Monday, December 2nd
2024 Passport Service Reviews
Fast Passports and Visas
- Can help with new passports for adults and children, replacement of lost and stolen passports, passports for name changes, passport renewals, and more
- Prices range from $299 to $499 (shipping extra)
- No hidden fees
- Fastest turnaround time once they receive paperwork: 5-7 business days
- Personalized attention
- "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
- Over 30 years of experience
Fast Passports and Visas is based in Texas and has over 30 years of experience helping world travelers get the visas and passports they need to travel quickly and legally. Their team members are committed to processing your passport application as accurately and fast as possible, so if you need expedited services, you're in good hands here.
Costs from $299 to $499 plus shipping
Using the Fast Passports and Visas site is super-easy. Just click on the tab on the main page that says "Passports” and then choose the dropdowns to indicate what you'll need and in what turnaround timeframe. This is what the company has to offer:
- New Passport: costs range from $299 (11-15 business days) to $499 (5-7 business days). This doesn't take into account any time it takes you to meet with an acceptance agent and get your documents to Fast Passports and Visas. Shipping fees range from $35 (for one-way shipping from FP&V to you) to $120 for FedEx First Overnight both ways. That price applies to all "new” passport applications - including for adults, children, and lost/stolen/damaged passports.
- Renewal Passport: you've got the same fees as New Passports if you want turnaround times from 5-7 business days up to 11-15 business days. If you can wait a little longer, Fast Passports and Visas also has a tier for 20-25 business days at $199, but we're not sure that's going to give you a turnaround time that's much shorter than going directly through the passport acceptance facility. The good news, though, is that renewals don't require an in-person appointment anywhere, so you could just send your paperwork off to Fast Passports and Visas and let them handle everything for you.
Website might be outdated in spots
One glitchy thing that we noticed: when we visited the New Passport pages, it was all systems go - but on the Passport Renewals page, it said that Fast Passports and Visas were "unable to process New and Minor passports due to the Covid-19 pandemic”. We're pretty sure that was just a line that got missed once everything had settled down, because we had no trouble applying for all kinds of new passports here. But, we figured we'd point it out so that you wouldn't panic if you came across that bit as well.
No hidden fees
We were happy to see that there were no sneaky additional fees during checkout: you simply choose the service you need and what shipping methods and speeds you prefer, and that's it. You've even got the option to make monthly payments via PayPal (which could be needed if you're paying $499 for an expedited passport and the fastest FedEx shipping both ways).
Feedback says this company is small but mighty
Let's all shout "Hooray” for a passport service that has an "A+” rating” AND accreditation AND no complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau. You won't find too many services that check all three of those boxes, on our list or anywhere else. This passport service doesn't have hundreds and hundreds of client reviews, but what we were able to find on Yelp, Trustpilot, and elsewhere is almost always a 4- or 5-star rating. We get the impression that while this may not be the biggest expedited passport option out there, it does maintain that small business feel with respect to customer service and attention to detail. Reviews frequently refer to "Sam” (who we're guessing is the owner) taking concierge-level care of them during high-stress, last-minute application processes for visas and passports, so we're sure you'd be in good hands as well.
Passport expediting you can rely on
Although we'd love to see a lot more feedback from Fast Passports and Visas' clientele, we've seen enough to know that this is a service you can trust if you need to expedite your passport process. The customer service is attentive and accurate, and the pricing here is transparent and fair. If you like the idea of working with a smaller service and getting personalized attention, Fast Passports and Visas will be one of your best choices.
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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).
Passport Service FAQ
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!
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