A Guide To Us Passport Offices
If you’ve never applied for a passport before, you may have no idea where to start. Where is your nearest passport office? Where do you go to submit a passport application?
There are two different types of passport offices that citizens should be aware of. The type of passport office you will visit depends on the type of passport services you require.
Most US citizens applying in person for a new passport can go to a passport acceptance facility. These passport offices are located inside other government offices, such as post offices, libraries and county court clerk’s offices. You can find the closest one to you by searching on the Department of State’s website. Passport acceptance facilities will accept applications for new passports and offer two different types of services: regular and expedited service.
Regular service usually takes at least 6 weeks, while expedited service usually takes at least 3. Processing times for each can vary, depending on how many applications the Department of State is dealing with at the time, so check the Department of State’s website for the most up-to-date information.
What if you need your passport sooner than that? If you are traveling within the next 2 weeks and you still need a passport, you can make an appointment at a Regional Passport Agency office to have a same day passport issued. These offices operate by appointment only. You must bring all necessary documents with you, along with your itinerary. To make an appointment, call 1 (877) 487-2778. Regional passport agency offices are closed on weekends and for all federal holidays.
There are currently only 19 regional passport agency offices in the entire US. If you don’t have a regional passport agency office nearby, you have two options: make an appointment and travel to whichever office is closest, or use a private passport expediting company instead. With an expediting company, you mail your application materials to the company and they will submit it the passport agency on your behalf.
?