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 27, 2021 | 4:38 pm
#886
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott/Hilton Gold
Posts: 33
Jan 27, 2021 | 4:42 pm
#887
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 95
I remember last time When I applied for a minor passport for my son at the local library I receive it 10 days after. I think they sent it to the local passport agency. I wonder where USPS sends those applications.
Jan 27, 2021 | 5:22 pm
#888
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: DL, UA, AA, VS
Posts: 5,226
I got notice that my renewed passport should be coming around 2/3.
So:
12/30 - dropped application in mail, including self-taken passport photo
1/8 - email notice indicating the application was received.
1/11 - check cashed
1/27 - email notice that the application was approved, should get new passport book around 2/3, notes the normal application processing time is 10-12 weeks.
I didn't pay for express service.
I wasn't expecting the quick turnaround necessarily. My old passport was due to expire at end of August so I would have been fine getting it back say by early April or so.
So:
12/30 - dropped application in mail, including self-taken passport photo
1/8 - email notice indicating the application was received.
1/11 - check cashed
1/27 - email notice that the application was approved, should get new passport book around 2/3, notes the normal application processing time is 10-12 weeks.
I didn't pay for express service.
I wasn't expecting the quick turnaround necessarily. My old passport was due to expire at end of August so I would have been fine getting it back say by early April or so.
Jan 27, 2021 | 7:49 pm
#889
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 4
This is how it finally went.
I wrote to the congresswoman of the district where my newborn was born, via their official website of the congress.
I received an email response within 4 hours, saying that she would be more than willing to help out to speed up things with the National Passport Information Center NPIC and that I would need to sign a release online with the baby's information. Also, in order for the NPIC to entertain her request for expediting our application, she would need proof of my travel within 2 weeks (which in my case original date is in 1 week) of the time of her request. The evidence is submitted via the online release form.
That was all yesterday 1/26, I submitted all right away. 10 AM
11 AM: Got a response from the congresswoman, with in 1 hour saying that her office had requested expediting our passport application to NPIC.
9 AM Today 27th: Got an email from the congresswoman that included the response from the NPIC "Thank you for your inquiry. Your constituent's application has been forwarded to a passport specialist for expedited review. We will provide status updates to your office as additional information becomes available."
5 pm: Email from NPIC Application Status: Approved
The U.S. Department of State approved your application for your passport book. We're now printing your passport book and preparing to give it to you.
You requested expedited service when you applied, which we are currently processing in 4-6 weeks. You should receive your passport book on or around 01/30/2021.
9 PM Application Status: Shipped
The U.S. Department of State has shipped your passport book on 01/27/2021.
We sent your passport book to you using UPS Next Day Air.
I am scheduled to receive the passport tomorrow by 10:30 am according to tracking information.
It is incredible how quickly everything came around, thanks to the service of the congresswoman. I am truly grateful to all who helped and to the person that suggesting trying this somewhere in previous posts.
Jan 28, 2021 | 1:49 pm
#890
Join Date: Jan 2021
Programs: nope
Posts: 3
Update
During Covid send your renewal by USPS PRIORITY EXPRESS MAIL otherwise, it will be delayed (take a look at mine).
NEW PASSPORT (Paid for expedite service (4-6 weeks) and also fast delivery $60 + $17.23 (express mail guaranteed delivery in 1-2 days))
12/22/20 Applied in USPS for a new passport
12/29/21 Received application and the check was cashed
01/11/21 IN PROCESS
01/25/21 Passport agency sent me 3 emails at the same time with the titles "In-process" "Approved" "Shipped"
01/28/21 Passport was delivered by USPS priority EXPRESS mail. ( Tooks exactly 38 days // 5 weeks from the day I applied in the USPS office in Florida to the day I got my passport )
RENEWAL (Paid for expedite service $60)
12/22/20 Shipped by UPS which delivered it to USPS on 12/24/20 priority mail
12/24/20 Delayed by USPS for 12 days
01/06/21 Arrived at PA distribution center and Delayed for 10 more days
01/16/21 Passport was delivered by USPS ( 26 days - 4.5 weeks took to deliver a priority mail supposed to be delivered in 3 days)
01/19/21 The application was posted in the system as "in-process" and the was check cashed
The passport office cashed the checks the same day they receive the application even without take a look at the application or know if they going to approve it, so if they cash your check it does not means they will approve it.
