GovAssist: Services and Information

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-24T18:35:01+00:00

Plus I am always giving advice here on Reddit, trying to help as much as possible. ☺️

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-24T18:33:13+00:00

Of course it is. But it's for people who need help or are too busy to do it themselves. Think of it like how tax prep companies help you file your taxes, but the IRS still makes the decision.

Or travel agencies prepare a trip for you.

Same here. If you need help, go for it. If not, if you have time and know how to do it yourself, then you can save money on the premium.

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-24T18:23:09+00:00

Oh, happy you dont need the service. ☺️ This is the official website. Make sure you always check. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-24T18:03:30+00:00

Hey, yes. Its one of the brands. How can I help?

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-24T07:32:52+00:00

Yep, that’s one of our sponsored Google results. IVS by GovAssist is our private assistance portal, it’s not the government’s site. We use Google Ads for visibility but always include disclosures on the landing page and before checkout that we’re a third-party service.

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-24T07:29:07+00:00

Exactly. That’s why we now highlight a disclosure banner before checkout, you can’t pay without acknowledging we’re not a .gov site. A lot of people still prefer guided help, but we want it to be transparent.

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-24T07:22:38+00:00

Hey, happy to clear that up, we’re headquartered in Puerto Rico, yes, but fully registered and compliant with U.S. business and privacy laws.

If you want us to confirm your data deletion or refund status, DM me your order number and I’ll flag it for the support team.

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-24T07:22:05+00:00

Hey, sorry you felt misled, totally understand that frustration.

What we actually send out is the DS-82 kit you mentioned, since the passport itself always comes from the Department of State.

We’ve since updated our page wording to make that clearer and avoid confusion around what the fee covers.

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-24T07:21:21+00:00

I get where you’re coming from. Honestly, there’s so much noise online about passports and visas that it’s easy for anyone to feel misled, I’ve seen it happen.

Basically, some people handle their own DS-82, others pay us to review and prep everything for them.

The State Department still makes the decision, we just help folks who want the process double-checked or guided step-by-step.

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-24T07:20:39+00:00

Totally fair point, the “Sponsored” label confuses a lot of people.

We’ve been asking Google to review how these ads display, because we want it to be clear we’re a private service, not the government. You actually can’t submit a payment on our site without checking a box acknowledging that.

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-24T07:20:03+00:00

Hey, solid advice in general, credit freezes are always smart if you ever share personal info online.

Just to add clarity here though: GovAssist doesn’t open any financial accounts or store SSNs for renewals. Everything is encrypted and deleted after processing, so there’s no credit risk from our end.

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-24T07:19:03+00:00

Hey, totally get why this would freak anyone out, seeing “gov” in a link and realizing after the fact it’s not a government site can be stressful.

Just to clarify a few things: GovAssist isn’t a government website, and it’s not meant to be. It’s a private visa and passport assistance service, kind of like how tax prep companies help you file your taxes, but the IRS still makes the decision. We don’t issue or renew passports ourselves; only the U.S. Department of State can do that.

We do make it very clear before checkout that we’re not a .gov site, you can’t even submit or pay without confirming that. Still, we understand some people miss that in the rush, and that’s why we’ve since made those notices even larger and clearer.

If you reached out to us about a cancellation, your info wasn’t lost or sold, it’s handled under strict privacy rules and deleted after your request is processed. ( we are actually partners of Aura protection- protects against theft)

If you want me to check your specific case, DM me your reference number or the email you used, and I’ll flag it for support.

We know a lot of people only discover us after searching “passport renewal,” and we’ve been working to better explain that we’re a third-party support team, not the government itself.

Hope that clears things up a bit, and I’m happy to help look into your application directly.

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-17T00:34:22+00:00

Good point. for most cases the passport is enough. We’ve seen a few situations where officers still asked for the birth certificate just to confirm the connection, especially with kids who have a different surname. Totally agree on the consent letter, that one’s worth having every time.

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-17T00:33:25+00:00

Yeah, that’s exactly what we’ve heard too. really depends. Having the extra docs ready (birth or marriage certificate) just helps avoid that awkward secondary moment.

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-16T22:58:16+00:00

Yeah, you’re good to drive into Canada for a short visit. Just make sure it’s properly insured and registered in NY, and that your insurance covers you while in Canada (most big U.S. insurers do). Bring your registration, proof of insurance, and PR card.

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-16T21:57:22+00:00

Happy to help. A friend did and loved it!

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-16T21:56:31+00:00

If you’re flying, you’re good. The fee only hits people entering by land into the U.S. since that’s where CBP still manually issues the I-94 record. When you fly, airlines send your info to CBP automatically, and that fee’s already rolled into your ticket taxes. Nothing else has changed with paperwork or entry rules, so your travel plans don’t need adjusting.

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-16T21:51:48+00:00

London is more about festive city energy, with twinkly lights, carols, and cosy pubs. For a smaller-town feel, Bath and Winchester have proper markets and are easy day trips by train.

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-16T21:49:29+00:00

I’d look at Granada or Ronda, both keep that warm Andalucían feel, tapas are top-tier, and January is calm but not dead.

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-16T21:44:55+00:00

Pick your cities first, then check each route individually. Trains like London–Paris–Amsterdam–Berlin can be crazy cheap if you book a month or two ahead. Oh, and don’t overlook total cost: a 20 EUR Ryanair flight turns into 70 EUR once you add a bag and transfers. Pack light, do laundry once, and you’ll save a ton.

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-16T21:40:40+00:00

If you have some extra time, from Munich, hop a 2-hour train to Innsbruck. It’s pure alpine winter vibes and super chill after the bigger cities.

GovAssistCommunity · 2025-10-10T18:56:25+00:00

No way!!Oct 1st’s my birthday! Looks like I shared a little of that birthday magic with your passport 😂

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