How Arizona Residents Can Apply for a U.S. Passport

There are a few choices if you are a resident of Arizona who needs to apply for a new U.S. passport. The first step is to determine the number of days before your flight is scheduled to depart. This will help you decide the type of processing you should use. You can apply at a nearby passport office if your departure is two weeks or more away. A request for regular processing takes three weeks or more. You can pay an extra $60 fee to have your application expedited. This service takes 2 weeks or more. Basically, you accelerate the process by a week.

One of the most common recommendations to those who plan to obtain a passport is to apply early. It will save you time, money and frustration. If you have adequate time, you can take your completed application to a local passport acceptance facility. There are many such facilities in Arizona. They can be found at post offices, clerks of court, public libraries and other state, county, township, and municipal government offices. If a county in Arizona does not have a passport office you can check a neighboring county. The greatest number of acceptance facilities are found in Maricopa County followed by Pima County and Yavapai County.

When you take application Form DS-11 to the passport office, you also need to take proof of citizenship, proof of identity, two passport photos and your payment. The agent will witness the signing of the application. You can expect to have your passport processed in 3 weeks or more if you request regular service. You can pay an extra $60 fee to have your application expedited. This service takes 2 weeks or more. Basically, you accelerate the process by a week.

If you plan to travel within 14 days, you can apply for your new passport at the San Francisco passport agency that serves residents of Arizona. The appointment is made through an automated phone service. During peak travel seasons it can be difficult to get through so you may have to make numerous attempts. Once the appointment time and date is set, you should arrive at the regional agency no more than 15 minutes early with the completed application Form DS-11 and all the required documents, photos and payment. If everything is in order, you should walk out with your new passport in hand.

If traveling to the regional agency is not possible for you, an alternative is to contract a private expediting service.  Expediters offer rush passport services for a fee. You still need to take your application to a local acceptance facility in Arizona for the agent to witness your signature and seal the envelope with your documents inside. However, instead of mailing it from the post office, you will send the envelope to the expediter you have chosen. By applying through an expediting service, you authorize them to represent you at the regional agency. Therefore, they can get your application processed in 10 business days or less. You can even get same day service if you need it.

From the above information, we have learned that Arizona residents have three places they can apply for a passport: a nearby passport office, a regional agency or a private expediter. By applying at a Arizona passport office you can get your passport in two or three weeks. It may take longer during peak travel seasons. At a regional agency you can obtain your passport the same day. However, it requires that you travel to San Francisco. You get your passport fast and have the convenience of not having to dislocate to San Francisco. Of course, it all comes at a cost.