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)
May 22, 2023 | 3:35 am
#2491
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
There are now very few US passports left to expire with extra page inserts already in them, but some extra page passports are still being seen by passport control types as a result of there still being some valid visas on expired and yet to expire US passports with these extra pages. Last couple of years, the extra page passports have resulted in a bit more extra scrutiny at passport control checkpoints than used to be the case several years ago.
May 22, 2023 | 6:32 am
#2492
Join Date: May 2023
Posts: 2
Passport Renewal Help
Sorry if this is not the correct place to post this. If anyone can help me I would greatly appreciate it. I sent out my package with application with photo, money order, and old passport - I just realized that I made the money order out to National Passport Processing Center and not to the Department of State. Im so annoyed with myself for overseeing this.
Does anyone have any suggestions or think it will be any issue being that the money order is with my application which has all my correct info on it. The money order in the from section has my name and address but I did not include birthdate as it states to write. This is all on my application though. Thank you for any suggestions. I am going to try to call the customer service center if that helps any.
Until then Ill keep checking the status and hopefully it will all be fine.
I am in the US, and the package has already been delivered to the Passport Processing Center in Philadelphia. Tried calling main number for Passport Services and on Monday mornings the call volume is so high it said they couldn't even take the call at the moment.
Looking for some reassurance please
my anxiety is eating at me
Does anyone have any suggestions or think it will be any issue being that the money order is with my application which has all my correct info on it. The money order in the from section has my name and address but I did not include birthdate as it states to write. This is all on my application though. Thank you for any suggestions. I am going to try to call the customer service center if that helps any.
Until then Ill keep checking the status and hopefully it will all be fine.
I am in the US, and the package has already been delivered to the Passport Processing Center in Philadelphia. Tried calling main number for Passport Services and on Monday mornings the call volume is so high it said they couldn't even take the call at the moment.
Looking for some reassurance please
my anxiety is eating at me
Last edited by TravelingFlowers77; May 22, 2023 at 9:04 am
May 22, 2023 | 9:53 am
#2493
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Chicago
Programs: Hyatt Glob; UA 1K; BonVoyage LTT (RIP SPG); HH Dia; JX Insighter
Posts: 1,660
Extra page inserts are no longer allowed by the USG, as that service option ended several years ago.
There are now very few US passports left to expire with extra page inserts already in them, but some extra page passports are still being seen by passport control types as a result of there still being some valid visas on expired and yet to expire US passports with these extra pages. Last couple of years, the extra page passports have resulted in a bit more extra scrutiny at passport control checkpoints than used to be the case several years ago.
There are now very few US passports left to expire with extra page inserts already in them, but some extra page passports are still being seen by passport control types as a result of there still being some valid visas on expired and yet to expire US passports with these extra pages. Last couple of years, the extra page passports have resulted in a bit more extra scrutiny at passport control checkpoints than used to be the case several years ago.
Is this recent? I was able to order a large book in my online renewal application 12/20/22.
May 22, 2023 | 10:16 am
#2494
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
Posts: 5,602
May 22, 2023 | 10:30 am
#2495
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Chicago
Programs: Hyatt Glob; UA 1K; BonVoyage LTT (RIP SPG); HH Dia; JX Insighter
Posts: 1,660
May 22, 2023 | 10:11 pm
#2498
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: West Coast
Programs: AA-EXP (2.6mm), UA-1P, SQ-PPS, EK-Silver, LH-FTL, SPG-Platinum, HH-Gold
Posts: 80
Thanks for sharing the dates!
Our Payment Date is May 3, so this week we are at three weeks (but at center /69)
May 24, 2023 | 6:22 pm
#2499
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 291
I can't recall anymore if the ESTA requires providing the place of birth.
Alex
Last edited by crescatfloreat; May 24, 2023 at 6:51 pm Reason: BoJo link from the internets
May 25, 2023 | 12:33 am
#2500
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
Is this possible and/or allowed? Will the airline not query the (likely) place of birth in the USA noted in the other passport? I believe this happened to BoJo a few years back...
I can't recall anymore if the ESTA requires providing the place of birth.
Alex
I can't recall anymore if the ESTA requires providing the place of birth.
Alex
Even having a listed US place of birth on a non-US passport doesn’t guarantee that the person is a US citizen — and sometimes even CBP needs a reminder of that. ESTA does require a place of birth.
For years and years during the ESTA era — BoJo’s incident was pre-ESTA — CBP used to even have language on its website noting this possibility of US dual-citizens doing this. CBP eventually scrubbed all such language from its website. Even after that language was removed, it has continued to be done.
May 25, 2023 | 3:40 pm
#2501
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Montebello, CA, USA
Posts: 2,556
Just for comparison. italdesign mailed 3/23, expedited, 69 locator, approved ~5/1.
