Same day passport application in Washington DC - questions

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Holbytla

Registered Users (C)
My naturalization date is Sept 13 2011. I am thinking of going on vacation about 3 weeks later, and would therefore like to apply for an expedited passport at the DC passport agency as soon as I get my naturalization certificate. However, the state.gov passport website states that I have to be within 14 days of international travel to apply in person at the passport agency (as opposed to applying through the post office).

Does anyone here have any thoughts on whether I could show up at the passport agency 3 weeks in advance of my travel, with my vacation itinerary in hand (prepared by a travel agent) and ask for an expedited passport? The other options are to apply for my passport through the post office (through the expedited option), or to wait until 14 days before my departure date to apply for a same day passport at the agency. But either of these options would be getting too close to my departure date. I don't want to buy an air ticket or pay for the trip until I have my passport in hand, but if I wait too long, the preferred hotels and airfares may no longer be available.

I would of course make an appointment at the passport agency, but just didn't know if they are really strict about the 14 day rule, or if they would be willing to cut me a bit of slack and give me a same day or overnight passport 3 weeks in advance, if I show them my vacation itinerary.

Somebody on this list suggested they are not very strict about the 2 week rule, and that I could just show up after making an appointment, or sometimes they let you in even if you have no appointment - are all these true?

Any advice?
Thanks!
 
Send your expedited application through a usual acceptance facility (e.g., post office) and then check the status periodically on-line. When you are within 14 days of travel and the status did not change to "final processing stage...", then call the National Passport Information Centre and they will make sure you will get it before the travel.
 
Both the appointment and the urgency (14 day prior) are flexible, but don't push them on both counts (at least take an appointment before-hand). I presume you need visa for your travel so you can justify on those grounds.
 
Thanks for the advice. I found out by calling the appointment number that they won't even allow you to make an appointment for a same-day passport less than 2 weeks before the trip. This means that if I showed up 3 weeks in advance, it would be without an appointment. I wonder if that would just cause them to turn me down right off the bat. I suppose I could just ask politely at the door and see what they say.
 
Do you need a visa? If so, I believe you can request the same-day passport 4 weeks before the travel.
 
Holbytla said:
... they won't even allow you to make an appointment for a same-day passport less than 2 weeks before the trip.
Click to expand...

YOu do not have to tell them the date of the real trip. Trip dates can change from the time you book the appointment and the time you land up at agency.
 
I went to the DC passport agency yesterday and asked if they would make an exception and give me same day passport with a 3-week lead time before my travel. They said no (but I didn't expect they would say yes). I may just show up there the day after naturalization with all the documents and see if they will take me in. And I already made an appointment at a post office nearby for later that morning, where I will apply for an expedited passport if the same day option fails. The P.O. clerk told me to also make a money order for the fees if I do apply for an expedited passport at the P.O. I can do this at the P.O. right before my appointment. Apparently this will save some time, because if you pay by personal check, they have to wait for the check to clear before they will actually process the application.

So, you can see I'm doing my homework :)
 
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