Mar 1, 22, 7:35 am
Last edit by: Moderator2
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: Charleston
40-42: New Orleans, LA
50: Los Angeles, CA
51: Miami
53: Seattle
54: Minneapolis
55: Dallas or Hot Springs, AR (?)
56: Detroit
57: San Francisco
58: Philadelphia, PA
61: Tucson
62: Tucson
67: San Juan, PR
68: Portsmouth, NH
69: Portsmouth, NH
71: US embassies/consulates abroad
74: Atlanta
75: St Albans, VT
76: San Diego, CA
77: Buffalo, NY
78: El Paso, TX
79: Houston, TX
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: Charleston
40-42: New Orleans, LA
50: Los Angeles, CA
51: Miami
53: Seattle
54: Minneapolis
55: Dallas or Hot Springs, AR (?)
56: Detroit
57: San Francisco
58: Philadelphia, PA
61: Tucson
62: Tucson
67: San Juan, PR
68: Portsmouth, NH
69: Portsmouth, NH
71: US embassies/consulates abroad
74: Atlanta
75: St Albans, VT
76: San Diego, CA
77: Buffalo, NY
78: El Paso, TX
79: Houston, TX
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 25, 23, 9:20 am
#2656
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
Posts: 5,462
Sep 25, 23, 4:38 pm
#2657
Join Date: Sep 2023
Posts: 1
Renewal for two minor Children
Regular service (did not pay extra to expedite)
Submitted application and paperwork for 2 minors at the Beverly Hills Library office Passport Acceptance Facility on August 19, 2023
Checks cleared on August 28, 2023
Received one of the passports on September 23, 2023 and the other on September 25, 2023
One took exactly 5 weeks. The other was 5 weeks and 2 days
Submitted application and paperwork for 2 minors at the Beverly Hills Library office Passport Acceptance Facility on August 19, 2023
Checks cleared on August 28, 2023
Received one of the passports on September 23, 2023 and the other on September 25, 2023
One took exactly 5 weeks. The other was 5 weeks and 2 days
Oct 2, 23, 7:17 pm
#2658
Moderator, Southwest Airlines and Choice Privileges
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 3,025
Even faster for Mrs. ftnoob:
Renewal application mailed to Irving: 11-Sep
Issued: 25-Sep (yes, 14 days!)
Received: 02-Oct
Regular service, not expedited
Renewal application mailed to Irving: 11-Sep
Issued: 25-Sep (yes, 14 days!)
Received: 02-Oct
Regular service, not expedited
Last edited by ftnoob; Oct 2, 23 at 7:19 pm Reason: typo
Oct 5, 23, 2:08 am
#2659
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 57
Applied for passport renewal in Bangkok on 8/31.
Received passport in mail on 10/5.
35 days total.
Glad I didn't listen and stay in a country that allows only 30 days during the process!
Last edited by mordakky; Oct 5, 23 at 4:36 am
Oct 5, 23, 7:03 pm
#2660
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,187
So let me get this straight Mordakky, You took advice that I gave on May 26th, at a time where everyone was complaining that it was taking 3-4 months or more to get passports in the US, and I reported that it could be done from any US mission abroad in less than a month (and yes sometimes magically in less, but I said definately a month).
In the ensuing 4.5 months, this subject has become a headline news issue in the US and DoS has had tons of congressional pressure to improve the situation, and as one can see just from this thread in recent posts that times have come down. So you waited 3-4 months to follow my advice and complain that it took you 35 days, and fail to also mention that during that time there were also 2 Federal Holidays one in Thailand and one in the United States. For that matter according to what you stated, you submitted on a Thursday, so your pouch did not go until at least Monday. Furthermore you say that you received it by mail, that cost you at least what, 5 days? Why did you not cite imminent travel, you could have picked it up the day it arrived instead of it arriving, them processing it, packaging it, sneding it to the post office, and then being send by Thai Royal Post? According to the Thai site, you can also renew via mail in BKK, did you do that as well? As they say straight that that can add 2 weeks to your process. Did you do all this solely so you could come back here and tell me that I was wrong? Make up something about "Glad I didn't listen and stay in a country that allows only 30 days during the process" Which country would that have been?
