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)
Jan 17, 2023 | 10:35 pm
#2207
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Pensacola, FL (PNS)
Programs: Delta 1.99M, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,716
Data points for processing time for one child passport (his third but doesnt matter), with expedited processing and expedited 1-2 day delivery:
Wed Dec 28: Dropped off at USPS post office / passport facility, Atlanta, GA.
Wed Jan 4: Check electronically deposited. (Check # 3530 (Converted ACH) PASSPORTSERVICES PAYMENT 230103 0330 PCTB02000000)
Wed Jan 4 (same day): U.S. Passport Application Status website updated to show "Application Status: In Process" with an application locator number. Which didnt really help.
Tues Jan 17 - "Application Status: Shipped" along with USPS tracking number.
Projected receipt date Jan 18 or 19 (USPS 1-day delivery might be goofed coming from Tucson)
Note - never received automated email even though my email was both on the application and I registered before and after they entered in the system
Total processing time from USPS drop off to receipt was 3 weeks; 21 or 22 days total, including two holidays (New Years and MLK).
Wed Dec 28: Dropped off at USPS post office / passport facility, Atlanta, GA.
Wed Jan 4: Check electronically deposited. (Check # 3530 (Converted ACH) PASSPORTSERVICES PAYMENT 230103 0330 PCTB02000000)
Wed Jan 4 (same day): U.S. Passport Application Status website updated to show "Application Status: In Process" with an application locator number. Which didnt really help.
Tues Jan 17 - "Application Status: Shipped" along with USPS tracking number.
Projected receipt date Jan 18 or 19 (USPS 1-day delivery might be goofed coming from Tucson)
Note - never received automated email even though my email was both on the application and I registered before and after they entered in the system
Total processing time from USPS drop off to receipt was 3 weeks; 21 or 22 days total, including two holidays (New Years and MLK).
Jan 17, 2023 | 10:55 pm
#2208
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: AS; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Gold; NEXUS
Posts: 1,175
sullim4 Did you use any software to assist in taking passport pictures? Any tips or advice is highly appreciated to make sure what I take will comply.
My wife took a picture of me with an iPhone 14 Pro using the regular camera app and the online tool accepted it right off the bat. It did some cropping and editing but it all appeared fine to me.
Jan 19, 2023 | 8:31 am
#2209
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: CHS
Programs: DL Diamond, WN A-List, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 688
sullim4 Did you use any software to assist in taking passport pictures? Any tips or advice is highly appreciated to make sure what I take will comply.
Then I uploaded the photo to this website: https://www.idphoto4you.com/.
Next, upload the image it generates to Walgreens or CVS, and you have a handful of perfect passport photos for about $0.85 total.
Jan 24, 2023 | 12:52 pm
#2210
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: GM on VX, UA, AA, HA, AS, SY; Budget Fastbreak; GM with hotels; Waymo; Honda crv; iOS
Posts: 36,633
I finally renewed my expired passport today at home. Another 22 months and I would have had to apply for a new passport due to that 5-year limit.
the passport online wizard was pretty fun.
I’m doing both expedite and express postage. Plus $7.60 with PayPal ship now to send it flat rate priority. Let’s see how fast they cash that $209.53 check. It is amusing that the express 1-2 day shipping fee is $19.53 and not like $20.
the passport online wizard was pretty fun.
I’m doing both expedite and express postage. Plus $7.60 with PayPal ship now to send it flat rate priority. Let’s see how fast they cash that $209.53 check. It is amusing that the express 1-2 day shipping fee is $19.53 and not like $20.
Jan 29, 2023 | 5:20 pm
#2211
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: South of 90 N
Programs: B6 Mosaic, WN A-List
Posts: 566
I'm starting to wish I would have stuck with the old fasion mail in approach to my renewal. I submitted renewal online on 10/28 and it's still in a Received status, hasn't moved at all. I tried calling and they were no help, just said they can only see the same information I can. Not really sure where to turn to next.
Jan 30, 2023 | 7:06 am
#2212
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Chicago
Programs: Hyatt Glob; UA 1K; BonVoyage LTT (RIP SPG); HH Dia; JX Insighter
Posts: 1,660
1/26: Email notification that status updated to "in process"
1/28: Email notification that passport shipped
1/28 or 1/29: Delivered, with sent date on envelope shown as 1/27.
I called at some point last week to see if there was a status on it. The only way to get through to anyone is to choose the "travel within two weeks" option on the phone tree. The agent said the application was in process, when it still showed as "received" online. Their online system is clearly not synced to the real status, so the message that they can't see anything beyond what's listed online is flat wrong.
Feb 1, 2023 | 7:10 pm
#2213
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 12,049
December 9, 2022 (same Friday afternoon): status update via email: application received
December 14, 2022 (Wednesday): status update via email: application in process
February 1, 2023 (Wednesday): status update via email: new passport shipped; checked USPS, arriving before the end of the week (Saturday).
Regular process, normal shipment - within the current 6-9 weeks process time.
