gov-pluspassport-renewaldocument-servicegovernment-scam

Is Gov Plus Legit? Government Document Service Review

Updated: January 2026

Gov Plus is technically legitimate (been in business 20+ years, BBB rated B) - NOT a scam.

However, it's a private company that fills out government forms for you, a service you can do yourself for FREE in 10 minutes. They charge $57-208 for something genuinely does not save much time. Deceptive branding ('Gov+') suggests government affiliation (it's not). Website says 'not affiliated with government' in tiny text. You still must do: photos, printing, mailing. They cause delays with photo rejection tactics and poor communication. Use legitimate government websites (.gov) instead. Do NOT use Gov Plus - it's unnecessary markup.

Key Findings

What It Is

Private company (not government)

Main Risk

Deceptive domain 'Gov+' (suggests government affiliation)

Best Action

Go directly to official government websites (.gov domains only)

The Pattern

→Private company (not government)
→Fills out government documents for you
→Handles passport renewals, TSA PreCheck, birth certificates
→Claims 'convenience' justification
→Deceptive domain name 'Gov+' suggests government
→Small disclaimer: 'not affiliated with government'
→Charges $57-208 for document processing
→Been in business 20+ years
→BBB rated B with 1,955 reviews
→Claims 'Norton security' (marketing)

Red Flags

Warning: Deceptive domain 'Gov+' (suggests government affiliation)
Warning: Domain is .com (private company, not government .gov)
Warning: They claim to offer convenience but you still must: take photos, print, mail
Warning: Forms take 10 minutes to complete yourself (not worth $57)
Warning: You STILL must go to appointment (no time savings)
Warning: BBB complaints about overcharging and service delays
Warning: Photo rejection delays (claiming 'photo of photo' falsely)
Warning: Unclear refund policy (some took 5+ weeks)
Warning: Hidden costs: upsell for TSA PreCheck, travel insurance
Warning: Website says 'not a scam' (suspicious self-defense)
Warning: Reddit reports: double billing, poor support, photo rejection tactics
Warning: Some users never received documents
Warning: Extremely long hold times for refund requests (intentional delays)

What To Do

1Go directly to official government websites (.gov domains only)
2For US passports: Travel.state.gov (State Department - official)
3For birth certificates: Vitalchek.com (official partner, or direct to state)
4For TSA PreCheck: Tsa.gov/precheck (direct application)
5Fill out forms yourself (takes 10-15 minutes maximum)
6Use official post office or courthouse for submission
7Take proper passport photos at Costco or CVS ($10-20)
8If Gov Plus charged you: File complaint with BBB.org
9Request refund citing overcharge/unnecessary service
10Dispute charge with credit card if refund denied

What NOT To Do

✕Don't use Gov Plus or similar document services
✕Don't trust deceptive domain names ('Gov+' isn't government)
✕Don't assume private company = official government
✕Don't pay for service that takes 10 minutes to DIY
✕Don't ignore 'not affiliated with government' disclaimers
✕Don't buy their optional add-ons (upsell tactics)
✕Don't wait for Gov Plus refunds (take action immediately)
✕Don't assume bad photo excuse is legitimate (it's delay tactic)
✕Don't use .com government sites (always use .gov)
✕Don't trust 'Norton security' badge (marketing)

Copy-Paste Script

Gov Plus charged $57 for passport form filling - unnecessary service. Forms take 10 minutes to DIY. Requesting full refund. Do NOT use this company.

FAQ

Is Gov Plus a scam?

Not technically a scam (20+ years in business, real service), but highly unnecessary markup. They charge $57-208 to fill out government forms that take 10 minutes to complete yourself for free on official .gov websites. Deceptive 'Gov+' branding suggests government affiliation (it's not). Use official government sites instead.

Why does Gov Plus use 'Gov+' as the domain name?

Deceptive branding. The name suggests government affiliation (it's not). In small print they say 'not affiliated with government.' It's designed to confuse people into thinking it's official. Real government sites use .gov domains (travel.state.gov for passports, tsa.gov for TSA PreCheck).

Do I still have to go to an appointment if I use Gov Plus?

YES - you still must: (1) Get a passport photo, (2) Print documents, (3) Mail or go to appointment. Gov Plus doesn't eliminate any of these steps. The only thing they do is fill out the form (which takes 10 minutes yourself). You save maybe 5-10 minutes and pay $57 for it. Not worth it.

How much can I save using official government?

At minimum $57. For TSA PreCheck: $85 official vs Gov Plus markup. For passports: FREE form at state.gov, you just pay State Department fee (same either way). Gov Plus adds pure markup for form-filling. Better to spend the time yourself and save money.

Should I use Gov Plus for any government documents?

No. Use official government websites: (1) Passports: travel.state.gov, (2) TSA PreCheck: tsa.gov/precheck, (3) Birth certificates: state vital records site + vitalchek.com. Fill out forms yourself (10-15 minutes). Gov Plus only exists to profit from people's time, not to provide real value.

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