Beverly Blvd #103, Los Angeles, CA 90048, United States.
Phone Number: 310.913.7804 | 323.658.8567
Physical Address:
8170 Beverly Blvd #103
Los Angeles, CA 90048
United States
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday to Friday
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Saturday
Walk-in Accepted
8170 Beverly Blvd #103
Los Angeles, CA 90048
United States
By car
From airport:
It is 11.7 miles and approximately 34 minutes away.
Head east, following signs for Century Blvd.
Take the i-405 N ramp to Sacramento. Follow signs for La Cienega Blvd and merge.
Turn right on Beverly Blvd, pass by Taco Bell and our office is on the right
From downtown:
It is 11.3 miles and approximately 29 minutes away.
Get on I-10 W from San Pedro St.
Take exit 7A from I-10 W.
Take La Cienega Blvd to Beverly Blvd.
By public transport
From airport:
Take the LAX via FlyAway (L.A. Union Station) till Union Station.
From Union Station, take the Metro Red Line (North Hollywood Station). Get off at Vermont/ Beverly Station.
From there take bus no.14 (Beverly-Pico) and get off at Beverly/Crescent Heights. It’s a 2 minute away from our office.
From downtown:
Take bus no.60 from 7th/San Pedro (Downtown LA- Sunset- Figueroa).
Get off at 7th/Olive.
Take bus no.14 from Olive/7th (Beverly-Pico).
Get off at Beverly/Crescent Heights. Our office is located 3 minutes away from there.
- Passport Services in Los Angeles
- New US Passport in Los Angeles
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- Second Valid Passport in Los Angeles
- Passport Renewal in Los Angeles
- Replace Lost or Stolen Passport in Los Angeles
- Apply for a Child Passport in Los Angeles
- Passport Name Change in Los Angeles
- US Passport Card in Los Angeles
- Passport Gender Change in Los Angeles
2001 Van Ness Ave #408, San Francisco, CA 94109, United States.
Phone Number: 415.744.4297
Physical Address:
2001 Van Ness Ave #408
San Francisco, CA 94109
United States.
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday to Friday
Walk-in Accepted
2001 Van Ness Ave #408
San Francisco, CA 94109
United States.
By car
From airport:
It is 15.4 miles and approximately 35 minutes away.
Take the US-101 N in South San Francisco from International Terminal Arrivals Level.
Follow US-101 N to Market St in San Francisco.
Take Franklin St to Van Ness Ave.
From downtown:
It is 1.6 miles and approximately 9 minutes away.
Head south on Hyde St towards McAllister St.
Turn right onto McAllister St.
Turn right onto Franklin St.
Turn right onto Pacific Avenue..
Turn right onto Van Ness Avenue and our office will be on the right.
By public transport
From airport:
Take the yellow bus (Antioch) and get off at 16th St Mission BART Station.
Take bus no.49 (North Point + Van Ness) and get off at Jackson St & Van Ness Avenue.
Our office is a minute away from there.
From downtown:
From Civic Centre, take bus no.19 (Beach Street) and get off at Polk St & Washington St.
Our office is 3 mins away from there.
- Passport Services in San Francisco
- New US Passport in San Francisco
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- Replace Lost or Stolen Passport in San Francisco
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- Passport Name Change in San Francisco
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- Passport Gender Change in San Francisco
1440 W. Taylor Street #483 Chicago, IL 60607, United States.
Phone Number: 773.345.7564
1440 W. Taylor Street #483
Chicago, IL 60607
United States
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday to Friday
No Walk-ins accepted.
Drop-off and Pick-up Office.
1440 W. Taylor Street #483
Chicago, IL 60607
United States
By car
From airport:
It is 8.9 miles and approximately 21 minutes away.
Take Departures to S Cicero Avenue.
Take i-55 N/Stevenson Expy to W 31st PL and take exit 290.
Take S Ashland Avenue to W Taylor St.
From downtown:
Follow E Congress Pkwy, I-290 W and S Ashland Avenue to W Taylor St.
Turn left onto W Taylor St.
By public transport
From airport:
Take the Orange Line (Loop) and get off at Ashland.
Take bus no.9 (Irving Park) and get off at Ashland & Taylor.
Our office is 4 minutes away from there.
From downtown:
Take the Blue Line (Forest Park) and get off at Racine.
Our office is 10 minutes away from there.
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3201 Edwards Mill Rd Ste 485 Raleigh, NC 27612, United States.
Phone Number: 704.312.9476
3201 Edwards Mill Rd Ste 485
Raleigh, NC 27612
United States
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday to Friday
No Walk-ins accepted.
Drop-off and Pick-up Office.
3201 Edwards Mill Rd Ste 485
Raleigh, NC 27612
United States
By car
From airport:
Get on I-40 E from Airport Blvd.
Take Edwards Mill Rd exit from Wade Avenue.
Follow Edwards Mills Rd till our office
From downtown:
Take E Jones St to N Person St.
Take Glenwood Ave and Glen Eden Dr to John Humphries Wynd in Meredith.
Continue on John Humphries Wynd to our office.
By public transport
From airport:
Take bus no.100 (RDU Airport and Raleigh) and get off at Blue Ridge Rd at Westchase Blvd.
Take bus no.27 (Crabtree Valley Mall) and get off at Blue Ridge Rd at Duraleigh Rd.
Our office is 9 minutes away from there.
From downtown:
Take bus no.4 (Rex Hospital) and get off at Edwards Mill Rd at Ed Dr.
Our office is 2 minutes away from there.
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- Replace Lost or Stolen Passport in Raleigh
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