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)
Mar 1, 2023 | 9:02 pm
#2251
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 3,435
keep us posted on progress. We have some time until next month for the passport to arrive but this thread is helpful for what to do and who to contact and provide some perspective on timing.
Mar 2, 2023 | 7:04 am
#2252
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
Call up the Passport Agency appointment number in the wee hours of the morning for same-day appointments? Sometimes that can work out faster/better than dealing with Congressional offices whose staff and interns have vacation schedules of their own that slow down things.
One way to get at the root of the problem is to reduce the seasonal demand for passports. The elimination of the US WHTI would help with that at this time when intra-hemisphere travel is a big part of it, but there is no big drive to fix that.
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 2, 2023 | 2:36 pm
#2253
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,258
Call up the Passport Agency appointment number in the wee hours of the morning for same-day appointments? Sometimes that can work out faster/better than dealing with Congressional offices whose staff and interns have vacation schedules of their own that slow down things.
I've been calling my Rep & Senator every day for the last 3 days, just polite answers that they haven't heard back. I went in person to my Rep's office yesterday as well. Today I was told that someone at my Rep was calling the LA Passport Office every 10 minutes, and that voicemail was full.
My travel is in less than 48 hours.
Mar 2, 2023 | 3:25 pm
#2254
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 42
I waited 3 hours on the phone only to be told there were none available in the state of California
I've been calling my Rep & Senator every day for the last 3 days, just polite answers that they haven't heard back. I went in person to my Rep's office yesterday as well. Today I was told that someone at my Rep was calling the LA Passport Office every 10 minutes, and that voicemail was full.
My travel is in less than 48 hours.
I've been calling my Rep & Senator every day for the last 3 days, just polite answers that they haven't heard back. I went in person to my Rep's office yesterday as well. Today I was told that someone at my Rep was calling the LA Passport Office every 10 minutes, and that voicemail was full.
My travel is in less than 48 hours.
But they book either 5 days or 14 days ahead of time so this method might not be helpful if you need it in the next 2 days. The senator might be the only one who can help or if there is a last minute cancellation.
Last edited by kiwinuked; Mar 2, 2023 at 4:26 pm
Mar 4, 2023 | 12:09 pm
#2256
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 42
Online Renewal Timeline:
Passport Renewal option: Online Submission, Large Passport Book (52 pages), expedited processing, expedited shipping
Submitted Online - 01/09/23
Email - Your Passport Application Status – Received - 01/11/23
Email - Your Passport Application Status – In Process - 03/02/23
Email - Your Passport Application Status – Shipped - 03/04/23
Using the tracking number from the online portal (Online Passport Renewal - MyTravelGov) I saw that the passport was sent on 03/03/23 and is to be delivered by today (03/04/23).
Pretty ridiculous that they said this would take 3-5 weeks for expedited and 6-9 weeks for routine applications. During the online passport renewal process they also asked for you to pick your potential trip date and if it was earlier than 6 weeks they wouldn't let you submit it online. I picked a date that was 6 weeks out for the expedited option. Their phone number to get the in person passport renewal is a joke too. The online renewal people have to go through two operators to reach someone who could help. Also the website is horrible and goes down frequently.
TLDR:
At this current time DO NOT DO THE ONLINE RENEWAL if you need your passport within the next 2-3 months.
Passport Renewal option: Online Submission, Large Passport Book (52 pages), expedited processing, expedited shipping
Submitted Online - 01/09/23
Email - Your Passport Application Status – Received - 01/11/23
Email - Your Passport Application Status – In Process - 03/02/23
Email - Your Passport Application Status – Shipped - 03/04/23
Using the tracking number from the online portal (Online Passport Renewal - MyTravelGov) I saw that the passport was sent on 03/03/23 and is to be delivered by today (03/04/23).
Pretty ridiculous that they said this would take 3-5 weeks for expedited and 6-9 weeks for routine applications. During the online passport renewal process they also asked for you to pick your potential trip date and if it was earlier than 6 weeks they wouldn't let you submit it online. I picked a date that was 6 weeks out for the expedited option. Their phone number to get the in person passport renewal is a joke too. The online renewal people have to go through two operators to reach someone who could help. Also the website is horrible and goes down frequently.
TLDR:
At this current time DO NOT DO THE ONLINE RENEWAL if you need your passport within the next 2-3 months.
Mar 4, 2023 | 5:08 pm
#2259
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,258
Mar 4, 2023 | 5:21 pm
#2260
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SFO, OAK
Programs: UA GS 1MM, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 179
Mar 4, 2023 | 9:22 pm
#2261
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 558
Online Renewal Timeline:
Passport Renewal option: Online Submission, Large Passport Book (52 pages), expedited processing, expedited shipping
Submitted Online - 01/09/23
Email - Your Passport Application Status Received - 01/11/23
Email - Your Passport Application Status In Process - 03/02/23
Email - Your Passport Application Status Shipped - 03/04/23
Using the tracking number from the online portal (Online Passport Renewal - MyTravelGov) I saw that the passport was sent on 03/03/23 and is to be delivered by today (03/04/23).
