Philadelphia Passport Office – Getting a Same Day Passport
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 Philadelphia Passport Office.
While I can’t comment on other passport agencies, I just went through the process in Philadelphia and I was AMAZED at how quick and painless it was. We needed a last-minute passport for our newborn daughter (1mo. old) and didn’t have time to apply by mail. We made an 8am appointment in Philly and were done with all the paperwork at 8:20am. They gave us a receipt, and we came back to pick up the passport at 11:30am sharp, as promised. It honestly could not have been any smoother. Note: It goes without saying that you should have all your documents/photos in order and the application filled out before you show up. I’m very glad I found this blog — otherwise I probably would have tried using an “expediter” and gotten ripped off! Great site, Dave. Thanks!
Great blog. I don’t normally comment on blog’s but was so impressed with the info I felt I had to share. While packing on Saturday, we pulled out our passports and found mine had expired and my daughter’s had only 2 months left on it. I frantically searched the web for companies that would expedite passports and ran across this blog. Tried all Saturday night and Sunday to get an appointment to no avail. Got up early Monday morning and hit the Philadelphia regional center at 7:15 am. We were about 6th or 7th in line. We were processed by 8:20 and retruned back at 12:30 to retrieve our passports. On a flight at 6:30 that night. See my next comment for tips.
Here are a few tips. Make sure you have your paperwork/forms/documents completed. I had downloaded them and had them completed in hand. Make sure you get there early! They opened at 8, we were there at 7:15. After about 7:30 the line got really long behind us. On our way out, the security guard was speaking with another person who did not have an appointment or forms…she was told she may not be seen that day. Another tip - take multiple forms of ID (including ones with pictures). My daughter was 16 and because she only had 6 months left on her driver’s license, they wanted another form of ID. I had taken other forms of ID but nothing with a picture. The agent really cut us a break and took a library card with no picture. Make sure you take your tickets and flight itinerary as proof of travel for that day. They do check this. The cost for both passports was $295.00. Thanks again for the info on this blog!
Great advice! We missed our Saturday flight because my daughter’s passport had expired. We arrived at the Phila office at 7am today (Monday) with no appointment (they open at 8.) I had downloaded the forms ahead of time and had the requested original birth certificate, SS card, State/Govt ID, 2 small photos, old passport and travel itnerary. We were processed 2nd with no problems and returned at 12:30 to pickup the passport. So we will be on tomorrow’s flight to Jamaica! Thanks for all the tips.
Wanted to thank you for this blog. My son had his passport stolen from his car and is leaving for Mexico today (Tuesday). Found this blog on Saturday after calling every website imaginable and companies asking anywhere from $400 and up to get his passport for him on Monday (and being told it can only be done in NY and to be there at 8 am). Called the Philadelphia passport office on Saturday (literally walking distance from his home), got an appointment for 11 am Monday and walked out with a new passport at 3 pm for $160. So easy! There also seemed to be alot of people there who did not have appointments so I would suggest trying that too if you can’t get an appointment.
If you have had an experience at the Philadelphia Passport Office, please share it below.
