Visiting regional passport agency

[mjh]

... who has done it? How did it go? I have a trip overseas at the end of December, and obviously getting back into the country is rather important to me.

Anything I should know other than the basic stuff on the state department web site?

 

[aphex]

interesting - is this a new thing? I don't recall seeing this offered when I got my passport back in 02. Then again, back then, I didn't even pay to have mine expedited and it came in about 7 days.

 

[mjh]

Considering the ridiculous backlog for citizens trying to get their passports, I imagine it is a relatively new service. I hope to visit the San Francisco branch and not have any major trouble -- but you never know when the government is getting involved with something!

 

[poncherelli2]

Get there right when it opens and plan on spending your entire day there. Also double check that you have every single piece of information you need, my mom wasted a day her first try because she didnt have the birth certificate with the raised seal (I'm not sure if she brought a copy or what). Either way, its a mad house in there.

 

[TwiceOver]

Wow two weeks? Even expedited it is taking 4-6 weeks to get a passport for people at our company.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: mjh
Considering the ridiculous backlog for citizens trying to get their passports, I imagine it is a relatively new service. I hope to visit the San Francisco branch and not have any major trouble -- but you never know when the government is getting involved with something!

We do not have a backlog right now that has been taken care of. Which office are you going to? Here in DC you can get your passport in as little as 2 days if you pay the extra fee. Most other offices should be about the same, less then a week. That is if you have all your info and no red flags come up like unpaid child support, warrents, etc...

 

[mjh]

Originally posted by: poncherelli2
Get there right when it opens and plan on spending your entire day there. Also double check that you have every single piece of information you need, my mom wasted a day her first try because she didnt have the birth certificate with the raised seal (I'm not sure if she brought a copy or what). Either way, its a mad house in there.

I have everything required to get the passport, and already expect to waste at least half a day there.

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: mjh
Considering the ridiculous backlog for citizens trying to get their passports, I imagine it is a relatively new service. I hope to visit the San Francisco branch and not have any major trouble -- but you never know when the government is getting involved with something!

We do not have a backlog right now that has been taken care of. Which office are you going to? Here in DC you can get your passport in as little as 2 days if you pay the extra fee. Most other offices should be about the same, less then a week. That is if you have all your info and no red flags come up like unpaid child support, warrents, etc...

Oh? The guy at the local post office was actually the one who recommended I go to the S.F. passport agency, rather than apply and possibly not have it in time.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: mjh

Originally posted by: poncherelli2
Get there right when it opens and plan on spending your entire day there. Also double check that you have every single piece of information you need, my mom wasted a day her first try because she didnt have the birth certificate with the raised seal (I'm not sure if she brought a copy or what). Either way, its a mad house in there.

I have everything required to get the passport, and already expect to waste at least half a day there.

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: mjh
Considering the ridiculous backlog for citizens trying to get their passports, I imagine it is a relatively new service. I hope to visit the San Francisco branch and not have any major trouble -- but you never know when the government is getting involved with something!

We do not have a backlog right now that has been taken care of. Which office are you going to? Here in DC you can get your passport in as little as 2 days if you pay the extra fee. Most other offices should be about the same, less then a week. That is if you have all your info and no red flags come up like unpaid child support, warrents, etc...

Oh? The guy at the local post office was actually the one who recommended I go to the S.F. passport agency, rather than apply and possibly not have it in time.

Well going to a passport office is much quicker, so he is right on that point. We have hired over 500 new people and there is not really any large backlog. But if you mail yours in and there is a rush, which there might be right now with the end of the year and holidays, yours might take a little longer.

 

[mjh]

I reserved a ticket from SFO to Tokyo for December 27th, but won't pay for it until I am 100% sure I have an appointment ready at the S.F. passport agency. The lady I spoke with today said I should call immediately on the 13th, because the S.F. passport agency is apparently filling up pretty fast due to the holidays. My hold on the airplane ticket expires on the 14th, so we'll see what happens.