Insta-passport and agencies

[Blarg]

Anybody ever have to get a passport in a hurry and use an agency to do it? I have an opportunity to go to China for free on a business trip, fairly high on the hog, but only if I can get my passport ready in about 7 to 10 days.

There's a place I found through a google search that says they can do it in 24 hours, with the usual turn-around times for mailing and receipt. Effectively about 4 days. That service is $169. For 20 bucks less, you can get it in 4 to 6 business days.

I feel alternately completely paranoid and stupidly gullible, and am reluctant to try it. But...sheesh, free trip to China ...

[Los Feliz Slim]

There's a place in Glendale I use for my clients all the time and have had great results. It's called Omega Visa Service and their phone # is 800-545-0000. Yes, that's really their phone number.

[El Diablo]

Blarg,

I and a few other people I know have used this and everything was delivered as promised: http://www.americanpassport.com/

[Boris]

diablo - was this before or after 9/11?

[TomCollins]

Where do you live? I know you can go to certain cities to get them. I think Washington DC, Houston, and Chicago have ways to do it in person and only pay the expedited US charge.

[jws43yale]

[ QUOTE ]
Where do you live? I know you can go to certain cities to get them. I think Washington DC, Houston, and Chicago have ways to do it in person and only pay the expedited US charge.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am pretty sure this is true and done through legit agencies. Two of my dad's business partners had to fly to houston to get Passports on short term. May have been pre 9/11 though.

[Blarg]

I live in Newport Beach, California.

[El Diablo]

Boris: Both

TC: Yes, that is correct. Here is the list of offices to get passports in less than 2 weeks without the expeditor surcharges: http://travel.state.gov/passport/abo...ncies_913.html

[entertainme]

I've used Travisa for expedited passport and China visa more than once. You do have to call them to be sure that expedited service is available.

Although, the last time I had my passport renewed they did make the mistake of giving me a sex change operation. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] No time to fix it so I traveled on it, got stopped at the China border for being the opposite sex of my passport, but eventually they let me through.

I'm sure the error was made at the passport agency, but Travisa should have caught it too.

I really hate to have to say anything negative about them because they've been stellar before this.

[By-Tor]

[ QUOTE ]
Boris: Both

TC: Yes, that is correct. Here is the list of offices to get passports in less than 2 weeks without the expeditor surcharges: http://travel.state.gov/passport/abo...ncies_913.html

[/ QUOTE ]

this is the best bet.

make sure to get proof of your travel planes.