![]() Ruberto ended up giving away his appointment for free after his passport arrived in the mail, using a Reddit message board to connect to another traveler. "And unfortunately, we may not be able to honor appointments booked via third party, so we are aware and are working to try to rectify that situation." "The department is not affiliated with any third-party appointment booking services, and we’ve seen numerous instances of falsified appointment bookings through these vendors," she told media during a Wednesday briefing. Rachel Arndt, deputy assistant secretary for passport services for the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs, said the agency is aware of fraudulent requests for payment and is working to stop the sales. “They’re taking advantage of people who are in a desperate situation.” “I think it’s pretty scummy,” Ruberto said. Harried travelers are turning to third parties online to purchase passport appointments – typically a free service – to ensure that they can get their passports in hand before their summer vacation. Vaccine passport: Do I need a vaccine passport to travel? The answer is no – for now, anyway Passport wait time: Itching for an international trip? Be prepared to wait up to 18 weeks for a passport Ruberto was able to snag an appointment after three days of trying, but he knows others haven’t been so lucky, especially now that there are people stockpiling appointments to sell. Before the pandemic, the average nonexpedited wait time was six to eight weeks. Postal Service have caused the average wait time for new and renewed passports to shoot up to 12 to 18 weeks, according to the Department of State, which oversees passport applications. Pent-up travel demand, staff shortages and delays within the U.S. "There are a lot of people (online) that are taking advantage of the system." "The whole appointment system … is something completely screwed right now," he told USA TODAY. He said he found price tags as high as $300, but suspects they go higher in private messages. Scrolling through online forums on Facebook and Reddit offered helpful tips, but Ruberto also found dozens of posts trying to peddle appointment times. The 19-year-old Minnesota resident put in a request for a renewal in early June and started looking for ways to set up an appointment to make sure he could make the trip. ![]() Seth Ruberto was afraid he'd have to miss out on his August trip to Europe when he learned his passport was about to expire. The call center is closed on federal holidays.Watch Video: Summer air travel: What to know about cancellations, reimbursements ET, Mondays through Fridays, or Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. Urgent Travel Service: Schedule an appointment if you are traveling internationally within 14 calendar days or need a foreign visa within 28 calendar days. Learn more on our Life-or-Death Emergency page. Life-or-Death Emergency Service: We are prioritizing customers who are traveling internationally in the next 3 business days due to a qualified life-or-death emergency. What number you call to make an appointment depends on the day of the week and time of day. We will provide unique confirmation information that our staff will verify on the day on your appointment.You cannot transfer your appointment to another customer. ![]() We do not charge a fee to make an appointment.You cannot walk-in without an appointment.You can only make an appointment by calling us.Our email is have two types of appointments: Life-or-Death Emergency Service and Urgent Travel Service. Do not email us if you are requesting a status update or you have a travel emergency. Email us only if you need to cancel an appointment at a passport agency or center.embassy or consulate if you are applying outside the United States. ![]()
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