US passport

[franco 0]

Good afternoon all

is it possible to apply for my first time US passport at passport agencies instead of the post office since its faster and also I don't want to mail my naturalization certificate.

[v333k 59]

i've been wondering the same thing myself. So I found this website a few days back and they claim that they allow/require first time passport applicants to do in person.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html

Good afternoon all

is it possible to apply for my first time US passport at passport agencies instead of the post office since its faster and also I don't want to mail my naturalization certificate.

[jkelly07 120]

you can try calling this number, travel state gov, 1-877-487-2778

[franco 0]

I thought passport agencies are only for emergency passports but you can always get an appointment at the passport agency but will they take you application or no. It mentions that applicants are advised to submit the applications at the post office instead of the agencies if it is not emergency

Edited July 2, 2011 by franco

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Sure,

if you can show that you need it in 2 weeks or less. One member here suggested to book a Continental flight online and with a credit card on the evening before the appointment, print out the ticket, get the passport, then cancel the flight right afterward with a 100% refund (within 24 hours). What also works is a letter from the employer.

[NickD 202]

Risk factors, a replacement certificate is 400 bucks, but a question of liability if the DOS does not return yours to you. Scheduling an appointment with plane tickets in hand would cost us at least 600 bucks with no possibility of a return on that. So just sent off the applications with the certificate and hoped for the best. For both my wife and stepdaughter, enclosed their certificates in a plastic shield, wifes' was returned in that plastic shield, stepdaughter was not, just the certificate, but we got both back in original condition. 3-4 days after the passport came in that I had to sign for. Certificates came back in a brown envelop with first class postage, but I did install a much larger mailbox so the postman wouldn't have to fold that. Not sure how that works if you live in an apartment complex with those super tiny mail boxes. Envelop doesn't even say, DO NOT FOLD!

First question you can ask without an explanation, why does the DOS trust their agents in every respect except making a copy of your certificate, they certainly have to verify your photos are of you. Second question is why can't they enclose your certificate in that heavy cardboard shipping container your passport came in, same exact return address. Third question is, why even worry about it, have a US passport that gives you equal proof you are a US citizen.

We used the certificate only for the DOS, used the US passport for everything else. But they did come back in one piece, filed and stored away, perhaps never to be seen again. Ha, my stepdaughter told to me to bury her certificate, that biometrics photo they took of her makes her look like a mug shot criminal. Least they still used the photos I took of her showing she is the beautiful girl she is, on her passport.