If you are doing some international travel in the next 15 days and need a US passport, look no further than the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) and its Passport Agencies. You can get your passport in one (1) day or 24 hours, especially if you are applying during the off peak months like Fall and Winter.

NPIC scored a perfect 10 when it comes to helping us get a US passport in a hurry. They are well organized, courteous and have their act together, despite the fact that the State Department's website is very confusing. This is the first of the two part post that will examine the NPIC and the State Department's website, respectively. If you are not in a hurry, you can find a US passport office and file your application with them. Most US Post Offices accept passport applications

Steps we followed
We started the process of getting a new United States Passport on December 1, 2006 and had the passport on the morning of December 5th. Here's how we did it:

1. Fill out your passport application [PDF],
2. Get two color passport photos- we got these at Costco for $5.00. Most Costco locations provide this service,
3. Your travel itinerary from the travel agency or airline. Our agent email us ours and the required identity documentation (proof of citizenship and one other photo ID),
4. You must call the NSIP and make an appointment at one of the Passport Agencies located in most major US cities. They do not accept walk ins. With your social security number and pen and paper in hand, call the NSIP's Automated Telephone appointment system toll free at 1-877-487-2778,
5. You'll be asked if your are traveling within the next 15 days and have to follow the prompts and select a Passport Agency. Don't worry they'll list them out and you'll select one,
6. You'll also be asked when you want to come in or given a choice of next available appointment. We took the later and booked a 2:30 pm appointment on December 5th, and
7. You'll also be asked for the last 4 digits of your social security number and the system will give you a appointment number. Write it down.

What to Expect at the Passport Office

1. Show up for your appointment no earlier than 15 minutes before. If you are 15 minutes late you may have to get another appointment,
2. We showed up at 2:20 pm, and were given a number and asked to be seated.
3. After a 5 minute wait, our number was called. after paying $157 were told that we could pick the passport up at 11:30 am the next day,
4. The Passport Agency also provided us with a paper that authorizes someone else to pick the passport up for you if you can't,
5. At 2:35 pm we walked out of the Washington DC passport office.
   11, and
6. The following day, we picked up the passport at 11:44 a.m.

Our Experience
Given our experience with most government agencies, especially state departments of motor vehicles, we expected to be at the Passport Agency for hours and to be hassled. We were really pleasantly surprised.

The place was not crowed due to the "By Appointment Only" policy. Forms and help were available too. The staff who took our paperwork were courteous and knowledgeable.

Clearly someone thought this entire process out and really wanted to make this a great customer experience. And it was!! The major hassle was determining what application forms to bring with us and how much it would cost.