Pretty ridiculous that they said this would take 3-5 weeks for expedited and 6-9 weeks for routine applications. During the online passport renewal process they also asked for you to pick your potential trip date and if it was earlier than 6 weeks they wouldn't let you submit it online. I picked a date that was 6 weeks out for the expedited option. Their phone number to get the in person passport renewal is a joke too. The online renewal people have to go through two operators to reach someone who could help. Also the website is horrible and goes down frequently.
TLDR:
At this current time DO NOT DO THE ONLINE RENEWAL if you need your passport within the next 2-3 months.
Passport Renewal option: Online Submission, Large Passport Book (52 pages), expedited processing, expedited shipping
Submitted Online - 01/09/23
Email - Your Passport Application Status Received - 01/11/23
Email - Your Passport Application Status In Process - 03/02/23
Email - Your Passport Application Status Shipped - 03/04/23
Using the tracking number from the online portal (Online Passport Renewal - MyTravelGov) I saw that the passport was sent on 03/03/23 and is to be delivered by today (03/04/23).
Pretty ridiculous that they said this would take 3-5 weeks for expedited and 6-9 weeks for routine applications. During the online passport renewal process they also asked for you to pick your potential trip date and if it was earlier than 6 weeks they wouldn't let you submit it online. I picked a date that was 6 weeks out for the expedited option. Their phone number to get the in person passport renewal is a joke too. The online renewal people have to go through two operators to reach someone who could help. Also the website is horrible and goes down frequently.
TLDR:
At this current time DO NOT DO THE ONLINE RENEWAL if you need your passport within the next 2-3 months.
You can apply for the refund of expediate passport fee. (https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...st/refund.html)
From the page:Our expedited service commitment is to process your passport application within 35 business days (Mondays-Fridays, excludes federal holidays) from the date we receive your application at a passport agency or center (or from the date you request an upgrade from routine to expedited service).
Please note that expedited service can take 5-7 weeks. Our processing times begin the day we receive your application at a passport agency or center, not the day you mail your application or apply for a passport at a local acceptance facility.
However, I think before 2/6, the process time of expediated service was 3-5 weeks.
Mar 5, 2023 | 11:28 am
#2262
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: AS; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Gold; NEXUS
Posts: 1,175
I'm now at 10 weeks, going on 11 weeks this coming Wednesday after being quoted 6-9 when I applied back in December.
My NEXUS renewal from October at this point has had a faster turnaround time. I don't know who is running the show at State, but they either need to ask for more money or clean house on the passport side of things and get someone in there that knows what they are doing. The long turnaround time isn't as frustrating as the lack of communication and the oft-broken online portal. Even a mass email or a website update to anyone that went over the originally quoted time with an updated timeline would make me feel somewhat better.
My NEXUS renewal from October at this point has had a faster turnaround time. I don't know who is running the show at State, but they either need to ask for more money or clean house on the passport side of things and get someone in there that knows what they are doing. The long turnaround time isn't as frustrating as the lack of communication and the oft-broken online portal. Even a mass email or a website update to anyone that went over the originally quoted time with an updated timeline would make me feel somewhat better.
Mar 5, 2023 | 1:03 pm
#2263
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
I'm now at 10 weeks, going on 11 weeks this coming Wednesday after being quoted 6-9 when I applied back in December.
My NEXUS renewal from October at this point has had a faster turnaround time. I don't know who is running the show at State, but they either need to ask for more money or clean house on the passport side of things and get someone in there that knows what they are doing. The long turnaround time isn't as frustrating as the lack of communication and the oft-broken online portal. Even a mass email or a website update to anyone that went over the originally quoted time with an updated timeline would make me feel somewhat better.
My NEXUS renewal from October at this point has had a faster turnaround time. I don't know who is running the show at State, but they either need to ask for more money or clean house on the passport side of things and get someone in there that knows what they are doing. The long turnaround time isn't as frustrating as the lack of communication and the oft-broken online portal. Even a mass email or a website update to anyone that went over the originally quoted time with an updated timeline would make me feel somewhat better.
It’s been sort of a mush show to some extent or another for decades. If State asks for more money to avoid massive seasonal backlogs, it will come with much higher passport application fees. Given that I have no problem getting new/renewal passports back within 2 weeks of application without paying an expedite fee, I have no desire to see higher application fees. One way to reduce these periodical massive backlogs and not expedite and exacerbate the fee hikes is to see US passports being less needed for cross-border air travel.
Mar 6, 2023 | 3:53 pm
#2264
Join Date: May 2008
Location: BDL
Programs: Marriott Plat Elite, Formerly SPG Plat 100), HHonors Gold
Posts: 30
Status Update Message: IT Error In Tracking Early Feb Submissions
PSA: This new error message popped up this morning for me.
