Miami Passport Agency Closed Due to Flood

On Sunday, April 22, the Miami Passport Agency flooded. Unfortunately, the damage to the building was extensive, and the facility has temporarily been condemned. The US Passport Agency in Miami will not be able to reopen until full repairs have been made. At this time, it’s estimated that it will take several weeks to complete the repairs.

If you had planned to visit the Miami Passport Agency to submit a passport application, or if your passport application was already in process, read on to find out what to do. We’re here to help you get your passport fast!

I had an appointment at the Miami Passport Agency for next week. Now what do I do?

If you have an appointment scheduled at the Miami Passport Agency for any time during the last week of April or the first two weeks of May, you should assume your appointment is cancelled. You’ll need to find a different way to submit your application for a rush passport.

One option is to try to make an appointment at a US Passport Agency in a different city. The nearest regional passport agencies to Florida are in Atlanta and New Orleans.

Don’t want the hassle and expense of traveling out of state to get your passport? A much more convenient option is to use a passport expediting company to submit your passport request. You can send your application packet to the expediting company using a delivery service like FedEx or UPS – no traveling involved! The passport expeditor will be able to have your new passport issued in as little as 24 hours.

I already submitted my passport application to the Miami Passport Agency. How can I get my passport now?

If you already submitted your application in person at the Miami Passport Agency, call the National Passport Information Center now (888-487-2778). Explain that your passport application was submitted in Miami, and ask to speak to a supervisor for assistance.
In order to get a passport issued now, you’re going to have to use the lost passport procedure. Unfortunately, you will need to pay all the government fees again, but keep your receipts! You will be able to submit them for reimbursement later.
A few tips to help you get your new passport issued quickly:

• If you don’t have an original birth certificate or an old passport to submit as proof of citizenship, you can request a file search. There is a $150 fee for this, but you will be reimbursed.
• Consider using a passport expediting company to help you submit your new passport application, so you can get your passport fast without having to travel to another city to go to a US Passport Agency in person. (Expediting company service fees won’t be reimbursed by the government.)
• Do you have extremely urgent travel? You may want to call your US Senator or Congressional Representative to see if their staff can help you.

I live in Florida, and I sent my passport application in by mail. Will I still get my passport on time?

Don’t worry! Passport applications that are sent in by mail aren’t processed at the regional passport agencies. Instead, they all go to the National Passport Processing Center in Philadelphia, PA. The flooding at the Miami Passport Agency won’t have any impact on the processing time of your passport.
Although the flood in Miami won’t cause any issues for your passport application, the State Department has been reporting an unusually high volume of passport applications recently. Expect your passport to take a full 8 weeks to process for routine service, or 3 weeks for expedited service by mail.

Source: https://passportinfo.com/miami-passport-agency-closed-due-to-flood/