Terms of Service

Effective date: September 23, 2026
Last updated: September 23, 2026
Operated by: A Legal Passport LLC d/b/a depart.us

These Terms of Service ("Terms") are a legal agreement between you and A Legal Passport LLC, doing business as depart.us ("depart.us," "we," "us," or "our"). They govern your use of the website at depart.us, our application flow, your account, and the services we provide (together, the "Service"). By using the Service, creating an account, or placing an Order, you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

1. Who we are and what we are not

1.1 A private, third-party service.

depart.us is an independent preparation and facilitation service only. We are not the U.S. Department of State, a passport agency, a passport acceptance facility, a U.S. Postal Service office, an embassy or consulate, or any other government body, and we do not present ourselves as one. U.S. passports are issued only by the U.S. Department of State, which alone decides whether to issue a passport and how long that takes.

1.2 You can apply directly.

Every U.S. passport product we help with can be applied for directly with the U.S. Department of State for the government fees alone. You do not need us to obtain a passport. Our service fee pays for the work we do: turning your answers into completed forms, producing and checking your passport photo, having a person review your application, tracking your status, and giving you support.

1.3 Not legal advice.

We are not a law firm, and our staff are not attorneys. Nothing we provide is legal advice. If you have questions about your citizenship, eligibility, legal name, custody arrangements for a minor, or any other legal matter, consult a licensed attorney.

1.4 No influence over government decisions.

We cannot influence whether the government approves your application, cannot speed up government processing beyond the options the government itself offers, and cannot guarantee any result or date.

2. Definitions

• "Application" means a U.S. passport book and/or card application we prepare or help you complete, including new (first-time and minor) applications, renewals, and replacements for lost, stolen, or damaged passports or for a name or data change, together with related forms such as the DS-11, DS-82, DS-5504, and DS-64.
• "Government Fee" means any fee charged by the U.S. Department of State or another government body in connection with an Application, including application fees, the execution (acceptance) fee charged by acceptance facilities, expedite fees, and 1–2 day return delivery fees.
• "Service Fee" means the fee depart.us charges for its work. The Service Fee starts at USD 119 and varies by Application type, processing speed tier, and number of applicants. The exact Service Fee is shown to you before you are asked for payment.
• "Shipping Fee" means any charge for shipping, printing, or courier services you select, shown separately at checkout.
• "Order" means your request for us to handle one or more Applications, submitted through the Service and accepted by us.
• "Applicant" means each person for whom an Application is being prepared.
• "Completion" means the earlier of (a) the date we deliver your finished, reviewed Application package to you (for example, in your account or by email) or (b) the date we submit, file, or send your Application to the government or its agent on your behalf.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and able to form a binding contract to place an Order. Orders for a minor may be placed only by a parent or legal guardian or another person legally authorized to act for that minor. By placing an Order for another person, including family members who share your account, you confirm that you have their permission (or legal authority) to share their information with us and to agree to these Terms on their behalf.

4. What the Service includes

Depending on the product and speed tier you select, the Service may include:

• A guided questionnaire in plain English that determines which forms you need;
• Preparing and completing the applicable government forms from your answers;
• Capturing your passport photo with your phone, checking it for lighting, background, glasses, expression, and framing, and cropping it to government specifications, with review by our team and not only by software;
• A personal review of your completed Application for completeness and common errors before it is finalized;
• Instructions on which documents to bring or mail and where to take them, including whether you must appear in person;
• Account-based status tracking and notifications;
• Help if the government requests more information;
• Arranging shipping or courier services where offered; and
• Customer support by email, phone, or chat.

What we do not do. We do not verify that the information you give us is true; act as your legal representative; appear at an acceptance facility or passport agency on your behalf; guarantee acceptance, approval, or issuance of any passport or any issuance date; or provide travel, health, or insurance advice.

In-person requirements. The U.S. Department of State requires certain applicants to apply in person, including most first-time applicants, applicants under 16, and some replacement applicants. Where that applies, you must personally appear at an acceptance facility or passport agency with your documents. Our Service prepares you for that appointment but does not replace it.