This message did not appear through last Friday when my application status continually showed “not available”.
This afternoon, my application status is finally showing as follows:
Frustrating that USPS tracking showed my renewal application received on 2/8/23 vs the 3/5 listed in status.Apparently, the 5-7 week “expedited” clock didn’t begin until almost 25 days after the USPS delivered.
I used the online form to fill out application and mailed in on 2/6/23 for Large passport book and card. Paid for Expedited service and delivery.
Locator number is 69: National Passport Center in Portsmouth, NH 03801
No status update email was received. Bottom of application status page this afternoon suddenly has my email address filled in but says I didn’t sign up for email. I just registered my email addy a second time for updates. What poor communications. Will report when status updates to approved and passport is received.
Jane
Application Status
Note for customers who applied in person or renewed by mail from February 6-13
We are resolving a technical issue that may prevent you from getting your passport status online. If you see a status of “Not Available” and applied in early February, please know that we are working on your application. Continue to check your status online. If you need your passport for urgent travel in the next 14 days, go to our Get My Passport Fast page for more information.
Note for customers who applied in person or renewed by mail from February 6-13
We are resolving a technical issue that may prevent you from getting your passport status online. If you see a status of “Not Available” and applied in early February, please know that we are working on your application. Continue to check your status online. If you need your passport for urgent travel in the next 14 days, go to our Get My Passport Fast page for more information.
This afternoon, my application status is finally showing as follows:
In Process
The U.S. Department of State has received your application for your passport book and card on 03/05/2023. We're now reviewing your application and supporting documents.
You requested expedited service when you applied. Expedited service can take 5-7 weeks. Our processing times begin the day we receive your application at a passport agency or center, not the day you mail your application or apply at a local acceptance facility.
The U.S. Department of State has received your application for your passport book and card on 03/05/2023. We're now reviewing your application and supporting documents.
You requested expedited service when you applied. Expedited service can take 5-7 weeks. Our processing times begin the day we receive your application at a passport agency or center, not the day you mail your application or apply at a local acceptance facility.
I used the online form to fill out application and mailed in on 2/6/23 for Large passport book and card. Paid for Expedited service and delivery.
Locator number is 69: National Passport Center in Portsmouth, NH 03801
No status update email was received. Bottom of application status page this afternoon suddenly has my email address filled in but says I didn’t sign up for email. I just registered my email addy a second time for updates. What poor communications. Will report when status updates to approved and passport is received.
Jane
Mar 6, 2023 | 4:26 pm
#2265
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: AY Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 8,612
Online Renewal Timeline:
Passport Renewal option: Online Submission, Large Passport Book (52 pages), expedited processing, expedited shipping
Submitted Online - 01/09/23
Email - Your Passport Application Status – Received - 01/11/23
Email - Your Passport Application Status – In Process - 03/02/23
Email - Your Passport Application Status – Shipped - 03/04/23
Using the tracking number from the online portal (Online Passport Renewal - MyTravelGov) I saw that the passport was sent on 03/03/23 and is to be delivered by today (03/04/23).
Pretty ridiculous that they said this would take 3-5 weeks for expedited and 6-9 weeks for routine applications. During the online passport renewal process they also asked for you to pick your potential trip date and if it was earlier than 6 weeks they wouldn't let you submit it online. I picked a date that was 6 weeks out for the expedited option. Their phone number to get the in person passport renewal is a joke too. The online renewal people have to go through two operators to reach someone who could help. Also the website is horrible and goes down frequently.
TLDR:
At this current time DO NOT DO THE ONLINE RENEWAL if you need your passport within the next 2-3 months.
Passport Renewal option: Online Submission, Large Passport Book (52 pages), expedited processing, expedited shipping
Submitted Online - 01/09/23
Email - Your Passport Application Status – Received - 01/11/23
Email - Your Passport Application Status – In Process - 03/02/23
Email - Your Passport Application Status – Shipped - 03/04/23
Using the tracking number from the online portal (Online Passport Renewal - MyTravelGov) I saw that the passport was sent on 03/03/23 and is to be delivered by today (03/04/23).
Pretty ridiculous that they said this would take 3-5 weeks for expedited and 6-9 weeks for routine applications. During the online passport renewal process they also asked for you to pick your potential trip date and if it was earlier than 6 weeks they wouldn't let you submit it online. I picked a date that was 6 weeks out for the expedited option. Their phone number to get the in person passport renewal is a joke too. The online renewal people have to go through two operators to reach someone who could help. Also the website is horrible and goes down frequently.
TLDR:
At this current time DO NOT DO THE ONLINE RENEWAL if you need your passport within the next 2-3 months.
I guess I might see movement late this week if the wait and processing timelines are the same.