How to Expedite a Passport for Life or Death Purposes

Obtaining a passport can take weeks or months. Yet, sometimes, life events occur where you don’t have that kind of time to wait. The U.S. government has procedures in place to expedite a passport for a life or death situation: if an immediate family member outside our borders has died, is dying (hospice care), or has a life-threatening illness or injury. You will undoubtedly be under tremendous stress during these times, so having a professional translation service like The Perfect Translation at your side will help ensure the process is much smoother for you and your loved ones.

How to Expedite a Passport for a Life and Death Situation

1. Complete a standard passport application. If you’ve never applied for a passport, you should complete Form DS-11—otherwise, complete Form DS-82. You will need to get your picture taken for the application.
2. Collect your proof of the emergency situation. The U.S. Department of State requires evidence about the situation itself to expedite a passport for life or death purposes. For example, a death certificate, a statement from a mortuary, or a letter from the hospital (on hospital/clinic letterhead, signed by the doctor/medical professional, explaining your relative’s medical condition). If any of these documents are in a foreign language, you will need to obtain translations of them from a professional translation service (but they do not need to be notarized.)
3. Collect proof that your travel is imminent. For example, a copy of your airline tickets showing travel within the next three days will usually suffice. If you are driving across the border, hotel reservations will usually work.
4. Make an appointment at a passport agency. Follow the U.S. Department of State’s instructions on their website. Make sure you take all your documents and translations with you to the appointment. You can make the appointment within 14 days of your travel, but the appointment must happen within three days of your planned travel.

The Perfect Translation is your trusted source for accurate legal translations.

When you’re in a difficult situation, don’t make it worse by choosing computer-generated or amateur translations. At The Perfect Translation, we have professionals with backgrounds in a variety of fields to help ensure your translations are accurate and meet legal requirements. We’ve worked with government agencies and understand the protocols needed for filing accurate documentation for passports, visas, and other cross-border needs. Contact us today for a free quote on your project.