Passport Application Services – Willow Glen Post Office

Two things:
1. Get there early. I was there 5:30am, I think by 6:30am there were already about 10 people.
2. Get all the documents ready, fill out the application form online from department of state’s website and print at home. Get your picture taken somewhere in advance, also have the necessary ID photocopies.
I was first in line that day, opened around 9am, even though on department of state’s website says 10am. In the first 5 mins the door opened, all 35 numbers for the day were gone. They only gave out 35 numbers per day.
You’ll be amazed how people would come unprepared. Filling out application form on the spot, get their pictures taken there, missing documents, make photocopies etc… So average say 15min per application, 35 numbers is roughly about 8 hrs worth of work. Only 1 person certified to process application.
As for me, 1^st in line and everything ready, I was in and out in 5min.

Got here at 6:30am like most people suggested and was disappointed when there was a sign on the door saying they’re closed until further notice. The next closest (and only other place that takes walk-​ins) is Eastridge Mall. The line at Eastridge is already super long. Fingers crossed I get in today.

So I’m giving one star only because the sign on the door that says if you aren’t here when you’re name is called, you lose your turn, is complete crap. After waiting for over 6 hours, 2 people didn’t show up, and once they decided to grace us with their presence, the clerk decided to let them in. It would also be wonderful if the 1 person who signed up on the list, would be the only one getting their passport, not bring their entire clan and decide to all get a passport. It’s great that they stay late and actually get the list done, but it’s ridiculous how they pick and choose what to abide by.

Really? People sit for over an hour don’t have their paperwork filled out??? Make them get a new number and wait in line again till they get it right! You don’t hold up the counter for 45 mins explaining how to fill out simple paperwork. ⁸⁄₁₀ people don’t have it filled out.
Maybe have an express line for those that can follow simple written direction? Or make every other day «can’t follow direction day» for those that need special attention. Not trying to be mean but this is ridiculous. It says last name, first name… birthdate…people putting first name in last name, name not matching their ID, birthdate not filled out… WTFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Govt inefficiency at its best.

Showed up on Black Friday hoping to avoid the long lines. Showed up at 7:30 am on Friday with 10 people in front of me, doors opened at 8:30 am (though door indicates 10 am open). You take a ticket and they started calling numbers immediately. Many didn’t have their families with them when they were called including myself, and our number was skipped temporarily.
There were two lines:
1) One person checking that paperwork was in order (5 minutes)
2) Second person calls the same numbers, but actually processes the paperwork and takes payment (8 minutes)
I was out the door by 10 am, which could have been 9 am if my family was with me.
Recommended tips:
1) Make an appointment if you can — this would avoid the long lines.
2) Make sure your family is with you — or you’ll be delayed another 30 – 60 minutes
3) Even if your family isn’t with you, get the first person to check the paperwork (family isn’t required for this step)
4) Make sure all paperwork is completed in black ink, and you have everything ready to go
5) Avoid weekends if you can, I showed up on a Saturday at 7 am with 50+ people ahead of me and gave up

I had zero issues with this location.
We arrived on a Tuesday morning at 745am and were 4^th in line. At 930 they opened the doors and let us in. (They open at 10) and got started right away in serving everyone.
We had all our paperwork filled out prior to going (which is key to a quick visit) and bam we were out of there at 1035. Not to mention the two ladies helping us were kind, helpful and super outgoing which made it a fun experience.
I recommend this place, I’d just go closer to the beginning of the week and try to get there by 830 they did run out of numbers by the time mine was called because they only serve 30 – 40 people. AND FILL OUT ALL THE PAPER WORK PRIOR TO GOING. Makes it so much easier and quicker for everyone involved.
Need a check for the amount, (not cash or credit card) check or money order, valid ID (they can make the copy for you) and the original copy of your birth certificate. Plus your current passport photo.
Handle all that and you’ll get through with ease.

