Helpful Resources › U.S. Citizen Passport Guide
A complete guide for new U.S. citizens getting their first passport. Learn what documents you need, how the DS-11 process works, and how Fast Passport Center's courier service speeds up passport delivery — not the citizenship process.
Important: Courier services help you get a passport fast — they do not help with gaining citizenship. You must be a U.S. citizen first.
Critical Distinction
This is one of the most common points of confusion we see — especially from parents who are U.S. citizens with children born outside the U.S. Here's what you need to understand before you call us.
Citizenship is a legal status granted by the U.S. government. It must be obtained before you can apply for a U.S. passport. Citizenship is handled by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) — not passport agencies, and not courier companies.
A passport is a travel document issued by the U.S. State Department to people who are already U.S. citizens. You apply for it at a passport acceptance facility or agency using Form DS-11. Fast Passport Center can dramatically speed up how fast you receive it — but only after citizenship is confirmed.
This is a situation we see regularly, and the answer is: it depends on whether your child is already a U.S. citizen. The courier process only handles the passport step — citizenship must be established first. Here's how it works:
Step 1: Determine if your child qualifies for U.S. citizenship
A child born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent may automatically acquire U.S. citizenship at birth — but this depends on specific rules under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The key factors include: how long the U.S. citizen parent lived in the U.S. before the child's birth, whether one or both parents are U.S. citizens, and the child's birth date (the law has changed over the years). If the child does not automatically acquire citizenship at birth, the parent may need to file Form N-600 (Certificate of Citizenship) or in some cases pursue naturalization through USCIS.
Step 2: Obtain proof of citizenship
If your child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth abroad, you'll need a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, Form FS-240) — issued by a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where the child was born. This document is the equivalent of a U.S. birth certificate for children born abroad. You cannot skip this step and go straight to a passport. If the child is a Canadian citizen with no citizenship documentation, citizenship must be established through USCIS before any passport application can be filed.
Step 3: Then apply for the passport — that's where we come in
Once citizenship is confirmed and documented (CRBA, Certificate of Citizenship, or U.S. birth certificate), the child can apply for a U.S. passport using Form DS-11. At that point, Fast Passport Center can handle the courier submission and get the passport in 2–3 business days. But we cannot do anything until Step 2 is complete.
The Bottom Line
A courier service speeds up the passport step of the process. It does not expedite gaining citizenship, obtaining a CRBA, or filing with USCIS. If you're not sure whether your child or family member is a U.S. citizen yet, contact USCIS at uscis.gov or speak with an immigration attorney before calling us. Once citizenship is confirmed, we can get the passport to you fast.
The Courier Difference
As a registered U.S. Department of State passport courier, Fast Passport Center hand-carries your application directly to the passport agency — slashing processing times from weeks to days.
How Fast Passport Center compares to standard State Department processing
Standard
4–6 Weeks
USPS mail-in processing through State Department
Expedited
2–3 Weeks
State Department expedited with $60 surcharge
Courier — Fast Passport Center
2–3 Business Days
Hand-delivered to the passport agency by registered courier
Select the passport service you need from Fast Passport Center's website — new passport, renewal, child passport, name change, lost/stolen replacement, or second passport. Place your order and create your account for secure tracking.
We'll send you a detailed checklist based on your application type. Typically you'll need: proof of U.S. citizenship (certified birth certificate or previous passport), a completed DS-11 or DS-82 form, one compliant passport photo, proof of identity (driver's license), and your travel itinerary if you have one.
Before anything goes to the State Department, our passport specialists review every document in your packet. We catch issues — photo problems, form errors, missing signatures — that cause rejections and delays. This pre-review step alone saves applicants weeks.
A registered Fast Passport Center courier physically walks your application into the State Department passport agency. Unlike mail-in applications that sit in a queue, courier applications are processed immediately because they're verified and complete.
Once printed, your new passport is overnighted directly to your address. You'll receive tracking information and can monitor the status. Most clients have their passport in hand within 2–3 business days from when we submit.
What You'll Need
Whether it's your first passport, a renewal, or a replacement — here's what you need to have ready when you apply through Fast Passport Center.
Fast Passport Center Handles the Heavy Lifting
You don't need to figure out which form or which documents alone. After you apply, we send you a personalized checklist, review every document before submission, and handle all courier logistics. Most clients spend less than 30 minutes on their end.
Why Choose a Courier
When time matters, you need more than the Postal Service. Here's why thousands of Americans trust our courier service every year.
Standard mail-in takes 4–6 weeks. Expedited takes 2–3 weeks. Fast Passport Center delivers in 2–3 business days. When you have a trip coming up, that difference is everything.
Photo problems, form errors, and missing signatures are the top rejection reasons. Our specialists review everything before submission, catching issues that would otherwise delay your application by weeks.
We don't mail your application — a registered courier physically walks it into the State Department passport agency. It goes straight into processing, skipping the mail queue entirely.
Confused about a form? Not sure which documents you need? Our U.S.-based passport specialists answer your questions by phone, Monday through Friday. No chatbots, no overseas call centers.
You'll always know where your passport is — from the moment we receive your documents to the moment your new passport ships to your door. Full transparency, no guesswork.
We've been a registered State Department courier for over two decades. Our A+ BBB rating reflects thousands of successfully delivered passports and satisfied customers across all 50 states.
Is Fast Passport Center authorized?
Yes. We are an approved and registered U.S. Department of State passport courier. Our registration allows us to hand-carry applications directly to passport agencies — something individuals cannot do on their own.
Will my passport be valid?
Absolutely. Your passport is issued directly by the U.S. Department of State, just like any passport. The only difference is how your application gets there — we hand-deliver it instead of mailing it. The passport itself is the exact same official U.S. passport.
Can I do this myself?
You can submit by mail, which takes 4–6 weeks. You can pay extra for expedited, which takes 2–3 weeks. But you cannot walk into a passport agency and submit an application yourself without an appointment, which can take weeks to get. Registered couriers have priority access — that's the service we provide.
Questions Answered
The most common questions U.S. citizens ask about getting a passport through Fast Passport Center.
Ready to Get Started?
Don't wait weeks when you can have your passport in days. Apply online and our registered courier team handles everything — document review, hand-delivery to the State Department, and overnight shipping to your door.