Automated tools. We use software, including automated photo-quality checks and form-filling tools, to help prepare your Application. Our staff review the output. Automated checks help reduce common errors but cannot guarantee that the government will accept a photo or Application.

5. Your responsibilities

5.1 Accuracy.

You must give us complete, accurate, and current information and documents. Passport applications are made under penalty of perjury, and knowingly providing false information is a federal crime. The government may deny an Application or take legal action based on false or incomplete information. You are solely responsible for the content of your Application, regardless of who typed or prepared it.

5.2 Review and signature.

You must carefully review your Application before you sign it or before you confirm it for submission. Signing or confirming means you accept its contents as your own. Some forms must be signed only in the presence of an acceptance agent; do not sign those forms until instructed.

5.3 Documents, photos, and deadlines.

You must promptly provide the information, documents (such as proof of citizenship and identification), photos, signatures, and payments we request. Processing estimates start only once we have everything we need. Delays caused by missing, late, or defective materials are your responsibility.

5.4 Authorization to act.

By placing an Order, you appoint depart.us as your limited agent, authorized solely to prepare your Application, communicate with the relevant government bodies about your Application where permitted, pay any Government Fees you have asked us to pay, and receive and forward documents related to your Order. You may revoke this authorization by written notice, subject to the refund rules in Section 8.

5.5 Eligibility and travel plans.

You are responsible for confirming that you are eligible for the passport you request, that it is appropriate for your travel (including any validity or blank-page requirements of your destination), and that your travel dates leave enough time for processing. We recommend that you do not book non-refundable travel until your passport has been issued.

5.6 Lawful use.

You may not use the Service to obtain a passport by fraud, for anyone without their consent or your legal authority, or in violation of any law.

6. Accounts and communications

6.1 Accounts.

You may be able to start an Application without an account, but tracking and some features require one. You are responsible for keeping your login details confidential and for all activity under your account. Multiple Applicants in the same household may share one account only if each adult Applicant has agreed.

6.2 Electronic communications.

You agree that we may send notices, order updates, receipts, and documents electronically by email, SMS, or through your account, and that these satisfy any legal requirement that communications be in writing.

6.3 Text messages.

By providing a mobile number, you consent to receive transactional text messages about your Order (confirmations, document requests, status updates, and delivery notices). Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out or HELP for help. Opting out may delay your order updates. We will send marketing texts only if you separately and expressly opt in; consent to marketing texts is not a condition of purchase.

7. Fees and payment

7.1 What you pay.

Your total price is made up of: (a) the Service Fee; (b) any Shipping Fee; and (c) any optional add-ons you select. Government Fees are separate. Every line item is shown to you before you are asked for a card, and nothing is charged until you confirm.

7.2 Government Fees.

Unless your checkout page expressly states that we are collecting a Government Fee on your behalf, you pay Government Fees directly to the U.S. Department of State and, where applicable, to the acceptance facility, using the payment methods those bodies accept. If we do collect a Government Fee on your behalf, we collect it as your agent, pass it through without markup, and remit it to the government. Government Fees are set by the government and may change without notice. If a Government Fee we collect increases before we remit it, we will ask you to pay the difference or let you cancel for a refund of the unremitted amount.

7.3 Payment methods and authorization.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and PayPal. By providing a payment method, you authorize us and our payment processors to charge the full Order amount and any later amounts you approve (for example, an upgrade to a faster tier or an add-on). Payments are handled by third-party payment processors; we do not store full card numbers.

7.4 Statement descriptor.

Charges will appear on your card or bank statement as "COMMAS" (the descriptor used by our payment processor), not "depart.us." Please check for this descriptor before disputing a charge. If you do not recognize a charge, email [email protected] and we will help identify it.

7.5 Taxes.

Prices do not include taxes unless stated. You are responsible for any applicable taxes and for any foreign transaction or bank fees charged by your card issuer.

