Expedite US passport application - Seeking advice on 2 options

[straightline20116 0]

Hello,

 

I would greatly appreciate the community’s advice regarding expediting my passport application below:

 

My USCIS naturalization oath ceremony is scheduled for May 4. I have a critical week-long trip scheduled to the UK starting June 8 (travel and hotels were reserved more than a couple of months ago). I understand that since I will need to turn in my Green Card at the oath ceremony, I need to apply for a US passport to be able to travel. I am completely fine with paying the additional expedite fee of $60 along with my passport application.

 

There seem to be 2 options to expedite:
(1) Simply turn in the passport application along with the expedite fee to the Department of State passport officials at the USCIS oath ceremony on May 4 and hope that I receive the passport prior to June 8.

(2) Wait till May 13, which will be the first day I would be eligible to schedule an appointment with the Department of State’s local Passport Agency office. Hopefully they will have a timely appointment available at that time, and be able to adequately expedite my application so I have the passport in hand prior to June 8.

 

Would greatly appreciate the community’s feedback and advice on my best bet from the 2 options above, based on direct or indirect past experience in similar situations.

 

Thanks much in advance!

Rob

[RO_AH 1,661]

My son went to the USPS and applied for a passport. (first time) a month ago. He received it in less than 2 weeks and that is with no expedite fee. Filled out and printed the application at travel.state.gov and carried it to the post office along with passport photos we had taken at Costco.

 

Not sure if that helps, but I just wanted to let you know the process is very fast.

[3rd 84]

It can be fast, it can take a while. My husband got his first US passport a couple of years ago and it took about a month. I think it all depends on the state, if there's a lot of applications processing, etc. I think it's best to steer on the side of caution with this and pay the expedite.

[Stevephoto 230]

On 4/28/2017 at 1:42 PM, 3rd said:

It can be fast, it can take a while. My husband got his first US passport a couple of years ago and it took about a month. I think it all depends on the state, if there's a lot of applications processing, etc. I think it's best to steer on the side of caution with this and pay the expedite.

^this!^ I totally agree. We paid the expedite fee even though we were not going any where soon. $60.00 is cheap peace of mind.

[milimelo 4,535]

You only need proof of travel in the next 14 days to go via Passport Agency route. 

Passport ready for pick up two days later and your naturalization certificate returned to you at the same time. 

 

You can schedule appointment right after naturalization - it's automated. 

 

[sd2017 18]

I assume the OP has already figured out what needed to be done. But for future reference, the online scheduling system for the passport agency is:

 

https://www.passportappointment.us/

 

They open up appointments up to two weeks in the future, and all that is necessary is that on the date of the appointment, your international travel is within 2 weeks if you don't need a visa, and within 4 weeks if you will also need to apply for a visa.

 

In my case, I was able to secure a June 22 appointment (have to wait until after my oath ceremony on June 21) through the online system on June 9 for a July 1 international trip. So, in particular, you can request for an appointment online before your naturalization ceremony, so long as the actual appointment is for after your oath ceremony.