STEP just sent out this:
November 8, 2024
Subject: Message for U.S. Citizens: Updated Passport and Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and Notary Appointments coming soon.
Beginning November 11, 2024, the U.S. Embassy is changing the support contractor for consular services in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. This will offer more opportunities for U.S. citizens for drop off, pickup and delivery, and it will also feature a new appointment systemstarting on Wednesday November 13, 2024. Details of this change will be available on our website soon. Our current appointment system will cease operation on November 8, 2024.
New Customer Service Centers and Expanded Document Delivery Options: Beginning November 11, there will be new customer service centers in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Ramallah where applicants may pick up and drop off their documents at no cost. They will also have more than 30 premium pickup and drop off locations in Israel and the West Bank that will be available for a fee. The vendor will also have a premium, fee-based delivery option. All in-person appointments must be made through the new system. All applications mailed to or dropped off at the Embassy in Jerusalem or the Embassy Branch Office in Tel Aviv must be registered on the new website starting on December 2.
From November 12-December 1, we will still accept applications that use Israel Post or Aramex courier systems.
New Appointment System for Passport, CRBA (in-person and video), and Notarial Services: In addition to the new appointment website that will come online on Wednesday November 13, 2024, the vendor will have a customer service call center to assist applicants with basic questions regarding passport, Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), and notary services.
Appointment Website: Starting Wednesday November 13, 2024, at 3:00 pm, all new appointments for Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa will be released in the new system. This includes passports, CRBA, and notary services. Additional appointments will be added each week on Wednesdays between 3:00 – 4:00 pm. Existing appointments in the current appointment system are still valid and will be maintained but if you cancel your appointment after Friday, November 8, 2024, you will need to use the new system to make a new appointment.
Walk-in Emergency Passport Appointments Continue: The process to obtain an emergency passport will remain the same. Emergency walk-in appointments are available before 8:30AM in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on regular business days. You will only receive an emergency, limited-validity passport (not a full-validity passport) that will usually be available for pick-up no later than the next business day 14:00 – 14:30 pm.
CRBA appointments: CRBA applicants should first fill out an eCRBA application before scheduling an appointment! The new online appointment website will allow applicants to schedule a CRBA appointment without first filling eCRBA, but we will cancel all CRBA appointments that do not have a completed eCRBA application – this includes uploading legible versions of all documents, which must be done before you pay online. CRBA applicants who also wish to apply for their child’s passport are encouraged to pre-pay for the passport through pay.gov and bring the passport application to the CRBA appointment.
Links from in the email:
The new appointment website:
https://ustraveldocs.com/ (looks very scammy, but links basically to the IL embassy website -
https://il.usembassy.gov/ - so shkoyach)