On this page · 7 sections
- Should you use PassportsAndVisas.com or apply yourself?
- Are you the government, and are you legitimate?
- What do you actually do for the fee, and what can't you do?
- How does the passport timeline compare, door to door?
- How do you tell a real expediter from a lookalike site?
- What do customers say about the service?
- What are the next steps?
Key Takeaways
- We are a private company, not the U.S. government. Government fees go to the government and our fee is separate.
- We assist in processing U.S. passports and travel visas globally.
- We have operated since 1992 and have served 500K+ travelers.
- Our team catches photo, payment, signature and form errors before they cause a rejection.
- If you are not in a hurry and know exactly what to do, you may not need us.
Should you use PassportsAndVisas.com or apply yourself?
Use us when time is short, the form is complex or you want your application checked before it goes in. Apply yourself when you are not traveling soon and are confident you can complete it correctly. Start with your situation below. Not sure which visa applies to you? Our visa checker shows your route.
| If… | Then… |
|---|---|
| You need an India eVisa or a China visa and are unsure which type or documents apply | We can help. Complex visa forms and document rules are where our team adds the most value. Start with the visa checker. |
| You need a UK ETA, you are confident, and you are not in a hurry | You can likely apply yourself. We are here if you want it checked or handled for you. |
| You are not a U.S. citizen and your destination needs a visa or eVisa | Check your exact route with our visa checker. Rules change by nationality and residency. |
| You are a U.S. citizen, 25 or older, renewing a recent 10-year passport and not traveling for at least 6 weeks | Renew online yourself, with no service fee. You must complete your own online application; no third-party service can submit it. |
| Your trip is inside the routine passport window, or you want it handled fast | Our passport renewal service helps. Government timing varies, so a fixed date cannot rely on it. |
| Your name is changing, the passport is damaged, or it is lost | These cannot use online renewal. See our lost passport service or the renewal vs. new application guide. |
| The passport is for a child under 16 | A child under 16 cannot renew and needs a new passport applied for in person. Our child passport service walks you through it. |
Are you the government, and are you legitimate?
PassportsAndVisas.com is not the government. We are a private company and a registered passport expediter since 1992, and we are not affiliated with the State Department. Government fees go to the government, and our fee is separate. We are an authorized, vetted private company that assists with passport and visa applications.
Some customers have called us a scam, usually because they did not realize we are a private service that assists with applications rather than the agency itself. We would rather say that plainly than have you find out after you order.
At times, customers do not understand that we are an authorized and vetted private company to assist in the application of passports and visas.
Philip Diack, Founder
Our date assumes you send us your documents tomorrow. Government dates are the State Department's published estimates.
First-time, child and certain replacement applications still require one in-person acceptance signing — we prepare the packet and find the soonest slot near you.
What do you actually do for the fee, and what can't you do?
We check your documents, photo and forms, handle the filing steps we are allowed to handle, track your application and support you until it is done. We cannot submit your online passport renewal for you, and we do not control government processing. Government fees stay separate from our fee.
- Review photos, checks, signatures and dates before anything is submitted
- Know exactly which documents a visa needs and how to complete complex forms
- Offer speed options for travelers with a tight date
- Stay in contact with you through the process
The limit matters: you must complete your own online passport renewal, and no third-party service can submit it. Online renewals also cannot be expedited.
| Cost | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Passport book application fee (adult) Paid to the State Department for a new passport application | $130 | Government |
| Government expedite fee Optional government fee | $60 | Government |
| 1 to 3-day delivery of the finished passport Optional government delivery fee | $26.87 | Government |
| Government visa fees (India, China, UK ETA and others) Set by each destination. Check your route with the visa checker. | Varies by country and visa type | Government |
| PassportsAndVisas.com service fee Separate from every government fee. See the visa page or passport renewal page. | Shown live on each service page | PassportsAndVisas.com |
How does the passport timeline compare, door to door?
Government routine passport processing takes 4–6 weeks. Expedited takes 2–3 weeks. With shipping each way, routine runs up to 10 weeks door to door and expedited up to 7 weeks. Match this to your trip date.
| Stage | Time | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Sending your application to the State Department Counts before processing starts | up to 2 weeks | Shipping |
| Government routine processing Processing only | 4–6 weeks | Government processing |
| Government expedited processing Processing only | 2–3 weeks | Government processing |
| Shipping the passport back to you Counts after processing ends | up to 2 weeks | Shipping |
| Routine, door to door Shipping both ways plus processing | up to 10 weeks | Other |
| Expedited, door to door Shipping both ways plus processing | up to 7 weeks | Other |
Traveling in under three weeks, including on a cruise? We can get your passport within that time. Start at our passport renewal page or read how expedited passport services work.
How do you tell a real expediter from a lookalike site?
A real expediter says clearly that it is not the government, shows government fees separately from its own fee, and has a verifiable history and reviews. Be wary of any site that looks like the State Department, hides who runs it, or blends all fees into one price.
- It states plainly that it is a private company, not a government agency
- Government fees and service fees are shown separately
- A company history and contact details you can verify
- Independent reviews you can read on third-party sites
- It never claims to be the official State Department site
- It never promises that it can submit an online renewal for you; that is not allowed
For passports, the official starting point is travel.state.gov. For visas, check your exact route and nationality with our visa checker before you pay anyone.
What do customers say about the service?
Customers most often praise speed, communication and help with last-minute trips. We have 11,700+ customer reviews, and complaints usually come from misunderstanding what a private expediter can do. Read the reviews on independent sites too, and compare them with your own situation.
“My 30 day visa came in 12 days! The process was fast, thorough and easy. I was amazed at how quickly my rep was assigned and helped with all my questions. I will definitely refer all my friends and family to use PassportsandVisas.com!”
“Thanks to the efforts of team PassportsandVisas.com, my fiancée & I received our visas to India in record time (in seven days actually)! You can depend on this friendly professional group on any last-minute holiday rush!”
“I didn't realize my passport had expired and need it in less than 60 days for an international trip. I didn't want to take the day going to NYC to do it in person so I used Passportsandvisas.com. Everything worked exactly like they said it would. They were very attentive and communicated often. I would recommend this service.”
What are the next steps?
Check your situation first. For a visa, run your route through the visa checker. For a passport, confirm whether you qualify for free online renewal, a DS-82 renewal, or a new application. Then decide whether you want to file yourself or have us handle it.
- Visa traveler: use the visa checker to see what your nationality and destination require
- Passport renewal: read how to renew a U.S. passport to see which route fits
- Not sure which passport service applies: use the passport service decision guide
- Tight date or want it handled: go to the passport renewal service
Trip coming up and not sure your documents will be ready?
Get your passport now →