Mar 1, 2022, 6:35 am
Last edit by: CKDGM
Passport Agency Appointments (same day expedited service)
Appointments for same-day expedited service often go quickly. It is best that you schedule your appointment with the passport agency exactly 14 days before your trip. You will want to call the passport number before the center opens at 8am EST as they will have just opened up one day (14 days out) of appointments at all agencies. Appointment times start at 8am. It is important that you have enough buffer in your travel schedule. For example, if you make an appointment for a new passport at 11am and your time of travel is at 2pm, there will not be enough time for you to get your passport. If you book the 8am slot you may have to wait until the end of the business day to get your new passport or it may only be a few hours.
You will want to have your date of travel, time of travel, your flight itinerary number, name of destination, full name of applicant, and applicant's birth city, and the zip code of where you live (to help them find the closest available center with open slots). Use the following steps to increase your chances of success to booking an appointment as they can go very quickly:
Credit: chgoeditor
Known office locator numbers (not complete)
Note: The office code (first two digits of your application locator number returned by Passport Status) is the office reviewing your documents and approving your application. It isn't necessarily the address you mailed the forms to (always Irving or Philadelphia for renewals) nor the facility where the book is physically printed and mailed (often Tucson or Hot Springs).
10: Boston
11: NYC
12: Honolulu
14: Stamford, CT
15: Portsmouth, NH
17: Aurora, CO
18: Chicago
19: Washington, DC
20-29: Portsmouth, NH
34-39: Charleston
40-42: New Orleans, LA
45: Portsmouth, NH
50: Los Angeles, CA
51: Miami
53: Seattle
54: Minneapolis
55: Dallas
56: Detroit
57: San Francisco
58: Philadelphia, PA
61-64: Tucson
65: Hot Springs, AR
67: San Juan, PR
68: Portsmouth, NH
69: Portsmouth, NH
71: US embassies/consulates abroad (possibly Portsmouth, NH)
74: Atlanta
75: St Albans, VT
76: San Diego, CA
77: Buffalo, NY
78: El Paso, TX
79: Houston, TX
80: Special Issuance Agency ("Issues diplomatic, official, service, and no-fee regular passports, and facilitates visa processing for those traveling on behalf of the U.S. government.")
95: Online
A list of agencies and their locator numbers is listed on this page under the heading, "List of passport agencies and centers with locator numbers."
H/T Nayef, txviking, and various individual posts both here and on Reddit. If you have a locator not in the above list, check the return address agency name or postmark/ZIP on your returned citizenship docs, or passport card if you applied for one, which may be the processing office, although the address itself is likely to be a PO Box in Sterling, VA in all cases (which appears to be a lockbox location that processes mail for all locations). The passport books are printed in fewer locations, often Hot Springs and Tucson, and may not correspond to the agency where the processing steps occurred. If it doesnt match the list above, please add or correct.
Appointments for same-day expedited service often go quickly. It is best that you schedule your appointment with the passport agency exactly 14 days before your trip. You will want to call the passport number before the center opens at 8am EST as they will have just opened up one day (14 days out) of appointments at all agencies. Appointment times start at 8am. It is important that you have enough buffer in your travel schedule. For example, if you make an appointment for a new passport at 11am and your time of travel is at 2pm, there will not be enough time for you to get your passport. If you book the 8am slot you may have to wait until the end of the business day to get your new passport or it may only be a few hours.
You will want to have your date of travel, time of travel, your flight itinerary number, name of destination, full name of applicant, and applicant's birth city, and the zip code of where you live (to help them find the closest available center with open slots). Use the following steps to increase your chances of success to booking an appointment as they can go very quickly:
- 14 days before your trip, you need to schedule an appointment with the passport agency.
- At 7:55 am call the passport number 877-487-2778 (This have to be exactly 14 days before your plane ticket or less. If less, it will get harder to find an appointment)
- Click 1 (For English)
- Click 2 (New Passport)
- Continue to Click 7 to repeat, and keep doing this while watching your watch or using Time.gov to get the exact time down to the second.
- When your it hits exactly 8:00 am Click 2 (for traveling within 14 days option)
- There will be a delay of 3-4 second and you will wait for the next available agent. If you are very lucky, you will be put straight through to an agent. You may be waiting few minutes or maybe as long as 15-20 minutes.
- If you did not click 1 exactly at 8 am, you may have to wait for more than an hour and half
Credit: chgoeditor
Known office locator numbers (not complete)
Note: The office code (first two digits of your application locator number returned by Passport Status) is the office reviewing your documents and approving your application. It isn't necessarily the address you mailed the forms to (always Irving or Philadelphia for renewals) nor the facility where the book is physically printed and mailed (often Tucson or Hot Springs).