Mine was mailed out on 3/25 (and 3/24 was the date that changed the processing time to 10-13 weeks), passport renewal, regular (not expedited), locator 69, and mine is showing in transit by the USPS. (I signed up the automatic notification from the dept of state, but haven't received one yet. However, when I logged in after the USPS notification, it does say approved today, 5/25.)
So my regular processing time was ~9 weeks, including transit on both ends, but it was a renewal so I assume those are a bit faster than a new application.
Edit: This morning when I checked, 5/25, the passport side said approved and I should expect it 5/30. First thing in the morning, USPS showed it scanned in Tucson yesterday and said I would receive it tomorrow. I actually received it today in SoCal, so Priority Mail was quite fast.
Mine was mailed out on 3/25 (and 3/24 was the date that changed the processing time to 10-13 weeks), passport renewal, regular (not expedited), locator 69, and mine is showing in transit by the USPS. (I signed up the automatic notification from the dept of state, but haven't received one yet. However, when I logged in after the USPS notification, it does say approved today, 5/25.)
So my regular processing time was ~9 weeks, including transit on both ends, but it was a renewal so I assume those are a bit faster than a new application.
Edit: This morning when I checked, 5/25, the passport side said approved and I should expect it 5/30. First thing in the morning, USPS showed it scanned in Tucson yesterday and said I would receive it tomorrow. I actually received it today in SoCal, so Priority Mail was quite fast.
Last edited by wcj1; May 25, 2023 at 7:30 pm
May 25, 2023 | 3:43 pm
#2502
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: DL Silver, AS MVP
Posts: 17
Here's the timeline I just experienced for passport renewal this Spring.
tl;dr Mailed out on March 16 (via Canada Post), renewal of an emergency passport, regular / not expedited, marked as mailed back on May 25 — exactly 10 weeks after initial mailing.
I'm a US citizen living in Canada, and this might be useful for others in similar situations.
tl;dr Mailed out on March 16 (via Canada Post), renewal of an emergency passport, regular / not expedited, marked as mailed back on May 25 — exactly 10 weeks after initial mailing.
I'm a US citizen living in Canada, and this might be useful for others in similar situations.
- In Summer 2022, I got a one-year limited-validity/emergency passport from a US consulate thanks to advice in this thread; due to various immigration and travel constraints, I hadn't been able to do a normal renewal.
- On March 16th (2023), I put my limited-validity passport in the mail (via Canada Post) with the DS-82 renewal form; no fee is required for replacing an unexpired limited-validity passport with a full-validity one.
- Within days after I had mailed it, the State Department bumped its Routine Processing time from "8 to 11 weeks" up to "10 to 13 weeks"… urk 😳
- On March 30th (14 days after mailing), the Passport Status page site marked my application as "In Process"
- Locator number 35
- There were no updates to the status until May 25th, and I was repeatedly unable to reach the National Passport Information Center due to high call volume.
- In the meantime I travelled back and forth to the US twice (by land… can't fly without a valid passport or Nexus card).
- On May 23rd (68 days after mailing, 54 days after "In Process"), I contacted my Congressional representative’s office, explaining my summer travel plans and passport processing delays. They promptly got back to me, but with a somewhat formulaic response, mostly just offered to help me figure out how to make the payment to expedite it.
- On May 25th (70 days after mailing, 56 days after "In Process"), the Passport Status page changed to "Mailed via US First Class Mail"… whew 🙌
- On June 2 (78 days after mailing, 64 days after "In Process", 8 days after "Mailed via US First Class Mail"), I received the new passport.
Last edited by dlenski; Jun 5, 2023 at 11:41 am
May 25, 2023 | 5:53 pm
#2504
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: DL Silver, AS MVP
Posts: 17
I was going to renew my passport at the consulate anyway, in hopes of getting it back faster, but then the night before the appointment they sent me an email urging me to renew by mail, and claiming that it would be just as fast.
Do you think the consulate is being misleading about this, in order to reduce their local workload? Would it actually have been a lot faster if I had gone to the consulate?
May 26, 2023 | 3:39 am
#2505
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 64
My passport only has 3 empty pages left, so I will have to renew it soon.
I've been traveling nonstop for 1.5 years and haven't been to the USA since then.
I change hotels/Airbnbs every 1-4 weeks.
1) I'll need to stay in a country for a minimum of 2 months in order to make sure I get my new passport right? I think 1 month would be too risky
2) On the renewal application can I use the US Embassy as my mailing address in whatever country I'm in?
Or should I ask the hotel front desk if I can use their mailing address even after I've already left the hotel?
I've been traveling nonstop for 1.5 years and haven't been to the USA since then.
I change hotels/Airbnbs every 1-4 weeks.
1) I'll need to stay in a country for a minimum of 2 months in order to make sure I get my new passport right? I think 1 month would be too risky
2) On the renewal application can I use the US Embassy as my mailing address in whatever country I'm in?
Or should I ask the hotel front desk if I can use their mailing address even after I've already left the hotel?