Los Angeles Passport Agency

"I started the passport application process in December; it is now March. Unfortunately, I was given the wrong form by an inexperienced worker at my local tax collection office originally in SWFL. Therefore, an entire month and a half was wasted between the time I sent in my information to when the Department of State notified me about more documentation being needed plus receiving the correct paperwork. My flight is next week. It is still processing at this location. They offer little to no help over the phone and better yet, had my phone number wrong the entire time despite me repeating it during multiple calls. So who knows if they were trying to reach me about the expedited service I requested which they have yet to approve (a worker told me they would call if they needed more information early this week, I called today again, and they had it wrong the entire time). They offer little to no help and did not even mention the possibility of making an appointment despite the international date of travel being next week. Safe to say I will not be able to visit family for possibly years now."

"Took 1.5 hours to drive here, I arrived in time for my appointment and now there is a line of over 100 people in front of me. Some people have already waited an hour past their appointment time!… Incredible…"

"The process is so smooth. I had a 7:30am appointment and was a few minutes late due to traffic. There was a line for security, but it went quickly. I think most people go with the strategy to get the earliest appointment possible and "beat the crowd" which actually results in a crowd. So, I'd say just go at your appointment time. If there are people from the time slot before yours, you'll have to wait anyway, even if you check in before them, because of how the numbering system works. Once you get inside, you'll check in and receive a number. They will check your documents and give you any additional forms you need. Once they check your documents, you'll wait for your number to be called. I was the last of the A group, so I was called right away since most of the people waiting were in the 8am time slot. I waited a few minutes, was called up, handed my documents in and from there it only took about 5 to 10 minutes for my documents to be verified. Customer service was very friendly, the overall vibe was very nice and not too crowded. I was actually a little bit shocked at how smooth the process went. I live in OC and was trying to avoid the LA location, since there is one down in San Diego as well. But honestly, I was really impressed by this location and in total I probably only spent about an hour there. They do have same day passport printing, for those who have to get it fast. Pick up is between 1:30 and 3:30."

"Visited the Los Angeles Passport Agency and found the experience to be a mix of challenges and positives. If you're hoping to be one of the first through the doors at 7am, anticipate a long line beginning as early as 6am. But don't be too disheartened; the guards on duty play a pivotal role in streamlining this process and deserve a special shout-out for their efforts. Their professionalism and efficiency significantly enhance the overall experience. While it operates on an appointment-only basis, which should, in theory, speed up the process, you might still find yourself waiting until the afternoon to receive your passport. If you're pressed for time, reaching out to your local representative for expedited service might be a good strategy. In conclusion, while there's room for improvement in terms of waiting time, the commendable work by the guards adds a silver lining to the experience. If you're visiting, ensure you plan ahead and appreciate the hard work of those making the process smoother."

"Our experience was great. I would suggest call three weeks before your fly out date and say your travel date is a week or so away. They cant prove over the phone that your travel date is when you said. Just get that appointment soon because you might not get an appointment until the day of your fly out or right before, and if you live far away from a passport Agency, that same day stuff just wouldn't work. Also it's going to take along time to get ahold of them. Call call and call again. Stay on the line even if there is no music. Make sure you triple check you have everything correct. Print out proof of appointment they sent in the email. If you didn't get an email after your call you need to call them back and fix something. "Get the email." Print out proof of travel. fill out all paperwork. Make sure your appointment date is correct with the date you're going. If your appointment is at 7-8-9am get there at 6:30-7am. Get in line. They could careless what time your appointment was. Its first come first serve if you have an appointment that day. Be respectful, and trust the security system. They want you out as fast as you want you out. Make sure you get a good picture printed out. I got mine from my local post office. If you are picking up your passport the same day get there at "12" not 1 not 1:30. Get in line!"