Processing a passport through conventional methods can take up to six months. At the very minimum it will take six weeks. There is an extra fee charged that can speed the process up, but even then you are looking at three to four weeks. If you need to travel unexpectedly, then you may need a 24 hour pasport.

While this is far from being the norm, a 24 hour passport is not impossible. Before you plan to get yours back in 24 hours there are some things you should consider. The first thing you may want to keep in mind is that a 24 hour passport may cost you over $150, however, in certain circumstances this cost is of no importance.

There are services that are in business of expediting a passport. These services can be located via the Internet and are a possible alternative to traditional methods of processing a passport. There are several different time frames that these services will offer. Some services will offer two days, or three to four days, and they may also offer up to two weeks.

Naturally, these services will charge you a price based on the speed of the service. The quicker they process it for you, the more you will pay.  If you are looking at expedited passport services, it is obviously important to you and can meet your needs.

A 24 hour passport may not available to you at all. There are some conditions that will determine how fast you can get a passport. These services provide the ability to process renewal applications for passports. New passports require a process that includes an authorized signature. This authorization has to come from a passport processing agent.

Renewed passport applications can be sent via the mail and do not need to be witnessed. There are some stipulations to being able to mail the application for a passport renewal, such as all correct information on the passport. It must also be in good condition.

Where you live also plays a factor as to how quickly your passport can be processed. If you live in a rural area then chances are you do not have easy access to a passport processing center. Living in a big city gives you access to more, including a passport processing center. Although the headquarters are in Philadelphia, there are regional processing centers in most major cities, including Dallas and New York.

Living near a regional processing center can help you get a 24 hour passport. There may also be a passport processing center in your city that is deals with passports for emergencies. These offices prefer an appointment, but understand that this is not always possible.

Even if you live in a rural area, it is possible to get a 24 hour United States passport. Remember that there are U S passport expediting services that will process the passport application as quickly as you need. You will have to pay the price to get it in 24 hours, but anything is possible for a price. These services may even have the ability to have your passport waiting for you at the airport.