I got here on a Friday morning at 7:00 am, and was 3^rd in line. At 8:30 they opened up earlier to begin serving us, and turns out I was actually 2^nd in line because the 2 people in front of me were 1 party. Yay!
As I get called up, I am notified that I need to have my travel itinerary. Yikes, I thought I read the website well, but apparently not. I walked down the block to the UPS store to print out the itinerary, and came back.
Then, after I was swore in and everything, the worker noticed that my DS-​11 application form was missing the bar code. What? What bar code??? Noooooooo…
Another trip to UPS to print out a new application WITH bar code. I finished around 11:30 am after all said and done, but it would have probably been a LOT faster had I not been missing those 2 pieces.
The workers were pleasant and I don’t have any major complaints. I just wish that both the itinerary + bar code issue were discovered the first run through to save me an extra tip to the UPS store!

Let’s start with the basics: This is a government office so my expectations were low. Once we realized our 14 month old son would need a passport for an upcoming trip, my wife and I started researching our options. Post-​9/​11, there are only a handful of places you can go but, you probably already know this.
The Meridian Post Office is one of two walk-​in options for passports in the South Bay. With Saturday being our best option, I prepared myself for a long wait outside in the cold. Based on other reviews, I knew I would have to get there early in order to be seen.
At 4:30am my alarm went off; I was in line (and let’s be honest, I was the line) at 4:50am. By 5:15pm I started getting some company. Every 15 minutes, another person showed up. Fast forward past star-​gazing, a short walk to Starbucks with another person from the line, and some good daybreak conversation. We started noticing life inside the passport office at 8am. My wife and son showed up at 8:15am to say hello and keep me company for a bit.
To everyone’s surprise, the door opened at 8:30am. Susie (the most helpful Post Office employee I have met) let us know they’d be opening early as a courtesy. We literally had everything completed and were walking out of the office by 9am.
So, here are the take-​aways: 1) Show up by 5:30am on a Saturday and you’ll be golden (it’s better to wake up early than get there too late and waste your time). 2) The employees do the best they can with their limited resources, be nice to them. 3) Starbucks is a five minute walk.
Good luck!

***Read the 5-​star reviews for tips!***
As per the posts I saw, I showed up at 7am on a Thursday in October (a low-​travel season, perhaps?) I brought my chair, some coffee and a good book. It was chilly. I was renewing passports for 3 kids under 15, so they had to be there in person with photos– but I went ahead to stand in line with all the paperwork done, with the plan to have the kids show up around 9:30am (I planned this for a Professional Development Day in their school district, so we could do it on a weekday all at once).
The next person showed up around 8am and waited in his truck, he told me he had showed up at 8:30am on Saturday and didn’t even get in. (So even though it wasn’t the case today, I was glad to be their early and get it done)
At 8:16, Susie asked if we were all ready to go. If we were, she could open the office. Since both of us were waiting for kids, she said to call them and that we could start on the paperwork.
She did my paperwork quickly (everything was all-​ready: their expired passports & birth certificates… which we won’t get back until December… and our 2 passports as their parents) and processed the fee using our debit card to get money orders. Then I stepped aside while she helped others– to wait for the rest of my family to show up. A sign was posted that their camera was or printer was down, so my husband took the kids to Walgreens for photos on the way in.
There was a slow trickle of people at that point– each waiting 20 – 30 minutes or so and finishing up in about 30 minutes.
When my kids showed-​up, Susie verified their identities, swore us in & finished up the application in about 10 minutes. We will be getting it mailed in about 6 weeks (December), but we don’t have pressing travel plans, so that was fine.
To sum-​up:
* Go on a WEEKDAY
* Show up EARLY 7−8am
* BRING a chair, coffee, book, blanket/​coat and your COMPLETED paperwork
* It pays to SEND SOMEONE AHEAD to stand in line if you can.
* Leave yourself TIME before your trip.

US Postal workers may be the stupidest people created. It’s amazing that mail gets anywhere. Inefficient, long winded and flustered is the only way you can describe them.
Saying they move at a glacial pace is giving them to much credit. If you can go to a notary or anyplace where customer service counts please do so!

