Please read this from start to finish. It has answers to the emails that were sent after the last article. Below should answer almost everything you need to know about next month's U.S. Embassy visit.
--> TOMORROW- Tuesday April 2
Tomorrow from 11am-2pm a link will be sent to the Shemesh email, posted on the Shemesh WhatsApp group and local Facebook groups. That link leads to a form which must be filled out for those who'd like an appointment for the following services:
1) Child passport renewal
2) First time adult passport (over age 16)
3) Stolen/lost passport (for children and adults)
4) Adult passports that expired MORE than 5 years ago
Filling in the above form does NOT- I repeat does NOT- mean you have an appointment slot!!! There is a system in place to determine who will get a slot. (There are a very limited number of slots available.) I will ONLY contact those who have an appointment slot with further instructions about what they need to prepare and bring with them.
Many of you need appointments but unfortunately the embassy staff can only visit once a year and can only see a limited number of people. Sorry in advance.
However, as happens on every visit, people cancel and a few of those on the waiting list do get appointments.
--> DROPOFF FOR RENEWAL OF ADULT PASSPORT INFO
If you are an adult with a valid U.S. passport (or a 10-year passport that expired less than 5 years ago), you do NOT need an appointment! You can show up when the embassy staff visits (see below for details) and drop off your application.
In order to have your application processed, you must bring the following:
- Filled out DS-82 form (download form from the embassy website)
- 5X5 cm photo with white background, no glasses. Married women can be wearing a head covering
- U.S. passport and one copy of the passport
- receipt that you paid online for the passport (payment can be made online for the DS-82. It's $130)
- confirmation from courier service of delivery.
Delivery: The new passport gets delivered to you via a courier service. Fill in this form (https://israelpost.co.il/embassy), pay the 60 Shekels and print the confirmation you'll get (not sure if it's on the website or only via a confirmation email you'll receive) and include that confirmation with the other documents above.
Bring everything together in a manilla envelope or something else so everything stays together. You'll be able to walk in, everything will be checked to ensure nothing's missing and you'll be able to walk right out.
As a precaution: It's advisable to bring a second form of ID with you- Israeli passport, teudat zehut, drivers license. It won't be needed but just in case...