I'm more concerned that a congressman was able to "fix" an issue with a visa than I am with someone taking bribes.

Bribes implies quid pro quo. Someone who can "fix" some implies an exclusive network of favors traded with no record.

Basically what happened was that the USPS lost my passport in the mail a few days before I was supposed to move overseas. I called his office and they were able to lean on the The Department of State to have a new one printed up and issued to me within 48 hours. How he did it, I don't know, but I assume getting a call from a sitting congressman lights the proverbial fire under the ass of paper pushers at the Department of State.

I had never met, spoken with, or donated to my congressman before this took place.

This is what concerns me. There shouldn't be this "shadow process". I've heard from other individuals in the same situation who were left with no recourse.

The only process should be the official process as laid out by the Department of State.

One might be vastly underestimating the corrosion that bribes bring.

The right way to bribe them is through campaign contributions or donating to their "charity" foundation. People without election campaigns or foundations are much harder to bribe.