7.6 Chargebacks.

If you file a chargeback for a properly authorized charge after we have performed or begun performing the Service, we may (a) provide the card network or PayPal with your Order details, communications, and records of our work as evidence; (b) pause work on any open Orders; and (c) seek to recover amounts owed. Please contact us first; most billing questions are resolved quickly.

8. Cancellation, refunds, and outcomes

We want you to know exactly when refunds are and are not available. This Section applies to the fullest extent permitted by the consumer-protection laws where you live; if those laws give you more rights, we will honor them.

8.1 Before we begin work.

You may cancel for a full refund of the Service Fee (and any Government Fee we collected but have not remitted) at any time before we begin substantive work on your Application. Because we often begin within hours, and immediately for faster tiers, this window may be short.

8.2 After we begin work, before Completion.

If you cancel after we have begun preparing or reviewing your Application but before Completion, we will refund any unremitted Government Fees and refund the Service Fee minus a reasonable charge for work already done, which will not exceed 50% of the Service Fee.

8.3 After Completion.

Once Completion has occurred, the Service Fee is fully earned and non-refundable, except as stated in Sections 8.5, 8.6, and 8.7. Shipping Fees are non-refundable once a shipment has been sent.

8.4 Government Fees.

The U.S. Department of State does not refund application or execution fees, including if an application is denied, withdrawn, delayed, or turns out to be unnecessary. The expedite fee may be refunded by the government in limited cases under its own rules. We cannot refund Government Fees once they have been paid to the government, whether by you or by us on your behalf.

8.5 Our "we fix it" promise.

If the government rejects, suspends, or returns your Application because of an error in something we prepared (for example, a form field we completed incorrectly, or a photo we approved that did not meet the government's published photo requirements), we will correct it and prepare it again at no additional Service Fee. If the error was ours and required you to pay a new Government Fee, we will reimburse that fee. If you would rather not refile, you may instead choose a full refund of your Service Fee. This is your sole remedy for our preparation errors.

8.6 Other refusals.

If your Application is refused for a reason other than our error, we will, at no additional Service Fee, review the government's reasons with you and, where a correction or re-application is possible and you want it, help you prepare it. You are responsible for any new Government Fees. This does not apply where the refusal was caused by inaccurate, incomplete, or fraudulent information you provided, information you did not disclose, missing documents, failure to appear in person, or a discretionary government decision unrelated to how the Application was prepared.

8.7 Duplicate or unnecessary Orders.

If you already hold a valid passport that meets your needs, place a duplicate Order, or turn out not to need the Application, tell us before Completion and we will refund the Service Fee in full, plus any unremitted Government Fees.

8.8 Processing times.

All processing times, including those for faster tiers, are estimates based on current government performance and are not guarantees. Our speed tiers describe how quickly we do our part. Government processing is separate and is set by the U.S. Department of State, and expedited government service requires paying the government's expedite fee. Any statement that a passport can be obtained "as fast as" a particular number of days describes the fastest outcome we have seen under favorable conditions and is not a promise. Government delays, requests for more information, security checks, holidays, system outages, mail delays, and backlogs are outside our control and do not entitle you to a refund.

8.9 How refunds are paid.

Approved refunds are issued to your original payment method within 10 business days. Your bank or PayPal may take additional time to post the refund.

8.10 How to request a refund.

Email [email protected] with your Order number. We aim to respond within 2 business days.

9. Physical documents and shipping

Where the Service includes printing, shipping, or courier handling of documents, you consent to us and our shipping partners receiving, holding, and transporting them. We take reasonable care, but documents can be lost, damaged, or delayed in transit. For original citizenship evidence and passports, we strongly recommend tracked, insured shipping. Our liability for loss of or damage to a document while in our or our courier's custody is limited to reimbursing the government's replacement fee for that document and refunding the Service Fee for the affected Order. Risk of loss passes to you when the carrier records delivery to the address you provided. Documents you mail directly to the government are outside our custody and control.

