Rich Mandleur: Hi, I am Rich Mandleur, President and Founder of passportvisasexpress.

com. Today we're going to be discussing how to apply for a passport? In this video series, we're going to be discussing the different types of passport applications and the steps that are required in order to complete the process to apply for a passport. We'll be discussing passport renewals, first time passport, applicants who have lost or had their passport stolen and need them replaced, applicants who are minors and to adding additional pages to your passport or changing the name or information in your passport.

Today we are going to discuss the two different options an applicant has when choosing the processing time of the passport application. If you apply on your own do not need your passport back in a hurry, you can choose to apply through regular means and mail your passport application directly to National Passport Processing Center. This process takes roughly between six to eight weeks but can also take a lot longer depending on the demand currently for passport.

The other option is to have your passport expedited. This process will entail an expedite fee which is typically $60 per application on top of the Government's base fee to apply for a passport. This will allow you to apply and receive your passport depending upon your travel needs. To apply for a passport, you will need a few essential items. You will need proof of citizenship which could be either a Birth Certificate or current or expired passport, you will need two passport photographs and you'll also need the passport application. Again, these are the essential items. There will be other supporting documentation that will be required but it will be dependent upon the type of passport application that you need.

Before we get started today, I want to tell you a little bit about myself. I am the President and Founder of of passportvisasexpress.

com and in addition I am also the founder and a charter member of the Passport Services Initiative, which is an ad hoc group of passport expediters whose sole purpose is to work with the United States Department of State Passport Services to assist travellers in obtaining passport travel internationally. I felt direct experience working with the U.

S. Departments of State Passport services for over fifteen plus years and we have come to know the ins and outs of what's required to obtain a passport.

So let's get started now, learning how to apply for U.

S. passport.