Listen, guv spelled it out best for you. Unless someone knows a DoS person who is currently assigned to and working at the facility, no one on Earth can tell you with 100% certainty whether you are going to get it the same day, I believe that all possible permutations have already been answered several times on this thread. Regarding plane tickets, pretty much every permutation has been answered as has every possible passport picture scenario. As guv said, every single person t hat has read and answers this thread understands and understands again and again what you want to know, and has answered with the greatest degree possible of certainty possible. You are dealing with a government bureaucratic function, one that until very recently was extremely backed up due to the Covid backlog, and one that for all we know could lose have its employees due to DOGE cuts. Also, I do not believe that in the history of this office, anyone has ever asked for their passports to be mailed as that would negate the purpose, wouldn't it?