I came here with a HUGE mix feeling between those 1 – 2 stars and 5 stars reviews !!! I bet you are too …
After I read all the Unilocal reviews on here, I would like to THANK YOU ALL UnilocalERS, to make things very honest, clear and helpful.
Now, my experience: Came here this morning, (tried 5:30AM, but couldnt get there ontime) I arrived at 6:40AM on a Friday, thought to myself this is over… but no, I was the 2^nd in the line. Surprisingly, there was noone except me and the first person in line until 7:35AM.
Even a better surprise, the lady there today, Susie, she opened the door and start the service early! How rare is this!!! I got everything done and left within 20MINS.
Susie, who I think she deserves my compliments and I am doing it as promised, the person who helped us that morning:
_​Helpful
_​Knowledgable
_​Friendly
_​Not that «hate my job» type of worker!
It can be packed on Saturday I heard. Try to be there early as you can, fill the form ahead of time, check, photo, ID proof. You are good to go!
Goodluck everyone, hope you guys dont have to experience the long line.

Like others have mentioned here, read the other reviews for good tips about making the best of the line.
I arrived Saturday ⁶⁄₂₇ at 5:33am and was the 9^th person in line.
Shortly after 8am the families started arriving to join a family member standing in line.
At 9:30am one agent came out and started letting people in one party at a time once confirming they had their paperwork in order.
We got a number at the door and then took our seat. One of the early people they let in didn’t have everyone from their party their yet, so they skipped that person until the rest of the family arrived and called the other numbers.
We were out by 10:30am.
The staff do a good job of staying focused and maximizing the number of people they can see in the limited number of hours they are open.

Just came back from this office today. Truly, read all the 5 star reviews for the «tips» before you make your trek down here. If you do, you will know exactly what you’re getting into before you get there and you won’t come away bitter like half the folks here.
True: You have to get there early. I rolled in just before 7am on a Friday and thought i would be near the front of the line. I was about 10^th.
True: Bring a chair, sweater, charged phone/​magazine. It does get a little chilly in the shade and you will be waiting several hours.
Partially True: Be prepared to spend half the day there. Real time i got in just around 7am and i was all done around 10:30am. On this particular day, they let some people in early (around 9ish) to check their paperwork and make sure everything was in line and designated early numbers at the same time. They didn’t start processing at exactly that time, but i’m sure this made the process quicker for the first 10 – 15 of us.
False: The workers there are rude and don’t care. The other folks might have caught them on a bad day or i might have caught them on a good one, but the ladies working the counter (i wish i got their names) were some of the nicest i’ve ever experienced at a post office, government office, if not any retail. They are forced by union to take their breaks when they do — that doesn’t mean they don’t want to help. They might tell you to move back if you’re hovering while they’re helping another customer but i assume that’s more for confidentiality than anything? They do read the reviews, so don’t be a troll.
Bring a good attitude and some patience (You were the one who forced yourself into rushing your passport, not them) and you’ll come away just fine.

thank u Unilocalers for your tips.
Simple facts:
1) Its a same day service, so it will be time consuming.
2) Everything was fine, staff is great.
Tips: On Saturday, you should be there by 6.30 am.

The worst mental torture ever.
Done this twice now for minor age passports. Thank God this is our last time we will ever visit a passport office.
Pay attention to the tips on this Unilocal page. You need to get here before 7 am on a weekday. 8 am maybe ok but you’re risking it.

Honestly, start by reading all the reviews on this Unilocal page – people have left some extremely helpful hints and descriptions here, and I’d have had a much worse time if I hadn’t had all the helpful info going in. I’m mostly just here to corroborate.
Like everyone else here says, ARRIVE EARLY – before 7 am on a weekday, and before 5 am on a Saturday – especially if you’re applying for your passport during a travel-​heavy time of year (spring and summer). Arrive so early you get to watch the sun rise from the sidewalk. Bring a chair, bring a book, bring a fully-​charged phone, bring a positive attitude (no, really). People tend to save spots for their families, so the line will get a lot bigger in front of you. Don’t panic. Did you get there early? You’ll make it in.
Bring all of your paperwork fully filled out in black ink. Bring your OG birth certificate. Bring your old passport, if you have one. Get your picture taken beforehand if you can – there’s a Walgreen’s right down the street.
Be prepared to wait.
Oh, and please be nice to the staff. They’re brisk but amicable, they’re almost supernaturally patient, and they take good care of everyone.

