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Visa HQ vs Fastport Passport

Tuesday, November 12th

2024 Passport Service Reviews

Visa HQ Review 3.5 Star Rating

Visa HQ

3.5 Star Rating
  • Full range of passport services (first-time, renewed, child, name change, lost/stolen/damaged)
  • Prices from $149 to $699
  • 25 offices in 13 countries
  • 20+ years of experience
  • Has served over 1 million clients
  • 24/7 support with online tracking and real-time updates

VisaHQ has served over a million people around the globe, coordinating all of the paperwork needed for passports and visas via 25 offices in 13 countries. The services for all types of passports (including new passports and renewal passports) are clearly priced, and we were glad to see thousands of reviews from people who said they'd recommend working with VisaHQ. We're still a little put off by the company's "F” rating from the BBB, but we're moving VisaHQ back up to an above-average rating because of the improvements in customer feedback since our previous evaluation.

Fastport Passport Review 2 Star Rating

Fastport Passport

2 Star Rating
  • Can help with all passport types (new, renewal, lost/stolen, child)
  • Passport expediting fees starting at $119 for 8-week processing, $209 for 3-week processing, $429 for 7-9 business days, and $599 for 2-4 business days
  • "A” rated and accredited by the BBB
  • Over 1.2 million customers since 2003

Fastport Passport has been around since 2003, helping over 1.2 million clients to get expedited passports and visas from its headquarters in Brooklyn. They charge anywhere from $119 to $599 for both new and renewal passports, not including shipping and government fees. However, despite an "A” rating from the BBB, Fastport Passport's recent client feedback is almost 100% negative; customers say that they paid for a service that they never received (because no one answered the phone), or that the customer service was beyond bad. We've had to drop Fastport Passport in our rankings, and we recommend you look to higher-ranked rivals for better expedited passport services.

Where Can You Get a Passport Fast?

The process for getting passports was massively impacted by the pandemic, with processing times and requirements devolving as the world adjusted to new travel norms. During the height of the pandemic, passport processing was severely disrupted. Many passport agencies were closed or operating with reduced staff, leading to massive backlogs and long waits for travelers needing to renew or obtain new passports.

While the situation has improved, there are still some lingering effects that travelers should be aware of. Now, standard passport processing times have stabilized somewhat but remain longer than pre-pandemic levels. On average, it can still take anywhere from 10 to 13 weeks to receive a passport after submitting your application through traditional methods (like going to the post office or another passport acceptance facility).

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Passport Service FAQ

If you are a US citizen traveling outside of the country, you will need a passport. The only exceptions are US territories like Puerto Rico, the USVI, American Samoa and Guam. Gone are the days of traveling to Canada or Mexico with just a birth certificate in hand!
That depends on your destination. There are over 170 countries that do not require a visa for US citizens to enter, but nations such as China, Brazil and Chile have visa requirements.
If you were at least 16 years old when you got your passport, it will be valid for 10 years from the date of issue. On the other hand, if you were under 16, it will only be valid for 5 years.
Fees for a passport can change at any time, but historically they've been set at $110 for an adult and $80 for a minor (under the age of 16). You may also have service fees charged by the location where you submit your application (e.g. the Post Office or local governmental facility), and you'll need to submit regulation passport photos.
First, report a lost or stolen passport to the US State Department (which can be done online or via phone at 877-487-2778). Next, if you are still in the US, you can apply for a replacement following the same procedures as a regular application. Or, if you are outside of the US, you should contact the nearest US embassy or consulate to get a replacement.
You can pay a $60 expedite fee and an extra $17.56 for 1-2 day delivery, but even then the State Department says your passport can take up to 6 weeks! If you have international travel scheduled within 72 hours, you may be able to get an in-person appointment - but in that case, as well as in the event of having a trip coming within that 6-week wait time, your best bet is probably to use a passport service.
A passport service handles all of the paperwork and appointments to get your passport in hand. Believe it or not, it's possible to get your passport in hand within 24 hours!
They're more affordable than you might think, especially if you've got a trip that would be cancelled (with no refund!) without a passport in hand. You can get a one-business-day turnaround for under $300, and some passport services even offer emergency (same business day) options for that amount too. Keep in mind that those fees don't always include what the State Department charges for passport processing, or the expedited shipping to get your passport to you that quickly.
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Continued from above...

If you opt for expedited processing through that route, you might reduce the wait time to around 7 to 9 weeks. This still represents a significant delay compared to the pre-pandemic era when standard processing typically took 6 to 8 weeks, and expedited processing was often completed in 2 to 3 weeks. It's no wonder that passport expediting services have become increasingly important.