10: Boston
11: NYC
12: Honolulu
14: Stamford, CT
15: Portsmouth, NH
17: Aurora, CO
18: Chicago
19: Washington, DC
20-29: Portsmouth, NH
34-39: Charleston
40-42: New Orleans, LA
45: Portsmouth, NH
50: Los Angeles, CA
51: Miami
53: Seattle
54: Minneapolis
55: Dallas
56: Detroit
57: San Francisco
58: Philadelphia, PA
61-64: Tucson
65: Hot Springs, AR
67: San Juan, PR
68: Portsmouth, NH
69: Portsmouth, NH
71: US embassies/consulates abroad (possibly Portsmouth, NH)
74: Atlanta
75: St Albans, VT
76: San Diego, CA
77: Buffalo, NY
78: El Paso, TX
79: Houston, TX
80: Special Issuance Agency ("Issues diplomatic, official, service, and no-fee regular passports, and facilitates visa processing for those traveling on behalf of the U.S. government.")
95: Online
A list of agencies and their locator numbers is listed on this page under the heading, "List of passport agencies and centers with locator numbers."
H/T Nayef, txviking, and various individual posts both here and on Reddit. If you have a locator not in the above list, check the return address agency name or postmark/ZIP on your returned citizenship docs, or passport card if you applied for one, which may be the processing office, although the address itself is likely to be a PO Box in Sterling, VA in all cases (which appears to be a lockbox location that processes mail for all locations). The passport books are printed in fewer locations, often Hot Springs and Tucson, and may not correspond to the agency where the processing steps occurred. If it doesnt match the list above, please add or correct.
Current US passport wait? (Merged Threads)
Sep 12, 2021 | 12:30 am
#1606
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 2
New Orleans and San Francisco processing
2 passport renewals in process. Both standard/routine processing, non-expedited.
Passport #1 (Adult renewal via mail). Locator# starts with 42, shows "in process" from Sep 07. Any one know what New Orleans processing times look like?
Passport #2 (minor/child renewal via USPS in-person appointment). Locator# starts with 57, shows "in process" from Sep 10. Looks like San Francisco, about 50 miles north from my residence.
Passport #1 (Adult renewal via mail). Locator# starts with 42, shows "in process" from Sep 07. Any one know what New Orleans processing times look like?
Passport #2 (minor/child renewal via USPS in-person appointment). Locator# starts with 57, shows "in process" from Sep 10. Looks like San Francisco, about 50 miles north from my residence.
Last edited by walletless; Sep 12, 2021 at 10:47 am
Sep 14, 2021 | 5:09 pm
#1608
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 10
Paid for the expedited processing after being scared that it takes months. Did not pay for expedited mail.
Applied for my daughter's passport renewal at the local library. August 26.
Check cashed on September 1
Passport received September 14.
Probably should have paid for regular processing.
Applied for my daughter's passport renewal at the local library. August 26.
Check cashed on September 1
Passport received September 14.
Probably should have paid for regular processing.
Sep 16, 2021 | 1:02 pm
#1609
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 24
Service: Expedite Processing + Expedite Shipping, new passport application
Locator: 76
Contacted: 2 Senators and 1 House of Rep, 1 senator replied on 09/15 that it was shipped.
Got the original version passport, not the Next Generation Passport.
Locator: 76
- 08/28: Submitted through an acceptance agency in San Diego, CA
- 09/02: In Process
- 09/03: Request mailing address change and add travel date 11/08 via email
- 09/13: Request change to Large Book from Regular Book and change travel date to 09/25 via email
- 09/14: Shipped via USPS Express from San Diego office
- 09/16: Received passport (large book) + original documents in the mailbox
Contacted: 2 Senators and 1 House of Rep, 1 senator replied on 09/15 that it was shipped.
Got the original version passport, not the Next Generation Passport.
Sep 16, 2021 | 1:14 pm
#1610
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 26
Two minors, applied at post office on August 6th. Regular processing, sent to Philly.
Checks cashed, in process on August 23rd. Signed up for email status updates. Never got one update ever. None.
September 9th, printing.
September 11th, shipped priority mail. I only know this because my informed delivery told me. Tracking shows shipped from Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas.
September 13th, one received, September 14th, other other received. Return address on envelope is from Seattle, which matches locator number.
Never got one email update from Department of State.
The same day we applied in person for our twins, we dropped renewals for mom and dad (me) in the mail. Cashed and in process on August 24th, no updates since then. Priority mail envelope they were sent in has never been scanned in.