NEW PASSPORT (Paid for expedite service (4-6 weeks) and also fast delivery $60 + $17.23 (express mail guaranteed delivery in 1-2 days))
12/22/20 Applied in USPS for a new passport
12/29/21 Received application and the check was cashed
01/11/21 IN PROCESS
01/25/21 Passport agency sent me 3 emails at the same time with the titles "In-process" "Approved" "Shipped"
01/28/21 Passport was delivered by USPS priority EXPRESS mail. ( Tooks exactly 38 days // 5 weeks from the day I applied in the USPS office in Florida to the day I got my passport )
RENEWAL (Paid for expedite service $60)
12/22/20 Shipped by UPS which delivered it to USPS on 12/24/20 priority mail
12/24/20 Delayed by USPS for 12 days
01/06/21 Arrived at PA distribution center and Delayed for 10 more days
01/16/21 Passport was delivered by USPS ( 26 days - 4.5 weeks took to deliver a priority mail supposed to be delivered in 3 days)
01/19/21 The application was posted in the system as "in-process" and the was check cashed
The passport office cashed the checks the same day they receive the application even without take a look at the application or know if they going to approve it, so if they cash your check it does not means they will approve it.
Applied for a new passport on USPS and send by mail a renewal on Dec 22/20 both with expedite service ($60)
>> Guys if you are renewed by mail and are in a rush to get it, use the USPS ( UPS and FedEx both send your envelope to USPS because the passports are shipped to a PO box which USP or FedEx can't deliver it and you will lose time and money doing that [yep I did it and regret]) and send your envelope by EXPRESS priority mail (is expensive but is the only one not affected by delays, hope I knew that before sending my passport u.u) because all the other service include priority or first class mail are expecting long delays<<
NEW PASSPORT
12/22/20 Applied in USPS for a new passport
12/29/2020 Received application
01/11/21 IN PROCESS
RENEWALL
12/22/20 Shipped by UPS which delivered it to USPS on 12/24/20 priority mail
Delayed by USPS since 12/22/20 for 13 days
Arrived at PA distribution center on 01/06/21 and Delayed again
01/11/21 Still delayed by USPS ( the passport agency still not received it !#@$#@)
I WILL POST UPDATES WHEN I GET THEM.
I don't know if someone else has the same issue with the USPS delay
I expect to travel on the second week of March and hope my passports arrive on time or I'll lose a lot of money
, don't be like me and be aware of the USPS delays and the Passport agency delays.
>> Guys if you are renewed by mail and are in a rush to get it, use the USPS ( UPS and FedEx both send your envelope to USPS because the passports are shipped to a PO box which USP or FedEx can't deliver it and you will lose time and money doing that [yep I did it and regret]) and send your envelope by EXPRESS priority mail (is expensive but is the only one not affected by delays, hope I knew that before sending my passport u.u) because all the other service include priority or first class mail are expecting long delays<<
NEW PASSPORT
12/22/20 Applied in USPS for a new passport
12/29/2020 Received application
01/11/21 IN PROCESS
RENEWALL
12/22/20 Shipped by UPS which delivered it to USPS on 12/24/20 priority mail
Delayed by USPS since 12/22/20 for 13 days
Arrived at PA distribution center on 01/06/21 and Delayed again
01/11/21 Still delayed by USPS ( the passport agency still not received it !#@$#@)
I WILL POST UPDATES WHEN I GET THEM.
I don't know if someone else has the same issue with the USPS delay
I expect to travel on the second week of March and hope my passports arrive on time or I'll lose a lot of money
, don't be like me and be aware of the USPS delays and the Passport agency delays.
Jan 28, 2021 | 5:27 pm
#891
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 95
Applied for my 5 years old renewal at USPS here in Seattle on 01/22 and a few minutes ago, I received an email with in process. I did not pay for an expedite since we are not planning on traveling before July. His old passport expires in June and it barely looks like him anyway. I think they mail passport applications to local passport agencies for processing and the passport might be printed somewhere else. Seattle passport agency has always been efficient even when we applied for his first passport it took a week from routine application to receiving passport in the mail first time. I would rather they delay it to get extra validity. Lol
Jan 29, 2021 | 6:50 am
#892
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Gold
Posts: 15,009
They definitely mail it somewhere - only the State Department can issue Passports - the USPS just collects the data - you can just as easily mail in the application yourself.
If you mail it in yourself there are several agencies that depending on what state you live in, you mail to a certain place. I do not know if those are the same places the USPS mails too.
I didn't look at the return address when my Daughter's passport was mailed to us.
Here are a list of places it could possibly be sent: https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...-agencies.html
If you mail it in yourself there are several agencies that depending on what state you live in, you mail to a certain place. I do not know if those are the same places the USPS mails too.
I didn't look at the return address when my Daughter's passport was mailed to us.