Feb 1, 2023 | 8:04 pm
#2214
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: South Bay LA
Programs: DL FO, AA PP
Posts: 1,255
December 13 - arrived from Intl trip
December 14 - sent in renewal by mail
December 19 - received and in process
February 1 - approved
stupidly chose routine service.. leaving for europe on the 16th. Havent seen many data points of approved other than on the ones where it goes approved and shipped in the same day. Since tomorrow is 2 weeks before, I was considering calling until I saw today it was approved. Now I wait!
Feb 2, 2023 | 6:49 am
#2215
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 561
500 Internal Server error while uploading photo
I was doing online renewal. Keep getting "500 Internal Server Error" when uploading my photo. I even used the "photo tool" (https://tsg.phototool.state.gov/photo) to generate a passport photo.
Any suggestions? Or just due to busy server?
Any suggestions? Or just due to busy server?
Feb 3, 2023 | 12:46 pm
#2216
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: UA 1K, DL PM, AA Nobody, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 645
January 17 - Submitted online passport renewal and paid for expedited processing and 1-2 day delivery
January 29- Received e-mail that my status was changed to "received" and they will begin reviewing it shortly. E-mail states they are processing expedited applications 3-5 weeks from date submitted.
Two questions:
I have international travel February 18, which is 4 1/2 weeks from submission (I found out about this after I submitted my renewal.) I know that my new passport might come in time, it might not. What are my options to be able to travel?
My current passport actually didn't expire until July, so if it is still usable, I could travel with it to Mexico. The renewal e-mail says it is deactivated. Any way anyone knows to reactivate it?
January 29- Received e-mail that my status was changed to "received" and they will begin reviewing it shortly. E-mail states they are processing expedited applications 3-5 weeks from date submitted.
Two questions:
I have international travel February 18, which is 4 1/2 weeks from submission (I found out about this after I submitted my renewal.) I know that my new passport might come in time, it might not. What are my options to be able to travel?
My current passport actually didn't expire until July, so if it is still usable, I could travel with it to Mexico. The renewal e-mail says it is deactivated. Any way anyone knows to reactivate it?
Feb 4, 2023 | 12:10 am
#2218
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH LTDiamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA MM LT1P
Posts: 21,136
Feb 4, 2023 | 5:15 am
#2219
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 229
Definitely schedule an in person visit with the Passport Office, just in case
15 years ago, it was pretty bad.. file 2 first time US Passports for wife and son on Feb 8 2007. ff to April 17 - zip, nada.. call, e mail etc.. nada.. a week later they tell me the passports are in the mail (fed ex or ups, not usps) and 3 days later, still nothing.. call and e mail again, just somewhat incoherent responses.. I schedule an appointment for April 30 (We had international flight reservations for May 2 for family and dog). Visit was successful, as we showed them everything, including our flight reservations and they promised they would be ready for pick up the next morning, May 1 (the day before we travel!). We go back the next day for pick up and nothing! nothing was ready.. my wife (with her South American Latin temper) just gave them a piece of her mind.. The Security (Feds) people came and wanted to take her out, but she refused.. I managed to speak with their people and we got another, more absolute promise they would be ready that afternoon. At that point, we had less than 24 hours before wheels up.. I went back again (3rd time in 2 days I made that 30 mile drive into Boston) found an open free parking there by Boston Garden, walked across Causeway Street, went inside the Tip and finally.. 2 new passports.. That was cutting it close..
We had no such problems getting their Brasilian passports, which was same day service!! My visa was still valid..
15 years ago, it was pretty bad.. file 2 first time US Passports for wife and son on Feb 8 2007. ff to April 17 - zip, nada.. call, e mail etc.. nada.. a week later they tell me the passports are in the mail (fed ex or ups, not usps) and 3 days later, still nothing.. call and e mail again, just somewhat incoherent responses.. I schedule an appointment for April 30 (We had international flight reservations for May 2 for family and dog). Visit was successful, as we showed them everything, including our flight reservations and they promised they would be ready for pick up the next morning, May 1 (the day before we travel!). We go back the next day for pick up and nothing! nothing was ready.. my wife (with her South American Latin temper) just gave them a piece of her mind.. The Security (Feds) people came and wanted to take her out, but she refused.. I managed to speak with their people and we got another, more absolute promise they would be ready that afternoon. At that point, we had less than 24 hours before wheels up.. I went back again (3rd time in 2 days I made that 30 mile drive into Boston) found an open free parking there by Boston Garden, walked across Causeway Street, went inside the Tip and finally.. 2 new passports.. That was cutting it close..
We had no such problems getting their Brasilian passports, which was same day service!! My visa was still valid..
Feb 6, 2023 | 5:55 am
#2220
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Pensacola, FL (PNS)
Programs: Delta 1.99M, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,716
The ATL passport office is awful, in the bad part of downtown, in a rundown building, with a decrepit parking garage... and took 3 trips to get it right (which was a poor job - my expanded passport was flagged in Toronto not long afterwards).
However, my Brazilian Visa was super-fast, super-nice people, in a nice part of town (Buckhead) with great parking...
(I could have done same-day or next-day too if I was in a panic - but scheduled out 2-3 weeks)