Dave Naffziger's Blog

After exceeding 150 comments on post detailing my original experience getting a same day passport, I decided to go through the comments and separate the experiences and helpful tips by passport office.

These comments and tips were related to people’s experiences at the Miami Passport Office.

Just successfully renewed my passport TODAY at the Miami regional passport agency. Left Orlando at 3am, got in line at about 7:30am (they open at 8). BTW, park at the big colorful public parking garage at 15th and 2nd, two blocks away from Biscayne… $5 for the full day (much better than street metered parking). There were about 40 people in front of us in the “non-appointment” line (I couldn’t make an appointment because the next available one was after my travel date). The guard gave us all the spiel - no guarantees, etc. But they give out 40 numbers to walk-ups in Miami every day, so if you get in line early enough, and have all of your materials as many people have descd above, you’ll get in. Today, for us, it was waiting from 7:30am to 11:30am to go upstairs, then an initial cursory look at my materials to make sure I wasn’t missing anything, then being given a number and waiting a bit longer to have the application processed. The woman who processed the application was very kind, and said “you’ve come way too far to not get this today” and stamped the application with a “same day” stamp (oh joy of joys!). Then she told us to come back between 1:30pm and 3:00pm to pick it up. The Miami office closes the doors at 3:00pm. We got back around 2, waited another 2 1/2 hours or so, and got it around 4:30pm. Good luck future travelers in need, and thank you to those who shared their information here!

From Tom:

Just got back from the Miami regional passport office an hour ago. It worked like clockwork.

We made the appointment 14 days ago, you can’t make the appointment more than 14 days in advance. Our appointment was at 8AM, we arrived 10 minutes late (traffic). There were a few people in line ahead of us with appointments, and as many in another line without them. It looked like they were letting the appointment holders in first, but the non-appointments probably had no problem getting in from what I saw. We went through security after getting a lecture from the guard about cell phones and the fact that the center closed at 3PM, and that this was the Department of State (harumph harumph) and they were all business. Too bad he didn’t seem to grasp the idea that they were there to serve us, instead of the other way around. Anyway, that part was relatively painless. We went through security and checked in at the appointment desk. They took the application, naturalization certificate, photocopy of identification, airline itinerary (flying tomorrow) and then made a copy of the social security card. They gave us a receipt and said come back at 2PM. All of this took a total of 30 minutes. We walked around the block a time or two, there are coffee shops and restaurants nearby, then got our car out of the garage and drove to South Beach for lunch and some people watching. We got back to the center at 1:15, they said the passport wasn’t ready yet but then called us within 10 minutes and handed us the finished passport.

If it wasn’t for this blog we wouldn’t have known about this. Nowhere on the Dept of State web site does it mention even remotely that you can get a passport same day. Amazing. Thanks Dave for this oasis of good info in a sea of confusion and commercial “expediters”.

From AShep:

Just thought I would share my experience of today, to help others. My son’s passport expired and we missed our flight to the Bahamas on Saturday (today is Monday). Yesterday I took care of all the forms and letters and such that I needed, but could not get an appointment on line until 10 days from now. So today we arrived at the passport agency at 7:20 a.m., thinking we’d be nice and early…. There was already a line of about two dozen people. That line grew by more than double by around 8:00 a.m. Tripled by 9:00. Other people who had appointments waited in another, much shorter line. They weeded out those who were not traveling today by looking at their proof of travel, and sent all others home with appointments for another day. Those of us traveling today stayed in line, and by around noon were able to go upstairs in small groups. Once there we stood in line to see the first window person, who made sure I had all the necessary documents and gave me a number. Since I didn’t have an appointment, it was a long wait. By around 2:00 they called my number and processed my documents…but unfortunately since it was so late in the day, I have to go back tomorrow at 2:00 to pick up my passport. I asked if I had been here much earlier than 7:20, if I would have possibly got my passport today , and he said a firm “yes.” I hope this helps someone else who needs a passport right away!! My advice: Arrive by 6:00 a.m. and be prepared to stand and wait and wait. Bring a snack and a drink, a book, and maybe even a chair! Good luck!

If you have had an experience at the Miami Passport Office, please share it below.