Because you’ll be dealing a lot with forms, it pays to be familiar with the different forms used in passport applications. Some forms are used to apply for passports; others are used to renew passports; others are for reporting the loss or theft of passports. Now since you’re likely applying for a passport for the first time, let’s deal with the first type of passport.

For first-time passport applicants, the DS-11 form is the one that needs to be filled out.  Unlike the pre-Internet days where you had to go to the passport office to obtain the form, now all you need to do is download this form at the US Department of State’s office website. Once you’ve downloaded it, you can fill the form in before printing it, or you can just print it first then fill it in by hand.

You will need to submit this form along with the other documents that may be required of you once you have completed this. When processing your passport, you have two options of going about this procedure. The first one is the routine passport processing, which you can choose if you’re not in a hurry to get your passport. Currently, the processing time for routine passports is four to six weeks.

An expedited passport is what you need if you need to travel within four weeks. Expedited passports are given priority over those that go through routine processing. Because of this, expedited passports are processed a lot faster.

In the case of an expedited New U.S. Passport, they are usually processed within two to three weeks and is thus the choice of travelers who need to have their passports quickly.  If you need to travel within that period, getting an expedited passport is an obvious choice.

Since expedited passports are a form of value-added service, it’s already a given that this service will also come with an extra price. Don’t worry though, as the extra price isn’t that steep. In fact, the price already pays for itself in terms of processing speed and convenience that it gives you.

Let’s wrap things up here. You have to choices when it comes to applying for a New pasPort. You can either take the routine processing path, or choose to have the process sped up with the expedited passport processing. Both options have their pros and cons, but if you’re after speed and convenience, then the expedited route is the obvious choice.