Passport applications and Passport Renewal

[tavster]

Open Days in Modiin for DS-11 Passport Applications on August 21-22, 2023.

https://il.usembassy.gov/message-to-u-s-citizens-u-s-embassy-jerusalem-5/

[Saulius]

Fun at the embassy this morning.
They switched their process for mailing back the passports - you now need to show up with a prepaid label. But their communication can obviously use some work, because there were at least eight people being sent away that I could see because they hadn't prepaid the 60 shekel cost. Ridiculous. The guard gives you a QR code and tells you to go to it and pay, then Wattsap the label to a specific number. These are all people with dumbphones, mind, and no internet in their pockets nor WhatsApp.
A big-hearted Teimani fellow whips out his laptop and immediately processes everybody's labels. His kid is receiving the emails and Whatsapping them for everybody. He must have spent an HOUR in the brutal sun doing this for everyone (instead of going inside to get on with his own application - he got in TEN MINUTES before the deadline). Mi K'amcha Yisrael.

Friend of mine just went, label is required to get inside, but once inside, he did get the option to keep his existing passport valid, and pick up the new ones when they arrive. And he was able to call post office and refund the label.

[mevinyavin]

Friend of mine just went, label is required to get inside, but once inside, he did get the option to keep his existing passport valid, and pick up the new ones when they arrive. And he was able to call post office and refund the label.

Interesting. They have been trying to cut down on passport pickups for years. When I first came to IL, they were happy to let you pick it up if you asked (and I always did because I am a bit of a control freak).
Did this friend have a ticket to show them or something? Officially they don't let "under any circumstances" unless it is an emergency passport apt.

[Saulius]

Interesting. They have been trying to cut down on passport pickups for years. When I first came to IL, they were happy to let you pick it up if you asked (and I always did because I am a bit of a control freak).
Did this friend have a ticket to show them or something? Officially they don't let "under any circumstances" unless it is an emergency passport apt.

He didn't have any ticket or proof of travel, he just asked just in case he would have to travel abroad, as the waiting time for a new passport is reported at 8 weeks. To note, been searching for appointments for a while for my friend (as he doesn't have Internet).  I happened to have logged in at 16:30 last Friday and found tons of appointments for Monday and Wednesday with appointments starting at 7:30am. And at that time there was no line, in and out.

[shie123]

Anywhere in the tristate area you can get fast passport without paying upwards of $500 like there used to be Ct ETC?

[ckmk47]

Anywhere in the tristate area you can get fast passport without paying upwards of $500 like there used to be Ct ETC?

Call for then for an appointment because you're travelling within 2 weeks.

[Hjay]

Any idea average time to get back birth certificate from a passport app? Forgot to to copy before I gave it in…

[Naftuli19]

The way I understood it, both Israel and the USA allow it.  Airlines, at their discretion. When I called United, they said if the country allows, they do too.  And indeed there was no issue.

Heard many people that had no issues with Elal DL and UA

[mgarfin]

If we are flying in 3 weeks and I call today will they give me an appointment (presumably in 2 weeks) or do we need to say we are flying within 14 days just to get the appointment?

[Naftuli19]

If we are flying in 3 weeks and I call today will they give me an appointment (presumably in 2 weeks) or do we need to say we are flying within 14 days just to get the appointment?

Need to fly within 14days

[mgarfin]

Need to fly within 14days

If (as it seems) they only have appointments 14 days out in NYC. When we call we need to say we are flying in 14 days.
if we say flying in 10 days they will say sorry can't help?

[mgarfin]

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast.html
If you have not applied, your appointment at a passport agency or center must be scheduled within 14 calendar days of your international travel date.
If you have already applied, your appointment must be scheduled within 5 calendar days of your international travel date.

Is this accurate? how does it work if they only have appointments in 14 days?

[Chreinnaise]

Basicly they can only give appointments up to 14 days ahead and they fill up quickly so you will get on the 14th day of the day you call. When you call you need to tell them you are traveling within 14 days of the call, and when you come to your appointment you need to show proof of travel within 14 days of your appointment. So it's basicly 14+14+14

[TimT]

Expedited took 6 weeks to arrive.

Non-expedited took 9 weeks.

[CountValentine]

At 8 weeks and nothing for a renewal (non-expedited).

[mgarfin]

Called today for a pending renewal 3 times

If I have a travel date within 14 days they refuse to schedule an appointment as this can only be done 5 days from travel.
(They can only send the agency a note to work on the application)

If I give a 5 day travel date then no appointments in NYC area

[myi]

Called today for a pending renewal 3 times

If I have a travel date within 14 days they refuse to schedule an appointment as this can only be done 5 days from travel.
(They can only send the agency a note to work on the application)

If I give a 5 day travel date then no appointments in NYC area

I thinks it's within 7 days they already allow you to schedule. But they tell you 5.
 There's a post on what to do to secure an appointment. You'll have to try calling multiple times. Appointments open randomly for random times.

[CountValentine]

Passport fairs.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/passports/special-passport-acceptance-fairs.html

[yelped]

Passport fairs.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/passports/special-passport-acceptance-fairs.html

I don't understand. This is just to apply? What's the point of it then?

[CountValentine]

I don't understand. This is just to apply? What's the point of it then?

The claim/rumor is they get processed faster.