Monday, December 2nd
2024 Passport Service Reviews
TDS
- New passports: $499 for a 10 business day timeframe
- Passport renewals: $169 for a turnaround time of 4-8 weeks
- In business for over 30 years
- "A+” rated by the BBB
Travel Document Systems, or TDS for short, has served clients for over 30 years. As a registered passport expediting service with the US State Department, the company has historically been in the business of helping with first-time passport applications and renewals.
Services are still limited
When we visited the TDS site recently, it said that they were only offering two tracks of processing for US passport applications - "due to ongoing constraints associated with the coronavirus pandemic”. Um, y'all…other sites are back up and running, so what's the problem? At any rate, if what they're saying holds, you should only plan on being able to get 4- to 8-week processing on adult renewals through the offices in DC, San Francisco, Houston, and Seattle; emergency 10-day processing may be offered through those same locations (minus Houston). Only the Seattle and San Francisco offices were able to do new first-time passports, renewal of children's passports, and replacement of lost/stolen/mutilated passports, and even that was on a very limited basis.
Not a cutting-edge website
You'll soon see that TDS doesn't really give the impression of being an on-the-ball company providing passport services. The site copyright was a couple of years out of date when we visited, and the most "recent” blog post was almost a year old. The company's Facebook page didn't have any updates that were relevant to their services; it was mostly links to a partner company, and posts had quite a few typos. Finally, when we tried calling several of the office locations listed on the website, it felt like we reached the voicemail of an individual each time instead of any kind of corporate office.
Online experience isn't smooth
But, just so you'd know what to expect, we walked through the process of a first-time passport application with TDS. We had to choose an office to work with (DC, NY, SanFran, Seattle, Houston). Then, we were taken to a whole bunch of text explaining the process of going to a local passport acceptance facility (like the post office or courthouse), info about return shipping fees, and so on. It was easy to miss the button for "Start My Passport Order” when we were on a smaller screen - it wasn't even visible until we opened the browser up to a full page.
Missing some passport options
Sure enough, that's where we were told that we could only choose Seattle or San Francisco for our processing location, and with a 10-business-day timeframe. The price for the service is $499. For passport renewals, the fee dropped to $169 - but so did the turnaround time (4-8 weeks). On that one, we're not even sure why anyone would choose to go with TDS: most people we know have been easily getting their passports processed in that timeframe while submitting it through the acceptance agency (like the post office), so paying $169 doesn't seem like a bargain. And, we didn't find any options for children's passports here.
No recent feedback, older feedback is bad
The Better Business Bureau gives TDS an "A+” rating because there were no complaints filed there in the last three years. However, the two people who went to the BBB and left reviews (instead of complaints) gave TDS a single star; one said that no one from TDS had responded to her messages over the course of a month, and the other said they didn't give him a refund when he thought one was warranted. Looking everywhere else we could, the results were the same: no feedback in the current year, poor feedback in the year prior. That's really too bad, because TDS used to get thousands of 5-star reviews.
Last choice for passport services
We're not sure what's going on over at TDS, but whatever it is, it's likely not a good thing for your hopes of getting a passport. The good news is that TDS has lots of competitors who are actively processing hundreds of passport applications weekly, and we'd recommend you choose one from the top of our list instead.
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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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