Perhaps there was something off about your application that they had to double or triple check?
Currently missions are promising no more than 6 weeks, but delivering most often within a month. I know someone who did it in the exact same time frame as you from the Mideast, and it took 22 days, someone from Malaysia, it took 26. Yes times have gotten slower as guess what? They have pulled people off of "mission" passports, to regular passports to help break the domestic logjam. In any case 35 days, 22 Business/work days (including getting it BY MAIL which probably ate up a quarter of those days, so in reality probably SEVENTEEN DAYS), is far superior to the 90 day+ that everyone was reporting when you last graced us with your presence.
In the ensuing 4.5 months, this subject has become a headline news issue in the US and DoS has had tons of congressional pressure to improve the situation, and as one can see just from this thread in recent posts that times have come down. So you waited 3-4 months to follow my advice and complain that it took you 35 days, and fail to also mention that during that time there were also 2 Federal Holidays one in Thailand and one in the United States. For that matter according to what you stated, you submitted on a Thursday, so your pouch did not go until at least Monday. Furthermore you say that you received it by mail, that cost you at least what, 5 days? Why did you not cite imminent travel, you could have picked it up the day it arrived instead of it arriving, them processing it, packaging it, sneding it to the post office, and then being send by Thai Royal Post? According to the Thai site, you can also renew via mail in BKK, did you do that as well? As they say straight that that can add 2 weeks to your process. Did you do all this solely so you could come back here and tell me that I was wrong? Make up something about "Glad I didn't listen and stay in a country that allows only 30 days during the process" Which country would that have been?
Perhaps there was something off about your application that they had to double or triple check?
Currently missions are promising no more than 6 weeks, but delivering most often within a month. I know someone who did it in the exact same time frame as you from the Mideast, and it took 22 days, someone from Malaysia, it took 26. Yes times have gotten slower as guess what? They have pulled people off of "mission" passports, to regular passports to help break the domestic logjam. In any case 35 days, 22 Business/work days (including getting it BY MAIL which probably ate up a quarter of those days, so in reality probably SEVENTEEN DAYS), is far superior to the 90 day+ that everyone was reporting when you last graced us with your presence.
Oct 5, 23, 9:20 pm
#2661
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 57
So let me get this straight Mordakky, You took advice that I gave on May 26th, at a time where everyone was complaining that it was taking 3-4 months or more to get passports in the US, and I reported that it could be done from any US mission abroad in less than a month (and yes sometimes magically in less, but I said definately a month).
In the ensuing 4.5 months, this subject has become a headline news issue in the US and DoS has had tons of congressional pressure to improve the situation, and as one can see just from this thread in recent posts that times have come down. So you waited 3-4 months to follow my advice and complain that it took you 35 days, and fail to also mention that during that time there were also 2 Federal Holidays one in Thailand and one in the United States. For that matter according to what you stated, you submitted on a Thursday, so your pouch did not go until at least Monday. Furthermore you say that you received it by mail, that cost you at least what, 5 days? Why did you not cite imminent travel, you could have picked it up the day it arrived instead of it arriving, them processing it, packaging it, sneding it to the post office, and then being send by Thai Royal Post? According to the Thai site, you can also renew via mail in BKK, did you do that as well? As they say straight that that can add 2 weeks to your process. Did you do all this solely so you could come back here and tell me that I was wrong? Make up something about "Glad I didn't listen and stay in a country that allows only 30 days during the process" Which country would that have been?
Perhaps there was something off about your application that they had to double or triple check?
Currently missions are promising no more than 6 weeks, but delivering most often within a month. I know someone who did it in the exact same time frame as you from the Mideast, and it took 22 days, someone from Malaysia, it took 26. Yes times have gotten slower as guess what? They have pulled people off of "mission" passports, to regular passports to help break the domestic logjam. In any case 35 days, 22 Business/work days (including getting it BY MAIL which probably ate up a quarter of those days, so in reality probably SEVENTEEN DAYS), is far superior to the 90 day+ that everyone was reporting when you last graced us with your presence.