Here are a list of places it could possibly be sent: https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...-agencies.html
When USPS send the application to for review and where the passport is printed doesnt have to be the same place. I was asked to mail in additional documentation to VA. I included tracking and a two days after delivery of the additional documentation, I got notice that application was approved and shipped that same day. The passport originated from Little Rock, AR while the supporting docs were sent to VA.
Jan 30, 2021 | 5:58 pm
#893
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: DL, UA, AA, VS
Posts: 5,226
I got notice that my renewed passport should be coming around 2/3.
So:
12/30 - dropped application in mail, including self-taken passport photo
1/8 - email notice indicating the application was received.
1/11 - check cashed
1/27 - email notice that the application was approved, should get new passport book around 2/3, notes the normal application processing time is 10-12 weeks.
I didn't pay for express service.
I wasn't expecting the quick turnaround necessarily. My old passport was due to expire at end of August so I would have been fine getting it back say by early April or so.
So:
12/30 - dropped application in mail, including self-taken passport photo
1/8 - email notice indicating the application was received.
1/11 - check cashed
1/27 - email notice that the application was approved, should get new passport book around 2/3, notes the normal application processing time is 10-12 weeks.
I didn't pay for express service.
I wasn't expecting the quick turnaround necessarily. My old passport was due to expire at end of August so I would have been fine getting it back say by early April or so.
A couple of things:
1. I didn't get my old passport back. But there is an insert saying I would get the ID documents back in a separate mailing?
2. I don't recall but the new Passport has a completely different number?
Also no sign of RFID or some technological advance since 10 years ago.
Jan 30, 2021 | 6:25 pm
#894
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: SW Michigan, ex SF Bay Area
Posts: 999
2. Correct.
Jan 30, 2021 | 8:49 pm
#895
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,718
I received my new passport on Jan 22 and the old one on Jan 29.
Be sure and update your passport number on the GOES website, if applicable.
Be sure and update your passport number on the GOES website, if applicable.
Feb 1, 2021 | 11:19 am
#897
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 2
Renewal with expedited service
Dec 29- dropped at USPS with Priority Mail Tracking (to Philly)
Jan 11- delivered to Philly
Jan 14- recv'd email from State Dept passport application received
Jan 14- called State Dept to add overnight delivery once printed (not using USPS again!)
Feb 1- received email it has shipped
Dec 29- dropped at USPS with Priority Mail Tracking (to Philly)
Jan 11- delivered to Philly
Jan 14- recv'd email from State Dept passport application received
Jan 14- called State Dept to add overnight delivery once printed (not using USPS again!)
Feb 1- received email it has shipped
Feb 1, 2021 | 2:10 pm
#898
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: DL, UA, AA, VS
Posts: 5,226
Renewal with expedited service
Dec 29- dropped at USPS with Priority Mail Tracking (to Philly)
Jan 11- delivered to Philly
Jan 14- recv'd email from State Dept passport application received
Jan 14- called State Dept to add overnight delivery once printed (not using USPS again!)
Feb 1- received email it has shipped
Dec 29- dropped at USPS with Priority Mail Tracking (to Philly)
Jan 11- delivered to Philly
Jan 14- recv'd email from State Dept passport application received
Jan 14- called State Dept to add overnight delivery once printed (not using USPS again!)
Feb 1- received email it has shipped
I didn't pay for priority service.
Though maybe you're guaranteed the quickest turnaround with the priority service?
Feb 2, 2021 | 11:06 am
#899
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: enjoyed being warm spit for a few years on CO/UA but now nothing :(
Posts: 2,818
Holy Schnikes! That's the type of renewal service we fantasize about! (getting the new passport back the day before sending it in).
Feb 2, 2021 | 1:25 pm
#900
Join Date: Feb 2021
Posts: 2
update
We sent our renewals in December. Filled out paperwork online, printed and sent in with DIY photos. Not expedited.
Passport status:
Received 12/22/20
Checks cashed 12/23/20
Status "in process" ever since.
I'm REALLY hoping that some of the luck I'm seeing here rubs off on us!
UPDATE:
2/14: Received email that passport was in process.
2/18: Received email from Passport office that passport application was approved, book was being printed, and estimated arrival would be 2/24.
Passport status:
Received 12/22/20
Checks cashed 12/23/20
Status "in process" ever since.
I'm REALLY hoping that some of the luck I'm seeing here rubs off on us!
UPDATE:
2/14: Received email that passport was in process.
2/18: Received email from Passport office that passport application was approved, book was being printed, and estimated arrival would be 2/24.
Last edited by mamanerd; Feb 19, 2021 at 7:50 am Reason: Update information