FYI: For those who need passports in a hurry...like ASAP

Long story short...I was supposed to receive my birth certificate from Vital Check WEEKS ago. My original birth certificate did not have my parents name so I had to order a new one in order to obtain a passport. Vital Chek and the State of NJ suckk but after much hooting and hollering I was able to get someone at Vital Chek to contact NJ and ship my birth certificate over night. I received it yesterday. Problem is I'm traveling Wednesday and have NO passport.

After reading reviews on YELP I decided to go down to the Regional Passport Office on 376 Hudson Street in Downtown Manhattan. I tried to make an appointment but none were available so I just crossed my fingers and left my house early this morning.

The office opens at 7:30 but I heard that the lines get long. I arrived at 6:00 and was the 5th person on line. Around 7:15ish the line had grew longer but the security guards gave us a speech then they started letting us through the metal detector. Once you pass the metal detectors you have to wait on an Information line. That took another 10 minutes give or take. The information line checks your paper work (I had everything filled out, my photos, birth certificate, marriage license and a copy of my itinerary showing that I was leaving within 2 weeks) to make sure you have everything. As long as your have everything ready, you are good to go. They then gave me a number and sent me upstairs to a huge room. I didn't even get to warm up my seat before I was called.

Approximately 10 minutes after that I had my receipt in hand to pick up my passport tomorrow after 10 am. I only paid $195 which is the same fee you pay to expedite your passport at the post office. In other words you DON'T have to pay one of those passport expediters unless you absolutely cannot go downtown. If you are traveling the same day or the next day (the girl behind me had a flight today at 10:45 and realized last night her passport expired) you will get your passport the same day after 10 am. If you are traveling in a few days you have to come back to pick it up the next day. You can also authorize someone else to pick it up for you.

Also there was a Newstand half a block away that opened at 7 and took passport photos for $10.

They take cash (exact change only), credit cards, money orders and personal checks.

Either way I was amazed at how fast it was and all the workers were so friendly. Just an FYI for those in a bind.

Re: FYI: For those who need passports in a hurry...like ASAP

That's GREAT to know! I have to say, if you're travelling, the passport agency always works hard to get you your passport in time. I've NEVER heard of someone not being able to travel because they didn't get their passport in time (provided they did what they need to do and followed up with the passport agency). They sometimes have you biting your nails at the last minute, but it's always worked out. I've never been to the downtown office though, I'm notebooking this so I remember it if I'm ever in a bind!

Re: FYI: For those who need passports in a hurry...like ASAP

We did the same but went to the office in Norwalk, CT.

Re: FYI: For those who need passports in a hurry...like ASAP

This is great info...I work around the block from here and always see the line winding around the building by 8:30am and wondered what it was for. I had no idea it opened so early.

Re: FYI: For those who need passports in a hurry...like ASAP

I did that YEARS ago. I cant remember WHY but it was very easy.

Message edited 7/30/2012 3:25:37 PM.