Passport Renewal

Question:
My US passport expires in a month. We are anticipating that there will be a funeral for me to attend in the UK sometime in the not so distant future. The doctors are vague and it could be within a month or it could be next year. What happens if I send off my passport to be renewed, and three weeks into the five to six week process, I need to go? Can I get an expedited passport if I already have one going through the normal renewal process? I assume I can't get an expedited one now without an actual travel itinerary. Any insights?

Answer:
See http://travel.state.gov/ You can use the "expedited passport service" for an additional $35 over and above the regular passport fee and receive your passport within two weeks. If that's still too short, and you live in (or near) a large city, you can apply in person. See the link "Passport agencies". Normally you will be issued the passport the same day. If he doesn't live near a passport office, there are several private firms that for a fee, will handle expidited applications. There is a firm here in Atlanta that provides excellent service, they also do visa applications also. I renenwed my passport thru these people and it was hassle-free. You CAN expedite WITHOUT an Itinerary. I paid the extra $35.00 and got my passport last Thursday, just 2 WEEKS after I applied!! Do it NOW, while they are coming out fast. February-ish is the slow season. I renewed in February of 99, without any of the extra fees, and got it in 2 weeks. I've heard, however, that it's also screwed up for this year's slow time because the offices are putting in new digital software, so who knows? Matthew :) [um.. if it matters, I applied at my town's passport office, and it was processed by the Philadelphia region..] I know that this varies based on demand ... but when I got my passport, it only took two weeks and that was the non-expedited service.