Passports

If you’re in the market for a passport, the best advice that we can give to you is apply early! Summer is around the corner and as passport applications increase, so will the time it takes for passport agencies to process applications. We recommend you apply for a passport at least 10-12 weeks prior to your departure date.

If you have emergency travel plans that do not allow for the 10-12 week processing time, the Department of State offers expedited processing for a fee. However, if your departure date is two weeks away or sooner, contact Brenda Ballard or Julie Wilson in my Greenville office (864-232-1141) of my staff for assistance.

The Department of State's website discusses virtually every question you might have about passports, including how to obtain or renew a passport and how to check the status of your pending passport application. The site also includes downloadable forms and applications.

FAQ

How long is it currently taking to get a United States passport?
Count on it taking about eight weeks. This amount of time may stretch to ten or more weeks as summer approaches and more people apply for passports.

When can your office help with passports?
We’ve helped folks get passports in as little as a day or two. If you have emergency travel plans and do not have a passport, we can help. We can also help those of you who already applied for passports but have not yet received them.

What information will I need to provide if I call your office?
We will need to have your full name, address, phone number(s), date of birth, social security number, date of departure, and destination.

How do I know if I need a passport for the place I’m visiting?
According to the State Department, ALL PERSONS traveling by air outside of the United States are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States. Check with your airline or travel agent to confirm.

What is REAL ID all about?
The topic of REAL ID has saturated the news lately. The REAL ID Act of 2005 requires people entering federal buildings, boarding airplanes or opening bank accounts to present identification that has met certain security and authentication standards. As you might have heard, the US Department of Homeland Security granted South Carolina an extension (despite the fact that Governor Sanford did not request an extension) on March 31, 2008. This action secured South Carolinians the right to use their driver's licenses to board planes without being patted down, at least until 2010 .