I didn't get an expedite letter; did it same day in the LA passport office with an appointment. The State Dept website says you need to show international travel within 14 days of appointment. I had a MEX trip, so I showed that. Otherwise, I would have made a dummy booking to show them. No one really cared about my travel plans.

I had ~830A appt and picked up my passport ~2P.

I'd also recommend getting extra pages - someone told me that they got crap in Germany(?) for not having 10 blank pages in their passport.

 

I got mine in downtown DC. I had an appointment and the letter from the flight office. Yet, they still seemed puzzled about why I needed my passport today. I ended up showing the guy my schedule on EZCCS and my trip ID since it showed a DH to EU on the first leg. He just acquiesced and I got my passport.

It was bizarre. I have to assume that the DC office processes at least 50 pilot passports annually. Ten years ago I did the exact same thing and had zero issues. You might consider making a bogus "reservation' on eRes showing travel as a backup. And take a copy of your schedule.

Bottom line, I was in and out both days in less than 5 hours. You show up early and drop off your stuff. They then schedule your return later that day. If you do it in DC, you're a very short walk to Metro and a short ride to the Smithsonian.

 

Good idea. I might also show them the page in the FOM that says it’s a required document to be possessed at all times for any airline pilot.

 

You could get a passport book with additional pages in it? I never heard of that. I suppose frequent international travelers can easily fill up their books with stamps well before 10 years...which now makes me wonder if this actually happens to WB crews.

 

Ya they will ask you if you want one. If not make sure you request it.

 

I would agree with this. Several years ago, I had an EASY, 90 minute experience thru there while in training. Welcome back.

 

Yes, do this. .


Germany will give crews an official form just for passport stamps, so then your papers will be in order.

 

As I recall (it was last year), the “fat book” (about double the number of pages) is free or maybe $10 if you ask for it up front.

But to get it added AFTER the fact is about $75 extra.

Germany is a stickler if you run out of pages. Some guys carry the letter-pages.

I just got the fat book. Not bad...not quite double the normal thickness, so it’s not awkward to pocket.

 

When I renewed my passport last year there was no extra cost.

 

Does anyone have any updates as of late with regards to how fast they are processing FCM passports in this post covid world? Does anyone have recent experience with the in-person Miami passport office? Any phone number that works? Seems like the generic number doesn't really get you anywhere. Passport expires in OCT so just seeing if anyone has intel. Thanks!