In person appointments are available at any of the 27 passport agencies in the U.S. if you are within 2-3 weeks of international travel trip, but appointments are limited. If you have submitted a passport application, you can check the status online. To avoid the stress of getting a passport approved at the last minute, the State Department recommends applying during the slow season of October through December.

Here are some tips that may help usher your passport along:

• Request expedited service.
• If you’ve already applied, reach out to your local Congressional office for help. While not guaranteed, a Congressional inquiry may help expedite the process.
• Check social media for tips. It turns out that some regional passport agencies do accept walk-ins; they’re just not publicized. But beware of scammers offering appointments for a fee. Even if legitimate appointments are “for sale,” they’re non-transferrable, so you may run into issues when you arrive.
• Look for Special Passport Acceptance Fairs for first-time applicants and children.

One last tip: don’t forget to purchase Travel insurance to protect your trip. If your passport or visa is stolen and you need to delay or cancel your plans, Travel insurance can help cover the costs.¹

¹ Coverage described is available under Travel Insured International (TII). Coverage varies by carrier. See policy certificate for full details.