Hi Folks - Summarizing my experience here with the Dallas passport agency last month for anyone that may find it helpful
Background: Naturalized on 1/19 at Dallas USCIS (Irving) office and was offered a same day oath, which is unusual for this office. I was happy to take it. I had a work trip to Dublin that i had pushed out since Oct ‘22 when i applied for naturalization. Since i was naturalized, i had the opportunity to do it in the current quarter (before 1/31) so i dont lose my travel budget.
Booking experience:
Given i had <8 days (1/27) to travel from naturalization, i decided to call the NPIC for an urgent travel request. Did that on 1/20 around 10AM and was connected instantly. You have to do a 1-2-2-3 (English(1) → Questions about Passport application(2) →Not received passport(2) → traveling in less than 14 days(3)) to be connected to an agent who will take your info.
Attempt #1: Called on 1/20 around 10AM and was told nothing in Dallas or Houston for next 12 days. Hung up to talk to my team about alternate dates, maybe even in Q1 so i can just do a regular USPS appointment.
Attempt #2: Called on 1/21 around noon hoping lady luck would show some love. Got connected to an agent who took the info and said there is a 1/21 10AM at Dallas (maybe someone cancelled). Asked them to grab it rightaway and got it booked.
Agency experience:
For Dallas passport agency applicants - There is a parking ($10) lot right across, but the agency’s appointments are from 8AM to 11AM. So the lot gets full quickly. There is another lot further out (across the closest one) which is bigger and has usually spots. For my appointment i was lucky to find one across the earle cabell federal building.
Inside the building you go through a security check (airport style), collect your belongings and head to the 11th floor. Security guard will check your appointment time (dont be there too soon, just <30 mins prior) and ask you to join a line for check-in. Check-in counters are 1-5 and they check your ID, application, photo, travel itinerary and then give you a token and asked to be seated.
Soon you will be called to one of the acceptance counters where your documents will be taken and payment will be accepted. You will get a confirmation slip asking you to come back around 2PM.
For me since my travel was on friday, the acceptance agent asked if i was ok to come back the next day or want it shipped. I had to plead a little bit with her to get it to a same day and she eventually agreed.
Note: They try to sort things by whoever is traveling the earliest. If your travel is a like a week away, you mostly would be told that you will get it shipped or can come back after a few days to pick it up closer to your travel date.
Pickup experience:
I reached the office close to 2PM, parked and repeated the same security check to get to the 11th floor. This is where it gets crazier - saw over 100 people sitting awaiting their passports. The way the pickup works is when you get in, you will hand over the pickup slip to security who collects 10-20 of them and hands it over to one of the counters. They will then randomly be calling people’s names along with counter #s. In essence your name cannot be called before you arrive (it was a bit nerve racking for me until i understood what was happening). I waited an entire hour before i got my passport (probably as my travel date was 3 days away). When i was called, i got an envelope with passport/card/evidence(Nat cert). They ask you to check if everything is ok and then you can leave the place.
My tip: The agency closes at 3PM. Try getting inside by 2:30PM and you can pick up in <30 mins. Showing up early doesn’t guarantee an early pickup. Unless you have to catch a flight the same day, there is no incentive to show up exactly at 2PM. You are better off coming in last when everyone is about done and quickly collecting your passport.