I am going to be descriptive because I know that it can be helpful.
1. The place opens at 10am disregard the web site.
2. Get there are 7:00am-8:00am at the latest.
3. Charge your mobile/​tablet, bring a book or friends, the wait is LONG.
4. Make sure you bring original Birth Certificates, Old, current Passport, and ID’s.
Arrive early because this place only allows 30 – 40 people per day, no matter what. They go by family, not individual, so they will look at your party as one. Arrive at 7am or 8am. You will see a line. If you are in line, basically you just wait wait wait until you finally get to the door and allowed inside. Once inside you are safe, but not from the dam frustration of waiting. When you go inside after like three hours of waiting inside you continue on the same line in back of the same people for hours until one agent, yes, one agent reviews each group’s file, that is why it takes such a long time. It is one person. Again… once you reach inside. You continue on in a line until you finally see an agent that will review your stuff and then give you a number. What is the wait from this point? LONG! You are looking at least 3 hours possibly 4 hour wait from the time you see the agent.
After you see the agent and given a number you just wait inside for 3 to 4 hours because only one person is reviewing the orders and stuff, taking payments and providing the oaths for your passports. Once you are called it is usually 15 minutes or so, make payment and pledge oath.
Yes and No’s
Yes you can pay with debit, check or credit card.
Yes you can purchase the passport pictures once inside waiting frustrating
NO BATHROOMS, nearest is one block away at Starbucks.
Yes you are allowed to leave for a breather or go grab some food or go to bathroom.
NO charging stations or outlets inside which work, they are none working.
YES, bring snacks, food!
YES bring a chair so that you can sit, NOT Stand outside.
You will be tired, frustrated and irate of how slow things. don’t let this be news, you know NOW, you will wait HOURS, like 6 – 7 hours for the whole thing, depending if you are one of the first 10 in line at least at 6−7am.
There so many people with hundreds of questions which delays the lines from continuing. it is nuts. Also, they have all the forms there, if you mess up or forget your forms, they check-​in with you way prior you get to see the agent, so don’t fear, you will have the opportunity to get as many forms you need if you mess up or need to get once you are in line near the entrance or inside waiting forever.

Recently came in and got a new passport here before I went to Dubai… sure, I was turned away the first time, but I didn’t get all bent out of shape and immediately vent on Unilocal… I learned what had to be properly done and did it the following week, as it was entirely my fault. Did I want to wake up extra early to wait around in a government run office? No. Was it necessary to get my passport? Yes. Did I complain? No, I maintained and did what had to be done. The two women working were sweethearts and did a great job for being the only employees having to deal with an unruly crowd of people. All was well in the end.
Quick note, I opted for the passport card as well (35 $, on top of regular fees and expedited processing) which is nice to have when traveling overseas if something were to happen to your actual passport.

I came here on Saturday around 7:30 am and I was around 26 in line. I figured it out that they give per family one ticket and that saved me as lot of families are before me. They accept almost 60 family and started early to hand over the tickets around 9:30 am. No complaints, nothing. Good service.
4 stars because I have to wait a lot for my number to call in and service was little slow.

Extremely busy on the weekends… They only take around 40 people the day I came in and wouldn’t let anyone else after a certain time to have a number ticket.
I waited for 3 hours and it should’ve been longer but after the lunch break some people came in later so she skipped around 5 people that were ahead of me.
The Asian lady was extremely helpful. She did everything as fast as she can. I had went to fedex to take the passport photo but it came out wrong (way too contrasted and too close to face). She advised me to retake photo otherwise they wouldn’t accept it! Good thing I came in instead of mailing it out!