Only one way exists for getting a birth certificate and passport overnight. You will have to visit the Town Hall in the city of your birth to get a birth certificate in person and then go to a Regional Passport Agency. Regional Passport Agencies are not located in every state, so you may have to travel some distance at short notice. If you need a passport for travel occurring in less than 14 days or a visa in fewer than four weeks, you have to get a passport in person at a Regional Passport Agency.

Make an appointment for the following day at your nearest Regional Passport Agency. Be prepared to travel a long distance, since not all states have an office. This could mean booking a flight last minute. Make an appointment by calling the 24-hour automated number, 1-877-487-2778. Visit Travel.State.Gov's passport agencies list to find the closest office. You can get a passport this way whether it is your first passport or a renewal.

Go to your local Bureau of Vital Records in the town where you were born. Go the office at the earliest possible time. Check with your local office about its opening hours. If you need the birth certificate for a passport, you will have to get a full-size, certified copy. To obtain the birth certificate, you will have to show valid identification, such as a driver's license. You will also have to fill in a short form and pay a fee. The fee will varies from town to town, but expect it to be around $20.

Only the person himself, parent, grandparent, child, or legal representative of said person can request a birth certificate. If you request a certificate as the legal representative, you will have to show proof of your status.

Download Form DS-82 for a passport renewal or Form DS-11 for a first-time passport from the Passport, Applications, and Forms section of Travel.State.Gov. Fill in the form in black ink and bring it with you to your passport appointment; do not mail it. If you don't have access to the internet to download the forms, you can get them from your local courthouse, main post office, or town hall clerk.

Get passport photos taken. Many pharmacies or professional photographers have the ability to take passport photos. Photos must have a white background and measure 2 inches by 2 inches. In most cases, you will receive your photos within a few minutes.

Travel to the Regional Passport Agency for your appointment. Make sure you arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your appointment. You will have to go through a security checkpoint and then check in at an information desk. At the information desk you will have to show your appointment confirmation number and proof that you will travel within two weeks. Make sure you bring your application form, old passport if renewing, fee, identification such as a driver's license, and photos.

You will have to pay an extra fee to get a fast passport. The fee, as of 2010, is $95 for a first time or renewed passport, plus a $60 expedited service fee. First-time passport applicants will also have to pay a $25 execution fee.

Tip

  • If you plan to travel in over 14 days, you can only use the expedited service, which takes two to three weeks.

About the Author

Siobhan Russell has been freelance writing for the Internet since 2003. She has written articles covering a variety of subjects for Travelwand, Yellow Pages and eHow. Siobhan has a particular interest in writing travel and equestrian articles. She has a BA Honors in History and Philosophy from National University Ireland, Maynooth.

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