Expedited passport services are designed to help travelers who need to obtain their passports more quickly than the standard or expedited processing times offered by the U.S. Department of State. Expediting services work by leveraging their connections and knowledge of the process to submit applications directly to the agencies that handle passports. They often have the ability to secure appointments at passport agencies, which are otherwise difficult to obtain. However, it's important to understand that these services do not magically cut the processing times in half. On rare occasions, they can help you get a passport in as little as 24 hours in cases of emergency or urgent travel, but more typically within 1 to 3 weeks.

Of course, these services come at a premium, with costs varying depending on how quickly you need the passport and the specific provider. It's also worth noting that even with an expediting service, you still need to have all your documents in order and be prepared to pay additional government fees.

So, which passport service can get your passport to you fast? And which ones will just cause you extra stress and delays? Here are some criteria to help you choose the right one for your needs:

  • Services offered. Most passport services can help with all kinds of applications, from new passports and renewals, to replacing lost or stolen ones. Just double-check to make sure the specific kind you need is on their list.
  • Available timeframes. "Expedited” means different things to different passport services. If you've got a trip coming up and you didn't realize you needed to have six months left on your passport for it to be accepted, you need "expedited” to mean a timeframe that lets you get on that plane or cruise ship. Pay attention to when the promised timeframe begins: for many expedited services, the clock starts ticking only when they receive your paperwork, which doesn't count for any time needed to go to a passport acceptance facility in person (which is needed for most new passport applications for identity verification).
  • Fees. Make sure you understand what's included and what's not. Most passport services don't automatically include the fees charged by the State Department (though some do).
  • Reputation. What have clients said about the overall experience with the passport service? Did "expedited” really mean a fast turnaround time? Was there clear communication throughout and on-time delivery, or did documents go missing? Check out customer reviews and Better Business Bureau ratings before you commit to any particular passport service.

Ready to see the world? All that's left is your passport, and so the travel fans at Top Consumer Reviews have reviewed and ranked today's most popular services from first to worst. Whether you just want some help making sure you've dotted the "i”s and crossed the "t”s or you need someone to fly to the rescue and get your passport in hand as fast as possible, our info will connect you with a passport service where "expedited” isn't just a lofty goal but a promise kept. Bon voyage!

Compare Passport Services

Select any 2 Passport Services to compare them head to head

best-passport-services
  • Passport Visas Express
  • Travel Visa Pro
  • Fast Passport Center
  • Passports and Visas
  • Fast Passports and Visas
  • Visa HQ
  • Rush My Passport
  • Travisa
  • Fastport Passport
  • TDS
Passport Visas Express vs Travel Visa Pro Passport Visas Express vs Fast Passport Center Passport Visas Express vs Passports and Visas Passport Visas Express vs Fast Passports and Visas Passport Visas Express vs Visa HQ Passport Visas Express vs Rush My Passport Passport Visas Express vs Travisa Passport Visas Express vs Fastport Passport Passport Visas Express vs TDS Travel Visa Pro vs Fast Passport Center Travel Visa Pro vs Passports and Visas Travel Visa Pro vs Fast Passports and Visas Travel Visa Pro vs Visa HQ Travel Visa Pro vs Rush My Passport Travel Visa Pro vs Travisa Travel Visa Pro vs Fastport Passport Travel Visa Pro vs TDS Fast Passport Center vs Passports and Visas Fast Passport Center vs Fast Passports and Visas Fast Passport Center vs Visa HQ Fast Passport Center vs Rush My Passport Fast Passport Center vs Travisa Fast Passport Center vs Fastport Passport Fast Passport Center vs TDS Passports and Visas vs Fast Passports and Visas Passports and Visas vs Visa HQ Passports and Visas vs Rush My Passport Passports and Visas vs Travisa Passports and Visas vs Fastport Passport Passports and Visas vs TDS Fast Passports and Visas vs Visa HQ Fast Passports and Visas vs Rush My Passport Fast Passports and Visas vs Travisa Fast Passports and Visas vs Fastport Passport Fast Passports and Visas vs TDS Visa HQ vs Rush My Passport Visa HQ vs Travisa Visa HQ vs Fastport Passport Visa HQ vs TDS Rush My Passport vs Travisa Rush My Passport vs Fastport Passport Rush My Passport vs TDS Travisa vs Fastport Passport Travisa vs TDS Fastport Passport vs TDS
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