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)
Feb 24, 2023 | 8:54 am
#2236
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SFO, OAK
Programs: UA GS 1MM, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 179
Too late for me, but the wiki looks good for what to do for an in person appointment. They told me recently that they changed the rule to a flight before 5 business days for in person processing but not sure if that is really true. (just heard the new rules on Wednesday Feb 22) You could always try to get an appointment as soon as you can with a flight (book an award flight or cancel a flight after booking witching 24 hours) that fits the criteria once you are able to get the appointment. But the online people have to go through two sets of operators to get an appointment while the people who are mailing the passport in only have to go through one. Seems like a big mess
Feb 26, 2023 | 2:49 am
#2237
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 42
I needed it for mid/late february, but everything is booked up until early march by now. Yes, you can call and get an in person appointment for pending online applications too.
Feb 26, 2023 | 8:07 am
#2238
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,362
First-time passport (non-expedited) arrived in just under 10 weeks. A week later and I am still waiting for my citizenship certificate. Will not be pleased if the Passport Office loses it because it will cost me $550 to get a replacement.
Feb 26, 2023 | 11:04 pm
#2239
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.
Im doing both expedite and express postage. Plus $7.60 with PayPal ship now to send it flat rate priority. Lets 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.
Im doing both expedite and express postage. Plus $7.60 with PayPal ship now to send it flat rate priority. Lets 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.
passport arrived via usps Express mail (priority express) on Tuesday 2/21 and I just signed it and now letting the ink dry :-)
Feb 27, 2023 | 9:59 am
#2240
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 42
It said it might take up to 8 weeks and if it has been longer than that to contact them. Hopefully you get it sooner than that!
I applied for a passport book only: You may receive your newly-issued passport and your citizenship documents in two separate mailings. You may wait 8 weeks after receiving your passport before you receive a second mailing with your citizenship documents. We can send your passport book via a 1-2 day delivery service.
I have been waiting more than 8 weeks and have not received my supporting documents. What should I do?
It may take 8 weeks after you receive your new passport for your supporting documents (e.g. birth certificate or previous passport) to arrive. If you have been waiting more than 8 weeks, contact the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 to report that you have not received your documents.
I have been waiting more than 8 weeks and have not received my supporting documents. What should I do?
It may take 8 weeks after you receive your new passport for your supporting documents (e.g. birth certificate or previous passport) to arrive. If you have been waiting more than 8 weeks, contact the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 to report that you have not received your documents.
Feb 28, 2023 | 12:39 am
#2242
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,077
It's typically not taking as long as they say it could take with the return of citizenship evidence.
If you've already been waiting for a week after getting your passport in hand, I wouldn't really even start to get concerned about the citizenship certificate getting lost unless an additional 9-12 days pass and it's still not around. It would be right after the 8 weeks where I would be concerned and want answers.
If you've already been waiting for a week after getting your passport in hand, I wouldn't really even start to get concerned about the citizenship certificate getting lost unless an additional 9-12 days pass and it's still not around. It would be right after the 8 weeks where I would be concerned and want answers.
Feb 28, 2023 | 12:47 am
#2243
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,258
Jan 21: Submitted online renewal, expedited + express delivery. State sends me immediate receipt with promised timeline of 3-5 weeks.
Jan 23: Changed to In Process
Feb 25: 5 weeks pass
Feb 27: starting to panic, call State. No updates available, no appointments available in the entire state of California
Feb 28: full panic, travel is in 4 days.
I've contacted my local Rep and state Senator (Feinstein) to try to get an in-person appointment in LA this week..
Jan 23: Changed to In Process
Feb 25: 5 weeks pass
Feb 27: starting to panic, call State. No updates available, no appointments available in the entire state of California
Feb 28: full panic, travel is in 4 days.
I've contacted my local Rep and state Senator (Feinstein) to try to get an in-person appointment in LA this week..
Feb 28, 2023 | 2:29 am
#2244
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,077
If the US got rid of the US Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (US WHTI) and returned to allowing US citizens to fly out of and back into the US without passports -- used to be a US driving license + US birth certificate was sufficient for a lot of intra-hemisphere air travel from the US -- the worst of this seasonal delay mess to get US passports would be history. Keep US WHTI in mind when contacting your US Congressional delegates seeking passport assistance or even otherwise wanting this passport mess to improve without a corresponding increase in passport fees.
Feb 28, 2023 | 6:43 am
#2246
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN, FL350
Programs: IHTFP, AS 100k, ex-AA EXP, ex-UA 1K, Ex-BD/A6/AC *G (RIP)
Posts: 518
My online app was on Jan 12, renewal, expedited service, large book.
I wonder how yours got through so quickly? Did you request a standard or large book?
Feb 28, 2023 | 10:10 am
#2247
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 42
Really regret applying online and the US government seems not ready to do this online renewals at this time
Last edited by kiwinuked; Feb 28, 2023 at 1:10 pm
Feb 28, 2023 | 10:10 am
#2248
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 42
Jan 21: Submitted online renewal, expedited + express delivery. State sends me immediate receipt with promised timeline of 3-5 weeks.
Jan 23: Changed to In Process
Feb 25: 5 weeks pass
Feb 27: starting to panic, call State. No updates available, no appointments available in the entire state of California
Feb 28: full panic, travel is in 4 days.
I've contacted my local Rep and state Senator (Feinstein) to try to get an in-person appointment in LA this week..
Jan 23: Changed to In Process
Feb 25: 5 weeks pass
Feb 27: starting to panic, call State. No updates available, no appointments available in the entire state of California
Feb 28: full panic, travel is in 4 days.
I've contacted my local Rep and state Senator (Feinstein) to try to get an in-person appointment in LA this week..
Mar 1, 2023 | 11:00 am
#2249
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN, FL350
Programs: IHTFP, AS 100k, ex-AA EXP, ex-UA 1K, Ex-BD/A6/AC *G (RIP)
Posts: 518
I emailed one of my senators yesterday about the issue. Got a response in under 7 minutes and had a confirmed appointment 10 minutes after that.
When senators and reps all have custom web forms for reporting passport issues, you know the system is *really* broken. If only they could just fix the root cause. What a waste of everyone's time and resources.
When senators and reps all have custom web forms for reporting passport issues, you know the system is *really* broken. If only they could just fix the root cause. What a waste of everyone's time and resources.
Mar 1, 2023 | 3:08 pm
#2250
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,258
I emailed one of my senators yesterday about the issue. Got a response in under 7 minutes and had a confirmed appointment 10 minutes after that.
When senators and reps all have custom web forms for reporting passport issues, you know the system is *really* broken. If only they could just fix the root cause. What a waste of everyone's time and resources.
When senators and reps all have custom web forms for reporting passport issues, you know the system is *really* broken. If only they could just fix the root cause. What a waste of everyone's time and resources.