US Consulate - Passport Renewal

[Fire137]

I'm planning on making an appointment to go to the US consulate for a passport renewal - probably for an early time slot (8:30-9:00) on a weekday. I've never been to the consulate here in Hong Kong before. Does anyone know about how early in advance I should show up (to deal with any security checks, processing, etc.)? And about how long the appointment will take? Thanks!

[rlleung]

If you are currently in HK and your passport is not expired, you can just renew by post. Saves the trouble of physically going there.

http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/acs_passports.html

[Fire137]

I'm trying to avoid the mail option as 1) I've heard getting the US money order/cashier check payment requirement can be a hassle to get and 2) I may be traveling out of Hong Kong within a couple of weeks.

[emx]

I've heard getting the US money order/cashier check payment requirement can be a hassle

Most banks here will issue a USD cashier cheque without even batting an eyelid, not a hassle at all.

[heather11]

last time I was there (May this year) the security check was quick. however, the line for the window was quite long even thought I had an appointment. I went in the morning.

[biffski]

Not to worry at all. It is an extremely easy procedure with little aggravation. You have an appointment so it makes no difference if you arrive early. There are only so many appointments given per hour. If you arrive over 1 hour late your appointment is cancelled. In terms of payment, you can simply walk over to HSBC HQ ATMs on QRC and they can spit out US$ at a reasonable exchange rate. Don't worry about money orders or cashier's checks.

[answerer]

By mail is easy and it's back in 2 weeks.
1) Trip to HSBC or Citi. Ask for USD draft drawn on their US bank (not their HK bank). Double-check before you leave that it has the name of the US bank.
2) Trip to post office. Buy 2 Courier Post envelopes (http://www.hongkongpost.hk/eng/services/lcp/index.htm). Address one to yourself, one to US Consulate.
3)Drop everything in the mail

[gothamtohk]

I just got it done recently, so it is sort of fresh in my mind. I suggest you get the earliest appointment (8:30am). Sit on the chairs closest to the entrance (this does matter). At about 8:20am a lady with a clip board will approach the first person on the chair and ask for their name and appointment slip. She will start matching up appointments slips against her list. Once she checks you off, you wait on line to enter. The line up matters because if you want to get out of Dodge quickly be the first couple of people she checks in. At the embassy entrance you will go through a metal detector and they will take your cell phone away and lock it up and give you a receipt. You should have your paperwork filled out and documents ready. You go to a window, hand in the form, then go to the cashier right outside and make payment (I paid by credit card). They then give you an option to come back to pick up your passport (don't do this unless it is urgent) or by registered mail. If you registered choose mail, you go to the basement and there is a post office window on the left side of the room. You give them HKD$35 bucks or so, they give you a receipt and you get your passport in the mail in less than 7 days. I got mine in 3 days. Amazing service in HK. I was out of there before 9am. It was painless. Probably easier than getting a US money order and mailing it in. Good luck.

[penguinsix]

Just to update this thread for future readers, I'd second the advice about the earliest appointment possible. I made mine for 8:45 and walked in with no line at the front security check and only two people ahead of me upstairs in the American Citizen Service center (check-in desk 1). You will have to check not only your mobile phone but other electronic device (they took my Fitibit pedometer).

I would note that if you are paying with US currency, they check extremely close for fakes, and they said "our bank doesn't accept damaged money". I put forward a dollar that had a tear and they hemmed and hawed quite a bit about accepting it (wasn't major--would still working a vending machine). They also went over the $100 bills I brought with a fine tooth comb, pulling out a magnifying glass even. Was a bit overkill.

I walked through security at 8:43 and walked out the door at 9:01, getting additional pages for 3 passports. Was pretty painless. However, there was a much longer security line at 9:00 when I left.