10. Third-party services

The Service relies on third parties we do not control, including government websites and systems, acceptance facilities, the U.S. Postal Service and other carriers, payment processors (including PayPal), identity-verification and photo-processing providers, hosting providers, and support providers. Their availability, performance, and terms are outside our control. Links to third-party sites, including government sites, are provided for convenience and are not endorsements.

11. Intellectual property

The Service, including its text, design, software, questionnaire logic, logos, and content, is owned by depart.us or its licensors and protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws. We grant you a limited, revocable, non-transferable license to use the Service for your personal, non-commercial purpose of obtaining a U.S. passport. You may not copy, scrape, reverse-engineer, resell, or create derivative works of the Service. "depart.us" and our logos are our trademarks. Government names, seals, and marks belong to their owners; any reference to them is for identification only and does not imply affiliation or endorsement.

12. Prohibited conduct

You may not: submit false information or documents; impersonate anyone; place Orders for anyone without authority; use bots, scripts, or other automated means to access the Service; interfere with the security or operation of the Service; use the Service to violate any law or anyone's rights; or resell or commercially exploit the Service without our written agreement.

13. Suspension and termination

We may refuse, suspend, or cancel any Order or account, with or without notice, if we reasonably believe you have breached these Terms, provided false information, or engaged in fraud or abuse, or if we cannot perform the Service for legal or practical reasons. If we cancel an Order for reasons other than your breach, we will refund the Service Fee and any unremitted Government Fees. You may close your account at any time; open Orders remain subject to Section 8.

14. Disclaimer of warranties

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Service is provided "as is" and "as available." We disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, non-infringement, accuracy, and uninterrupted or error-free operation. We do not warrant that any Application will be approved, that any passport will be issued by any date, that government fees or requirements will not change, or that the Service will meet your requirements.

Information on our site about government requirements, fees, and processing times is general guidance, may become outdated, and should be confirmed with the U.S. Department of State. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties, so some of these exclusions may not apply to you.

15. Assumption of risk

You understand that passport processing involves uncertainty and that the government may change requirements, deny applications, or delay processing without explanation. You assume the risk of travel disruption, non-refundable bookings, missed events, and other consequences of delay or refusal, and you agree to plan your travel accordingly.

16. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

16.1 No indirect damages.

depart.us and its owners, officers, employees, contractors, agents, and affiliates will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive damages, or for lost profits, revenue, travel, bookings, events, opportunities, or data, arising out of or relating to the Service or these Terms, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

16.2 Cap.

Our total liability to you for all claims arising out of or relating to the Service or these Terms will not exceed the Service Fees you paid for the Order giving rise to the claim, except for amounts we expressly agree to reimburse under Sections 8.5 and 9.

16.3 Basis of the bargain.

You agree that these limitations are a fundamental part of the bargain and that we could not offer the Service at current prices without them. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations of liability, so some of these limitations may not apply to you. Nothing in these Terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud, or for any other liability that cannot lawfully be limited.

17. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless depart.us and its affiliates, officers, employees, contractors, and agents from any claims, losses, liabilities, damages, fines, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to: (a) the information or documents you provide; (b) your breach of these Terms or of law; (c) your Application or travel; (d) Orders you place for others; or (e) bad-faith chargebacks or payment disputes.

18. Governing law

These Terms and any dispute arising out of or relating to them or the Service are governed by the laws of the State of Florida and applicable U.S. federal law, without regard to conflict-of-law rules, except that the Federal Arbitration Act governs Section 19. If you are a consumer in a jurisdiction whose mandatory consumer-protection laws apply, you keep the benefit of those laws.

19. Dispute resolution: informal resolution, binding arbitration, and class-action waiver

19.1 Informal resolution first.

Before starting any formal proceeding, you agree to email [email protected] with a written description of the dispute and the relief you seek. We will do the same for any claim we have against you. Both parties will try in good faith to resolve the dispute within 45 days.

