Tips to ensure your Embassy Appointment Runs Smoothly

1. If you must personally appear at the Embassy, select an appointment that gives you ample time to arrive about 15 to 20 minutes early.  It can take some time to clear security.
2. Be sure you have accurately completed all the forms in advance.  READ the sections of the website relevant to the service you are seeking.
3. Be sure your photographs are the right size for a US passport.  They MUST be two inches by two inches in size on a white background.  If they aren't, you will be sent out of the Embassy to get photographs, which can add up to an hour to the time you'll spend on the application.
4. Some services take longer than others, especially applications for a Report of Birth Abroad and passport for a child.  You could easily spend an hour or more processing this kind of application.  It's a good idea to bring a few books or toys to amuse yourself and your child while we process the paperwork.