In the ensuing 4.5 months, this subject has become a headline news issue in the US and DoS has had tons of congressional pressure to improve the situation, and as one can see just from this thread in recent posts that times have come down. So you waited 3-4 months to follow my advice and complain that it took you 35 days, and fail to also mention that during that time there were also 2 Federal Holidays one in Thailand and one in the United States. For that matter according to what you stated, you submitted on a Thursday, so your pouch did not go until at least Monday. Furthermore you say that you received it by mail, that cost you at least what, 5 days? Why did you not cite imminent travel, you could have picked it up the day it arrived instead of it arriving, them processing it, packaging it, sneding it to the post office, and then being send by Thai Royal Post? According to the Thai site, you can also renew via mail in BKK, did you do that as well? As they say straight that that can add 2 weeks to your process. Did you do all this solely so you could come back here and tell me that I was wrong? Make up something about "Glad I didn't listen and stay in a country that allows only 30 days during the process" Which country would that have been?
Perhaps there was something off about your application that they had to double or triple check?
Currently missions are promising no more than 6 weeks, but delivering most often within a month. I know someone who did it in the exact same time frame as you from the Mideast, and it took 22 days, someone from Malaysia, it took 26. Yes times have gotten slower as guess what? They have pulled people off of "mission" passports, to regular passports to help break the domestic logjam. In any case 35 days, 22 Business/work days (including getting it BY MAIL which probably ate up a quarter of those days, so in reality probably SEVENTEEN DAYS), is far superior to the 90 day+ that everyone was reporting when you last graced us with your presence.
Oct 6, 23, 1:07 pm
#2662
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,807
Any downsides to 14-days prior-to-travel option?
My brother has travel to Tahiti in 3 weeks and just discovered his and his wife's passports were expired. Is there a reason not to do the 14 day thing in-person? Does it ever not work out? The regional office is not far away (San Francisco) so the in-person stuff isn't a hardship. Just the nervousness of having something like that up in the air with so little time left, and this idea that you can't do anything until exactly 14 days prior to trip. The alternative would be one of the $500-$700 expediting services, which at least gives you some peace of mind that you're doing something right now (but at a very high cost). Thanks!
Oct 6, 23, 1:45 pm
#2664
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,807
Thanks, I let my brother know. Just discovered my (adult) daughter has an expired passport too. If I didn't 100% trust my wife, I'd be getting a DNA test to make sure she's really mine. I get concerned when there's two years left.
Oct 6, 23, 4:35 pm
#2665
Moderator: Avianca, Travel Photography, Travel Technology & USA
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Far western edge of the La-La Land City limits
Programs: Emeritus VIP Fromins Deli Encino grandfathered successor program - UA MM & HH Diamond
Posts: 3,705
Moderator's Comment
There certainly will be disagreements on State Department practices, but the thread will remain friendly. With nearly a million views over time, this specific subject attracts non-FlyerTalk members constantly (having been referred from Google and other search mechanisms). Let's ensure that potential new (and returning) members to FlyerTalk are immediately comfortable with what they read, and feel welcomed to post.
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Last edited by Moderator2; Oct 6, 23 at 4:42 pm
Oct 8, 23, 6:12 pm
#2666
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 37
US Consulate Vancouver Adult Passport Renewal Experience:
I'm a dual Canadian-US national and I recently went to the US Consulate in Vancouver to renew my adult US passport. I made the appointment online, as you must. I had an appointment at 1pm and there was no wait. The guy at the window was friendly. He did not ask why I needed to renew or why I was doing it in person. I asked what would happen if I had to travel urgently to the States and he said that they keep my old passport there on the premises, so in an emergency, I could go get it and use it to fly to the States (it has a couple of months on it still). But, he said they'd probably mail the new one to me within three weeks. Also, he said that crossing the land border would be possible with my US birth certificate. I'll update when I get my new passport and give the total days from application to receipt of new passport.