19.2 Binding arbitration.

Any dispute not resolved informally will be resolved by binding individual arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, available at adr.org. The arbitrator's award is final and may be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction. Arbitration will be conducted in English. Any hearing will take place by video, in Miami-Dade County, Florida, or in your county of residence, as the arbitrator decides. For claims under USD 10,000, we will reimburse your filing fee unless the arbitrator finds your claim frivolous.

19.3 Small claims.

Either party may instead bring an individual claim in small-claims court in Miami-Dade County, Florida, or in your county of residence, if the claim qualifies.

19.4 Class-action waiver.

You and depart.us agree that each may bring claims against the other only in an individual capacity, and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class, collective, consolidated, or representative proceeding. The arbitrator may not consolidate claims or preside over any representative proceeding. If this waiver is found unenforceable for a particular claim, that claim (and only that claim) will proceed in court, and the rest of this Section remains in effect.

19.5 Jury waiver.

To the extent any claim proceeds in court, you and depart.us each waive the right to a jury trial.

19.6 Opt-out.

You may opt out of arbitration by emailing [email protected] within 30 days after you first accept these Terms, including your name, Order number (if any), and a clear statement that you opt out of arbitration. Opting out does not affect any other part of these Terms.

19.7 Exceptions.

Either party may seek injunctive relief in court to protect intellectual property or to stop unauthorized use of the Service.

19.8 Time limit.

To the extent permitted by law, any claim must be brought within one year after it arises, or it is permanently barred.

19.9 Venue for non-arbitrable matters.

Any matter not subject to arbitration will be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and you consent to their jurisdiction.

20. Consumer rights in specific jurisdictions

20.1 California.

Under California Civil Code § 1789.3, California residents may contact the Complaint Assistance Unit of the Division of Consumer Services of the California Department of Consumer Affairs in writing at 1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N 112, Sacramento, CA 95834, or by telephone at (800) 952-5210.

20.2 U.S. citizens living abroad.

If you live in the European Union or the United Kingdom, you may have a 14-day right to withdraw from distance contracts. By asking us to begin work immediately, you request that we perform the Service before that period ends and acknowledge that you lose the right to withdraw once the Service is fully performed, and that if you withdraw during performance you must pay for work already done (Section 8.2). These Terms do not affect your statutory rights. Nothing in these Terms excludes any guarantee under the Australian Consumer Law or similar law that cannot lawfully be excluded.

21. Force majeure

We are not liable for any failure or delay caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including government actions or shutdowns, changes in law, passport agency or acceptance facility closures, system outages, strikes, pandemics, natural disasters, war, civil unrest, carrier failures, or payment-network outages. If such an event prevents us from performing your Order, we will refund the Service Fee for work not performed and any unremitted Government Fees.

22. Changes to the Service and these Terms

We may change the Service, our prices, or these Terms at any time. Changes to these Terms take effect when posted, and we will update the "Last updated" date. Material changes will not apply to an Order already placed without your consent. Continuing to use the Service after changes are posted means you accept them.

23. General

23.1 Entire agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and the Order details shown at checkout, are the entire agreement between you and depart.us about the Service and supersede any prior agreements.

23.2 Severability. If any provision is found unenforceable, it will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted, and the rest of these Terms will remain in effect.

23.3 No waiver. Our failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver of our right to enforce it later.

23.4 Assignment. You may not assign these Terms. We may assign them to an affiliate or a successor.

23.5 Electronic contracting. Clicking to accept, placing an Order, or using the Service is your electronic signature and your consent to contract electronically.

23.6 Language. These Terms are written in English. Any translation is for convenience only, and the English version controls.

23.7 Survival. Sections 7, 8, 9, and 14 through 23 survive any termination.

24. Contact us

A Legal Passport LLC d/b/a depart.us
2500 Biscayne Blvd
Miami, FL 33137, United States

depart.us is an independent, third-party preparation and facilitation service operated by A Legal Passport LLC. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the U.S. Department of State or any other government. You may apply directly with the U.S. Department of State for the government fees alone. Our Service Fee is separate from, and in addition to, government fees. We are not a law firm and do not give legal advice.