The State Department has named the County’s passport application office the best public acceptance facility out of 8,000 operations of its kind in the nation.
The award recognized the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors passport office’s superior customer service and implementation of a new online appointment system.
The award states that the office at the County Administration Center in downtown San Diego serves “as a shining example for all passport acceptance facilities.”
The Clerk of the Board of Supervisors accepted the 2018 Acceptance Facility of the Year (Public) award from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs in Washington, D.C. on Friday. The department’s National Awards Program for Passport Acceptance Facilities and Acceptance Agents recognizes facilities and agents who have gone above and beyond in offering customer service or implemented innovation that streamlines processes and enhances the customer experience.
“Our office is not only one of the busiest passport acceptance facilities in the county, but I’m proud to say it is one of the best too” said Clerk of the Board David Hall.
The County began accepting passport applications in 1999. To date, it has accepted more than 253,000 applications.
In February 2018, the County switched from a walk-in to an appointment-only facility. The change has resulted in decreased wait times for applicants. Since then, 18,154 appointments have been scheduled for passport services through its online system.
If you are planning to travel internationally, make your passport application appointment today. Applicants can make appointments online up to three weeks in advance. Customers can cancel and reschedule appointments online as well. In addition, they can receive text reminders for their appointment.
A passport book is required for international air travel or for those who cross the international borders into Mexico or Canada. A passport card is often used in communities where crossing the border is a daily occurrence but can also be used at U.S. land and sea ports-of-entry for travelers arriving from Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda.