The Department of State may provide additional assistance when a traveler has a life or death emergency, serious illness or death involving an immediate family member. However, there are no shortcuts in getting passport for any reason.
To receive the new passport in under two weeks, the traveler must appear in person at a Regional Passport Agency and may be required to provide documentation of the emergency, such as a letter from a medical professional or a death certificate.
The Department of State recommends all applicants call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 (TTY/TDD 1-888-874-7793) to make an appointment at their closest Passport Agency. The automated appointment system is available to schedule appointments, 24 hours a day. You cannot schedule an appointment with a live person, nor can you speak with anyone at a Regional Passport Agency.
If you can't get an appointment in time for your trip, you can stay on the line to speak with a customer service representative from 8:00 a.m. to 10 p.m., EST, Monday-Friday. Supposedly, the CSR will provide guidance, but we have yet to determine what that alternate guidance could be. If you are calling after hours or on a federal holiday, you may also call 202-647-4000 and explain your situation. Again, we are unclear what the operator could do.
As authorized expediters with the Department of State, we handle emergency cases every day for travelers who do not live near a Regional Passport Agency, or cannot get an appointment in time. Our clients are not required to provide evidence of the emergency, which can be difficult to produce, only a travel itinerary that shows the flights you intend to take. We handle all the rest.
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