Going to Mexico from US. Passport question.?

Question

I just recently found out (long story) I'm going to Mexico for 5 days in a few weeks (approx. 20 days). I need to get a passport. Expedited service is 2 weeks door-to-door and the cost is $100 for the passport and facility fee, $60 expedite fee, and about $15 each way to overnight the application (which is how the govt. suggests you send it) for a total of $190. Somebody told me if you don't receive your passport before your trip, you can just use the receipt that says you've applied for a passport. So my question is, should I bother to spend the extra money to try and expedite the passport or should I just apply normally, for $100, and use the receipt if it doesn't come before my trip (which I don't expect it would). I guess I'm just curious as to why, if the govt. allows you to use the receipt for travel, anyone would ever need to expedite their passport request.

Answer 1

Good luck - the passport agency is a messed up govt agency.

The Washington DC one is the WORST. I paid for expedited and after 6 months of c**p from washington I just redid the whole thing and it went to Boston and I got it in a week.

Cross your fingers and I wish you luck.............

No Passport - you wont even be boarded on the plane !

Pay for expidited and there is NO guarantee !

Answer 2

That program to let people travel with just the receipt for their passport application was in effect last summer (2007) when the passport service was so backed-up.  It ended last Sept..  If you are flying to and from Mexico, you must have a passport.  If you are traveling by land, you need a birth certificate and photo I.D.  If you are flying for this trip, and if you live close enough to a city where there is a Regional Passport Agency, you may call for an appointment, go, wait, and get your passport for just the normal fee on the same day.  You have to be able to prove you must travel in 2 weeks or less.  See site below to see list of these agencies.  See 2nd site to get all passport application info and to print out the forms to have ready, see list of documents you need.  You can go to Walgreen's or Walmart to get your photos and be prepared.  If you are not able to drive to a city with a Regional passport agency, there are private outfits on the internet that will do it for you for a hefty fee.   Just enter "passports. fast" in the search bar. You have to fedex your documents to them and they go stand in line at the passport agency for you.  if you send in your application tomorrow and pay the expediting fees, you should get it in time.