I'm a dual Canadian-US national and I recently went to the US Consulate in Vancouver to renew my adult US passport. I made the appointment online, as you must. I had an appointment at 1pm and there was no wait. The guy at the window was friendly. He did not ask why I needed to renew or why I was doing it in person. I asked what would happen if I had to travel urgently to the States and he said that they keep my old passport there on the premises, so in an emergency, I could go get it and use it to fly to the States (it has a couple of months on it still). But, he said they'd probably mail the new one to me within three weeks. Also, he said that crossing the land border would be possible with my US birth certificate. I'll update when I get my new passport and give the total days from application to receipt of new passport.
Oct 8, 23, 11:58 pm
#2667
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .56 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 14,269
Of course, if you know you're not travelling, and finances are a consideration, is it wise to renew one's passport early?
Oct 10, 23, 3:06 pm
#2668
Join Date: May 2005
Location: MIA/SJU/MCO
Programs: AA LT PLT; DL GLD, UA nothing, B6 Mosaic; Emerald Club Executive
Posts: 3,331
Starting a new post for a new passport.
My son's first passport. No international travel planned for him until January, so chose regular.
8/2/2023: Applications + Fees + Passport pic submitted at Clerk of Court's office
8/9/2023: Online status: In Process. Shows it was received 8/8/2023.
9/29/2023: Online Status: Shipped
9/30/2023: Tracking number appears in USPS Informed Delivery
10/2/2023: "Supporting Documents Mailed"
10/3/2023: Passport card mailed out
10/4/2023: Passport book arrived
10/5/2023: Envelope from US State Department Charleston Passport Center appeared in USPS Informed Delivery for following day's mail
10/6/2023: Son's Birth Certificate Returned
10/9/2023: Another envelope from US Gov in Charleston appeared in USPS Informed Delivery for following day's mail
10/10/2023: Passport Card arrived
My son's first passport. No international travel planned for him until January, so chose regular.
8/2/2023: Applications + Fees + Passport pic submitted at Clerk of Court's office
8/9/2023: Online status: In Process. Shows it was received 8/8/2023.
9/29/2023: Online Status: Shipped
9/30/2023: Tracking number appears in USPS Informed Delivery
10/2/2023: "Supporting Documents Mailed"
10/3/2023: Passport card mailed out
10/4/2023: Passport book arrived
10/5/2023: Envelope from US State Department Charleston Passport Center appeared in USPS Informed Delivery for following day's mail
10/6/2023: Son's Birth Certificate Returned
10/9/2023: Another envelope from US Gov in Charleston appeared in USPS Informed Delivery for following day's mail
10/10/2023: Passport Card arrived
For those interested, it was locator 35.
Oct 12, 23, 7:38 pm
#2669
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 30,701
Daughter renewed hers by going in person to the USPS, as it was her first renewal after age 18.
Appointment was on August 11
Passportstatus.state.gov claims it was mailed October 7
USPS tracking says they actually received it October 10
Delivered home October 11
So appointment to receipt was 61 days - 8 weeks, 5 days. Six days quicker than mine a few months ago.
Old passport return - October 19.
Appointment was on August 11
Passportstatus.state.gov claims it was mailed October 7
USPS tracking says they actually received it October 10
Delivered home October 11
So appointment to receipt was 61 days - 8 weeks, 5 days. Six days quicker than mine a few months ago.
Old passport return - October 19.
Last edited by CPRich; Oct 21, 23 at 11:34 pm
Oct 13, 23, 6:54 am
#2670
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,187
Current data point, from Eastern Europe. In person appointment made for Consulate on September 14th (appointment was made online, for about a week in the future i.e. on around Sep 5th - very easy to get if one actually needs to get it done quickly, do not accept "mail in" options if available, and you have haste, need to have your old passport in the interim, etc). Informed that passport was ready for collection at Consulate on October 11th, passport picked up today October 13th. Incidentally is the New laminate passport for those interested. so EXACTLY 19 Business Days (there was a one day Fed holiday in there).