Checks cashed, in process on August 23rd. Signed up for email status updates. Never got one update ever. None.
September 9th, printing.
September 11th, shipped priority mail. I only know this because my informed delivery told me. Tracking shows shipped from Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas.
September 13th, one received, September 14th, other other received. Return address on envelope is from Seattle, which matches locator number.
Never got one email update from Department of State.
The same day we applied in person for our twins, we dropped renewals for mom and dad (me) in the mail. Cashed and in process on August 24th, no updates since then. Priority mail envelope they were sent in has never been scanned in.
Sep 16, 2021 | 3:43 pm
#1611
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 19
Locator 76 = San Diego apparently based on the return address
Minor passport with express everything
8/30 - used USPS in CA to submit with express mailing. Painless process there. I used the online form filler and printed application wi the barcode
8/31 - delivered in PA
9/3 - check cashed and online status showed received. Never received any emails despite them correctly auto filling my email
9/15 - passport was sent but I didn't get any notification from state. Just looking at the postmark
9/16 - passport arrived. Online status now says approved
so takeaway is 17 days door to door
like some other reports, I never got a single email (I have in the past with other applications) and I made sure to confirm my email address several times online
Minor passport with express everything
8/30 - used USPS in CA to submit with express mailing. Painless process there. I used the online form filler and printed application wi the barcode
8/31 - delivered in PA
9/3 - check cashed and online status showed received. Never received any emails despite them correctly auto filling my email
9/15 - passport was sent but I didn't get any notification from state. Just looking at the postmark
9/16 - passport arrived. Online status now says approved
so takeaway is 17 days door to door
like some other reports, I never got a single email (I have in the past with other applications) and I made sure to confirm my email address several times online
Sep 16, 2021 | 3:54 pm
#1612
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,595
I guess 34 (South Carolina) really is as slow as many said.
Even with expedited everything Im still waiting compared to a lot of people who had their applications sent a week or 10 days after me and theyre done.
Even with expedited everything Im still waiting compared to a lot of people who had their applications sent a week or 10 days after me and theyre done.
Sep 16, 2021 | 5:26 pm
#1613
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
Posts: 5,602
Sep 17, 2021 | 11:55 pm
#1615
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,595
Someone on another forum sent his application four days after mine, also expedited everything and it ended up in Charleston like mine, but his got approved today and mine didnt. I hope this still means an approval could be imminent.
Sep 18, 2021 | 12:30 am
#1616
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 19
Sorry it's taking so long for you! I was originally going to use you as a benchmark for when mine would arrive but it turns out there's extreme variability. I guess Atlanta is not the office you want. Good luck
Sep 18, 2021 | 9:32 pm
#1617
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: USA
Programs: UA Platinum, 1MM
Posts: 13,472
Five weeks and four days (39 days) from mailing to getting my renewal passport in my mailbox. No passport card yet though.
8/9 - Mailed USPS Priority Mail from Calif. to Irving, Texas
8/11 - USPS tracking shows delivered
9/17 - Delivered to mailbox via USPS Priority Mail
First 2 digits of passport locator was "18" and mailed from Little Rock, Arkansas, but return was Chicago, Illinois.
I was prepared for the worst, but I saw that times were improving. It appears that that rush cuts the time in about half. I wasn't in a rush so could afford to wait a bit longer.
Sadly, my a family member sent theirs to get renewed earlier than me and is still waiting.
8/9 - Mailed USPS Priority Mail from Calif. to Irving, Texas
8/11 - USPS tracking shows delivered
9/17 - Delivered to mailbox via USPS Priority Mail
First 2 digits of passport locator was "18" and mailed from Little Rock, Arkansas, but return was Chicago, Illinois.
I was prepared for the worst, but I saw that times were improving. It appears that that rush cuts the time in about half. I wasn't in a rush so could afford to wait a bit longer.
Sadly, my a family member sent theirs to get renewed earlier than me and is still waiting.
Sep 18, 2021 | 10:02 pm
#1618
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Florida
Programs: Delta SkyMiles; Hilton HHonors; NEXUS; National Emerald Club Executive
Posts: 367
It does appear to still vary quite a bit based on which passport office processes your application. But processing times do seem to have improved across the board compared to this summer.
Sep 19, 2021 | 8:25 pm
#1619
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 26
This is 100% true. My is still in processing hell, my daughter's send the same day are already in my safe. Go figure, they went to Seattle and mine is in New Orleans.
Sep 19, 2021 | 8:35 pm
#1620
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,595