Can I Get My Passport Expedited After Applying? | Rush Now

You can often switch to faster processing by calling and paying the expedite fee once your application is in the system.

You mailed your application or applied in person, then plans changed. You’re not stuck. In many cases you can still request expedited service, add faster return delivery, or move to an agency appointment when travel is close. What works depends on your travel date and whether your application shows up as “In Process.”

Can I Get My Passport Expedited After Applying? Options that still work

Yes, you can ask to upgrade a pending application to expedited service, and you can often add faster return delivery too. The State Department’s “get a passport fast” page explains what to do after you’ve already applied and don’t have your passport yet. State Department guidance on getting a passport fast is the cleanest reference for the rules and the phone path.

Most people fit into one of these tracks:

• Upgrade processing speed: switch from routine to expedited by paying the expedite fee.
• Add faster return delivery: pay for quicker mailing of the finished passport.
• Get an agency appointment: use urgent travel service when your trip is near.

Know where your application is right now

Before you call, check your status and make sure the file is in the system. Processing time is measured at the agency, and mailing time sits outside that window. The State Department notes that it can take about two weeks for an application to reach them and about two weeks to receive a passport after it’s mailed, so door-to-door time can run longer than the posted processing range.

If your status still says “Not Available,” check again later. Once it shows “In Process,” an agent has a better shot at locating your file and taking a paid upgrade request.

What to gather before you call

• Application locator number
• Applicant name and date of birth
• Mailing address on the application, plus any new address if it changed
• Your travel date and destination, if you have travel booked
• A card ready to pay any added fees

When the call center can help

After you’ve applied, the State Department lists three reasons to call: change your mailing address, request expedited service, or request faster delivery of the completed passport. Calls outside those categories usually end with “keep checking your status.”

Upgrade from routine to expedited service

If you picked routine service and now need faster handling, the usual move is a phone request plus the expedite fee. On the State Department page, expedited service is listed as 2–3 weeks (mailing time not included) and the expedite fee is listed as $60.

Step-by-step: switching to expedited after you applied

1. Wait until your status shows “In Process.”
2. Call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778.
3. Ask to upgrade your pending application from routine to expedited.
4. Confirm your contact details and mailing address.
5. Pay the expedite fee when the agent takes payment.

You’re requesting an upgrade, not flipping a switch. You may not see an instant status change. Many people notice it when the card charge posts or when the case begins moving again.

Table 1 (after ~40% of content)

Choose the right expedite path for your timeline

This table helps you pick the path that matches your travel window and the point your application has reached.

Travel timing	Best move after you already applied	What to prepare
More than 6 weeks away	Track status; upgrade only if your buffer is thin once you include mailing time	Locator number and realistic mail buffer
Within 6 weeks	Request expedited service by phone and pay the expedite fee	Payment method, locator number, address check
Within 2–3 weeks	Ask what urgent travel options are available	Proof of travel plus your application details
Within 14 days	Call for an urgent travel appointment at a passport agency or center	Travel proof that shows your name and dates
Need a foreign visa within 28 days	Request an appointment tied to visa timing rules	Visa requirement proof plus travel proof
Mailing address changed	Call to update the delivery address on the pending file	Old and new address plus identity details
Want faster return delivery	Request faster return delivery and pay the delivery fee	Payment method and address confirmation
Family emergency abroad	Ask about life-or-death emergency service	Emergency proof, travel proof, relationship proof

Urgent travel appointments when your trip is close

If your trip is soon, an agency appointment may be the only realistic path. Urgent travel service is tied to travel within 14 calendar days, and an appointment is required. If you have already applied, the State Department directs you to call the main number to try to secure an appointment.

What counts as proof of travel

Bring something dated and tied to you, like an airline itinerary, a paid ticket receipt, or a hotel booking that matches your name. Keep a digital copy and a printed copy.

What can happen to a pending file

With an application already in progress, the agency may need to locate your file and process it through the appointment channel. This is why you want your locator number ready and why flexibility on location helps when slots are scarce.

Life-or-death emergency service

This option is for urgent travel in the next 14 days tied to an immediate family member outside the United States who has died, is in hospice care, or has a life-threatening illness or injury. If you think you qualify, call and ask which documents they accept for emergency proof and relationship proof, then bring originals plus copies to the appointment.

Faster shipping requests after you applied

Faster processing and faster mailing are separate levers. Expedited service speeds up work inside the agency. Faster return delivery speeds up the mailing step after approval. The State Department lists a $22.05 fee for 1–3 day return delivery of the completed passport, and it also notes you can call after applying to request faster delivery of the finished book.

If your dates are tight, paying for both expedited processing and faster return delivery can help because mail delays can eat the time you bought with the expedite fee.

Table 2 (after ~60% of content)

Call prep checklist that speeds up your request

Item	Why it helps	Where to find it
Application locator number	Lets the agent pull the correct file fast	Status page or email update
Address on the application	Prevents delivery mistakes	Your application copy or notes
Travel proof	Shows whether urgent travel service fits	Itinerary, booking, ticket receipt
Payment method	Needed for added fees	Card in hand
Flex dates and locations	Boosts odds of landing an appointment slot	Your calendar
Photo ID	Used at agencies for identity checks	Your wallet
Folder with copies	Makes check-in faster at an appointment	Printed documents

What to say when you reach an agent

Agents move faster when you lead with a clean request and the locator number. Try a simple script:

• “Hi. I have a pending passport application. My locator number is ______. I want to upgrade to expedited service.”
• If you need faster mailing too: “I also want to add faster return delivery.”

Then pause and answer what they ask. If you talk through your whole story first, you may repeat it later. Keep it short, then fill in details when prompted.

Questions worth asking before you hang up

• Did you note my travel date in the file?
• Can you repeat the total fees you charged today?
• Should I expect an email confirmation, or will the next proof be the card charge?
• If my travel date moves closer, when can I request urgent travel service?

What to expect after you pay

Once payment is taken, your request goes into the workflow that pulls your file and applies the change. That can take days. You might see no movement, then several status updates in a row. Keep checking status, and keep your phone reachable. If the agency needs more information, delays stack fast.

If you paid for faster return delivery, treat it as a mailing upgrade after approval, not a promise that the passport will be approved by a certain date. Your best protection is time: upgrade early, then watch the status page so you can react if a letter request appears.

What to bring if you land an agency appointment

For urgent travel service, show up ready to clear the counter in one pass. Agencies can be strict about proof, and a missing copy can slow you down. Pack a folder with:

• Proof of travel with your name and dates
• Photo ID plus a photocopy of the front and back
• Any documents tied to your pending case, like a receipt from the acceptance facility
• Payment method for fees you still owe
• Extra passport photos, even if you already submitted photos with the original application

Arrive early. Security screening can take time, and late arrivals may lose the slot.

Delays that can slow down a pending case

Even with paid upgrades, a case can stall if the agency needs more information. Watch for these common trouble spots:

• Photo problems: glare, shadows, wrong size, or a low-quality print can trigger a request for a new photo.
• Name mismatches: keep your booking name and your ID name aligned, or carry the document that bridges the gap.
• Missing documents: if the agency asks for more proof, reply fast so your case can restart.
• Payment issues: incorrect amounts or declined payments can halt processing.

A simple action list you can follow today

• Check your application status and confirm it shows “In Process.”
• Write down your locator number, travel date, and the address you used.
• Pick the request that fits your timeline: expedited processing, faster return delivery, urgent travel service, or an address change.
• Call 1-877-487-2778 and state the request in one sentence.
• Save any confirmation details, then keep checking status until you see movement.