Did you know that Scarborough Community Services can help you submit your passport application? We take appointments at the Community Services Hub (418 Payne Road) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

If an appointment during the work and school day isn’t convenient for you or your family, we are also offering a drop-in Passport Day on Wednesday, Nov. 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (day before Thanksgiving).

We will have several agents and stations ready to accept passports on a first-come, first-serve basis. Stop in so that you are ready for your next trip, or just pop in to ask questions and learn more about the process.

Passports are currently taking about four to six weeks to process, but will also have the option to pay an additional $60 for expedited service that will shorten the processing time to two to three weeks.

These estimations do not include mailing time, so please be sure to factor additional time for that. While we send everything “Priority,” you will also have the option to update your mailing to “Priority Express.” All of these additional services and their associated fees can be discussed during your appointment.

If you are planning to travel outside of the U.S., you probably know you will need a valid passport book. If you are in a rush and need it in less than four to six weeks, you might be likely to search online for a quicker process. Beware! There are websites that may appear official, but end up charging customers more for their additional services, such as acting as a courier on a customer’s behalf or even charging to access passport applications.

Here are some tips for travelers in a rush:

All passport expeditor companies have their list of requirements and each charge different service fees so be sure to do your research. It is recommended that you use a credit card to pay the extra fees to ensure you have the ability to dispute the charge if issues arise.

For more information on what is required to apply for a passport or to set up an appointment, call the Scarborough Community Services office at 207-730-4150, or you may visit the only official website for passports at Travel.State.Gov.

The only official website for U.S. Passports is Travel.State.Gov. All necessary paperwork is available through the website at no cost. You can even complete the forms online and print out the paperwork from your home computer with the answers filled in.

Scarborough Community Services also carries all necessary paperwork for you to pick up the next time you are at Town Hall. You should never have to pay to access any form associated with passports.

Look out for websites that end in .com or .net. In general, when you search online for “passports” or “passports in a rush,” they are going to show up first and before Travel.State.Gov.

Most of these websites are offering a valid service, but depending on your travel needs, the service might be extraneous and have an avoidable cost.

Routine service will get a passport back to you within six to eight weeks. You always have the option to bump your application up to expedited service for an additional $60 per application, and this gets the passport back to you within two to three weeks.

If you have travel plans within 14 days or less, you may schedule an appointment through a
passport agency or center (the closest is in Portsmouth, New Hampshire) by calling 1-877-487-2778.

You will need to travel to the passport center, bring everything required for paperwork plus you must bring proof of imminent departure, such as tickets or an itinerary. They are still going to charge the normal fees plus the expedited fee and may charge for overnight shipping back to you, but the passport will be guaranteed back in time for your travel plans.

In the case where you cannot show up in person to a passport agency or center, you might want to utilize the services of one of these companies. They are providing a courier service to process the application on your behalf. You will still have to take the time to visit a passport acceptance facility, such as Scarborough Community Services, to complete a “hand carry” application.

Allison Carrier is marketing and communications manager for Scarborough. She can be reached at acarrier@scarboroughmaine.org.