SDSU Passport Office, San Diego CA

This place was the only one accepting applications for first time passports without some awful online appointment system that’s fully booked, so I gave it a shot.
Assuming you have everything you need, the process itself is quick. Make sure you have your money orders or checks ready, along with your real birth certificate.
Waiting in line takes a little while, but at least you can leave and they alert you when your turn is coming up so you’re not stuck waiting there the whole day. I wish I got the woman’s name who helped me; she was very patient and professional.

Love this place, the employees are so helpful. Don't forget to sign up for the digital line at 7 am. And don't forget to pay for parking via the QR code they enforce it even on Saturdays.

The most stressful part was paying for parking. Download app but must enter on your license plate number. So I had to walk back to my car to get it.

I still have yet to receive my birth certificate back and contacting someone is tough enough. I had a lot of the same problems everyone else is having.

The third time going there and not being able to get the passport. I start to believe the thing about come here and get your number is something they stop early in the day to let the staff go home before 4pm. I concur with some of the reviewers they are rude! This wannabe adults acting as they owned it. And the supervisors are like ghosts there not really seeing what those kids are doing. This is a State Department office you need more professionalism. 10: 30am and the list is full? ! Common. There is something very odd and not right about this location management.

We have use this location more than once on an early Saturday morning. It’s pretty great. We go to the walk-in hours, which starts early on Saturday. We tend to arrive about 6 AM with our beach chairs. The rest of the family can wait in the car in the parking garage while one sits in line to hold a spot.
When the office opens, each person in line gets assigned a number with an estimated wait time - and you can receive text messages keeping you informed of your wait time.
Because we arrive early we are usually out of there within an hour after opening.
Some of the problems we noticed is people don’t have their paperwork completed correctly.
I remember needing to bring 1 or 2 checks - so I went to my bank for a couple of temporary checks. Part of the fees cannot be paid by card. (Ugh).
We did our photos at FedEx Kinko’s but they do offer a photo services there.
We have watched people arrive just after the office opened, and they are told that they are full for the day.
Also, you have to pay for parking in the garage - you do so with an app & your phone.instructions are on the outside of the garage.

I had a great experience with them getting my 3 year old toddler an expedited passport. We had an appointment. I still haven’t received it yet but it’s only been 3 weeks since. We had already taken pictures at Walgreens but they weren’t close enough to see his features lined up so they took more of him that were clear. It was very easy to fill the application and we had everything except the money order/ check I forgot. However they informed us of 711 nearby that could do the money order and were still able to fit us in between rather than waiting for another appointment. In fact, we were pretty fast in getting it and returning to our appointment. I forgot but The gentleman with dreads was very helpful. He did give us information card to track the passport delivery/ progress. That way we don’t experience any delays. I would look forward to using them again in the future.

THIS PLACE IS NOT A WALK IN ONLY PLACE. You need a appointment! Very inconvenient for people who have to wake up extra early and drive a very long distance just a get shot down at the door and told you need an appointment. Very disappointed will not be returning.

The place was great! I came here January 7th and The staff was courteous, professional and friendly! I wanted to get my passport relatively quickly so I came here, no appointments are needed however you need to come here as early as possible there’s already a line by 6: 00am! Other than that I got my passport sooner than expected, it only took 5 weeks!

If I could give less then a single star I would I went to thier website and tried making an appointment at 7am on the dot and their joke of a website wouldn't let me put in my phone number info everytime I typed it took me to name slot and after 2 min of trying to put in just my phone number the waiting list was full again not to mention I went their in eprson wasted 50$ on a lyft just to be told I have to amke an appointment on their joke of a website

Their online sign-in system was convenient. I didn't have to actually show up in person unless I got a spot on the list. I came from Los Angeles since I needed to apply ASAP and there were no locations near me that could accept my documents as soon as SDSU could. After signing in at 7am, I received a text that showed my wait time (8 hours at the time of sign-in). So this online system was perfect and gave me time to actually go to work for half a day before driving down. However, I understand signing in can be frustrating since the list fills up in seconds. I only got a spot after trying on 4 separate days. The office staff said they see over a hundred applicants a day! Crazy busy but kudos to them. They were very nice and helpful especially when I overpaid on my check. They had to send me away to get another check or money order since I couldn't use my card/cash for the passport fees. They were very accommodating though as long as I went back within 30 minutes with the correct amount. I was nervous they didn't have time to accept my application but they still did! Make sure you triple check the passport fees, add them up correctly, and avoid making the same mistake I made. Also, plenty of parking is available in lot 11 or 12. Overall great experience. My mini trip from LA was worth it.

