That's pretty much an impossibility as you won't even make it inside. I think philadelphia is often a better bet for short notice appointments (over NYC). There are frequent cancelations so calling back helps.

Congrats! I hope it works out... have a great trip!

I've been to the NY one, they ask you for the appointment information
when you check in.

In the afternoon for the pickup, I dont recall anybody checking
my appointment or receipt at the door.

Recently witnessed part of the following pax's passport nightmare:

Passenger gate-checked their baggage on a flight from one country to a third country that required clearing immigration in a second country en route to the final destination (third) country. The "nightmare" was that the passenger had placed their passport in the gate checked baggage which had already reached the final destination. :eek:

Did it without appointments in 1999 and 2001 (in DC and in NYC) with nothing more than a ticket showing departure the following day; since 2002 have had to do appointments for DC and NYC if following the routine "rush" process.

Interesting, thanks! I hadn't even thought of showing up w/o an appointment - I guess I'm scarred by bureaucracy. Might give it a try now since I'm in a rush and appointments are hard to come by.

Thanks!

It worked without appointments prior to 2002. It may not be easy to do
these days.

Since the OP is already gone, the point is moot, but any passport agency can do a same day passport and they will do it if you bring an itinerary with you. You simply call the automated system for a morning appointment, have the application, itinerary, birth certificate, picture with both eyes open and both parents and they'll do a same-day passport for an extra $60.

We did it for our son when he was five days old and getting the picture was the hardest part. We didn't have the original birth certificate yet, so they issued a 1 year passport which was extended to five years once we provided proof of citizenship.

The problem is getting the same day appointments. Sometimes you dont
get appointments for days.

in such situations, you can tag along with someone who already has an appointment or go through an agent.

In an emergency, it's supposedly possible to get a same day appointment by calling the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778. I assume they can override the automated system.

I've never had a problem getting a reservation, but there you go.

I've never been able to get a passport appointment anything like soon enough to take care of what I needed. Oddly, the next available appointment is often more than two weeks when the recording says that only those with travel within the next week can make an appointment. How does that work?

Anyway, I'll be the passport expeditors have standing appointments every day and just go in with whatever they have collected. I have definitely heard of same-day passports.

When you got the same morning appointment, did you go through the
automated system? or through a live rep? How long ago was this?


It turns out the OP was unable to get an appointment soon enough
and had to go through an agent. Its not that easy to get appointments
in the New york - Tri-state area.

I went through the automated system each time. The first was April 20, 05 and then I went once again in May and June. I probably called the night before the first time, but seems like that wouldn't make a difference from the experience you all are seeing.

FWIW, the passport center said that the reservation system opens each day at 6:30AM and it's easier to get appointments if you call then since cancellations are only processed once a day. I suppose they may open extra slots at that time too.

^ great tip... thank you