Typically speaking, acquiring a passport is a time consuming process. First time applicants are generally advised to give themselves around two months to get a passport. Expedited passports are available at an additional fee, but even a rush passport can take several weeks to process. Many people do not know this, but it is possible to get a 24 hour passport in dire circumstances.
Most people will not ever need to get a 24 hour passport, but unexpected situations may arise that cause for rush processing. If an emergency situation happens for someone that has never had a passport, they better get ready to do some running. It is best to have everything together that is needed the moment that they walk into the passport office.
The U.S. Department of State specifies that a 24 hour passport should only be given to someone who has suffered a death, serious injury, or serious illness overseas to someone in their immediate family. In the case of injury or illness, the family member must be hospitalized. In the event of such an emergency, applicants are encouraged to call the State Department Passport hotline.
It is also worthy to note that the local passport office is not the only place to turn when this happens. There are also private agencies that can help with these services as they are already tapped in for situations just like this. Keep in mind that they will have significant fees over and above what the government would charge, and they can be quite expensive if rush service is needed.
Obviously, it is much easier to obtain a passport renewal in twenty-four hours than it is to obtain a new passport. Sometimes passport renewals can be done electronically, or temporary emergency renewals may be granted via the Internet. Emergency applicants that only need a passport renewal often stand a very good chance of having their request granted in a timely fashion.
New passport applicants face a much more challenging road than passport renewal applicants. Because everything has to be done in person, it can make the while process a bit more difficult. For those that live in small towns, they may have to travel hundreds of miles to a passport office that can provide the services that they need.
Also keep in mind that when rush service is requested, try to make an early appointment or get there as soon as the office is opening. This will get the application into the loop that much faster and hopefully get it processed within the time frame that is needed. When using these services, make sure a reputable company is used if you are stepping outside the government offices. They will have the process in place and will be more likely to make the turnaround happen.
It is very difficult to get a passport in 24 hours, but not impossible. Often times, success comes down to luck and circumstance. Hopefully you will never be in a situation that would warrant a 24 hour U S A Passport, but if the unthinkable happens, the above advice should be able to point you in the right direction to get a pass port.