The new online waitlist system is much better and more efficient. The wait list does fill up within a minute or so of opening. Had a seamless experience using the online waitlist and going through the application process there once it was my turn.

The office was really helpful, I read everything on their website so it made everything super easy.

They no longer take in traditional walk-ins, you have to sign-in on their website at 7am! I thought they still had people sign-in at the office, but not anymore it’s a new online sign-in.

Their website has all the new information, but you join the waitlist on there. Once you put in your name, phone number, and number of people in party they send you a confirmation text message. The text message tells you when to show up and then they assist you! Super easy, so happy: D

DO NOT SIGN-IN IN PERSON. They have a virtual waitlist that opens at 7: 00am daily. They only help those on the waitlist.

I was able to get a spot and received a text message with my place in line and estimated wait.

I give them a one star because they sent my application after two weeks, and did not warn me that they will take all that time to mail it. I paid expedited and still are not going to get the passport on time.

I needed to obtain a new passport, my travel was 5 weeks away. I was assured by the processor that paying multiple expedite and overnight fees would get it there in time and that I couldn't go directly with the State Dept because travel wasn't within 2 weeks. I submitted through this processing office on the 19th of the month, State Dept didn't even receive it until the 25th. Passport did NOT arrive on time and a very expensive trip was canceled with no refund. A friend went through a local private postal store next to her house and received it in less than 3 weeks. Paying for their expedite service is worthless if they don't get it into the State Dept for 6 days. Two weeks prior to travel with no passport I called State Dept. Only appointments available directly with them for two weeks was in El Paso, TX. They are not responsible for the State Department turn around but they did inaccurately advise that it would arrive on time and they charged extra fees when they still didn't submit it for 6 days.

Arrived there early and was turned down! Opened at 8am told that they were at capacity at 930.

For being a no-appointment location, they run a slick operation! Here is my experience: I was prepared by having talked to someone who had been and by reading reviews on places like here. On a cold (40 degrees F) Saturday in January, I showed up at 6: 30 am and I was 19th in line. Some commented the line was short compared to other Saturdays. Many people had tried previous Saturdays. Parking: I parked in location 12. You can use the App they promote on the website but you must look up the parking location using the code on the website. Make sure you know your license plate #. Near 8 am, they started allowing people to put their information in the electronic line via an iPad at the front. At 8: 05 I was on my way back home as the intended return time was nearly two hours. I received a link via text message to check my status and I refreshed the browser periodically checking the time. It seemed to accelerate the closer you got. We left our home in Santee when it said 30 minutes but as we drove, the update said we were next in line. I had my son tap the message "On our way". When it was officially our turn, we got a text message saying it is "Your Turn" and saying we had 15 minutes to arrive. We arrived, texted "Arrived" back, and were attended to right away. We entered at about 9: 45 and the sign on the door said they had reached capacity for the day. We had our 4 children get passports. Things of note: 1) for photos, make sure you can see the child's full face including hair away from eyebrows and my son was wearing a camouflage design which they said was not allowed but he had a jacket, so problem solved. If you get your photos elsewhere, make sure those items are done and don't smile excessively but you could retake the photos there for more $. 2) For the parent IDs, driver's licenses seemed preferred vs passports, we had both. 3) On the forms it says occupation only needed if over 16 but they had us write student and then the school just the same. 4) You need a separate check to the state department for each application (the old checkbook came in handy). Then SDSU allowed paying via credit card the fees for the photos and the application. One credit card transaction per application. Also, if you want to avoid the busy season, go in the fall before December, a much quieter time.