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    The Passport Office

    4.6 (128 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    Laura M.

    My review is mixed: 5 stars for Ulises, but 3 stars for the business. Let me explain. Like everybody else who uses this service, my story starts with a dumb mistake. In my case, nine days before our flight to Paris I realized that I'd forgotten to renew my passport back in September. When I googled "passport renewal San Francisco" I landed on this page: https://www.thepassportoffice.com/application.php?svc=Passport%20Renewal Ten years ago (due to theft), I'd had to spend much of two days at the ACTUAL passport office, and so I was pleased to discover that I could get my passport renewed at short notice without having to go to the City. As you can see from the photo, the intro page looks very official with the backdrop of the Capitol building. The request for travel data is reassuring. Once you fill out the form, the next page that pops up presents links for all the materials you need to download and FedEx off to the office. It all looks very official! Shortly thereafter, I called the 800 number on the form and reached Ulises. He straightened out a problem with my credit card, and even gave me his direct phone number. I had to call him back twice as I filled out the forms, and at a couple of points he told me that I could ignore certain requests. For the next 18 hours, I believed that I was dealing with the actual, federal passport office. I sent off the materials to "The Passport Office," and Ulises called me at 9:01 a.m. the next day to tell me that he'd received them. His next statement shocked me: "You didn't include the money order to the Department of State for $170." He sounded puzzled. "But I've already paid you with my credit card!" I replied. "That's just OUR fee," Ulises informed me. It was at that moment that I realized that I was dealing with a private company, and not the U.S. Passport office. My heart sank. What to do? There wasn't time for me to get the money to San Francisco before the 10:00 a.m. cutoff. "I'll tell you what I'll do," Ulises offered. "I'll cover your fee, and you can bring me cash when you come to pick up your passport in person." And that's exactly what took place. However, I spent the day on tenterhooks, because I checked out the name of the company that had taken my $179 and they have an "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau, and uniform 1-star ratings from customers complaining that they couldn't get their money back once they discovered that they were paying for services that they could do for themselves. But then I relaxed at bit when I discovered that Ulises himself had rave reviews on Google +. So, I have mixed feelings. One of the recent Yelpers wrote: "I really feel [Ulises] is a gem. He could work anywhere he has a stellar personality and is very professional. " I totally agree! On the other hand, the cost of my passport skyrocketed to $179 + $34 for shipping to the firm + $12 for passport photo to another $170 for the State Department plus $5 for Ulises' money order. (Furthermore, $30 of the $179 was for FedEx fees that they never had to spend.) So, while I have now joined the ranks of "fans of Ulises," I am NOT a fan of the company. Yes, I am now able to fly to Paris on Tuesday -- hurrah and thanks! But did I really need to spend $400 for a new passport?

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    Miguel R.

    Great service. Fast and very helpful. I was freaking out that I won't be able to make my trip and this business help. Now I'm stress free

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    Page 1 of 4

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    Review Highlights - The Passport Office

    Be prepared for waits at the passport agency a short drive away from this location after Ulises sets you up.

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    San Francisco Passport Agency

    San Francisco Passport Agency

    4.2(748 reviews)
    0.6 miCivic Center

    Never in my life have I had such a seamless visit at any state of federal office. Took my mother in…read morelaw to get an emergency passport. The officers at the front entrance were pleasant and patient. The receptionist at the third floor where the office was at took down our appointment number and gave us a number instantly. We walked up to the first window where all documents were checked and told to have a seat. We were called to a window in less than five minutes. The process was completed within ten minutes. We were told to come back at 3:00 to pick up her passport. They allowed us to line up at 2:45 and had the passport in hand by 3:00. I complimented multiple times that they had a great system. I had went back in 2018 and got in line at 6:00AM. During a time where walk in were still taken. That was a 3 hour wait until I got to the window. This process from when we entered to when it was complete took a total of 25 minutes. It took longer to find parking than to get the passport application done. It's still best to be prepared. Paperwork in order, pictures taken beforehand. They only take contactless payment and not money orders or checks. Very simple, very seamless. Salute to the SF passport agency and all the federal officers at the door.

    Big building with lot of security. Come here ahead of your appointment to avoid delay. Third floor…read moreto passport agency. Prepare all your documents before coming, check what you need online. The staff are professional and work quickly. Way better than DMV. 1 day to renew rushed passport! Parking is easy 1 block away for $8 per hour.

    Photos
    San Francisco Passport Agency - Picture Perfect Passport Photo

    Picture Perfect Passport Photo

    San Francisco Passport Agency - Get a Passport Card and Book

    Get a Passport Card and Book

    San Francisco Passport Agency - Passport Photos available on the first floor of the building starting at 6:30AM - 3PM.

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    Passport Photos available on the first floor of the building starting at 6:30AM - 3PM.

    Passport Depot

    Passport Depot

    4.7(123 reviews)
    0.5 miLower Nob Hill, Nob Hill
    25 years in business
    Walk-ins welcome

    Needed a passport ASAP for my first international trip. Passport Depot got the job done!…read more I waited until the absolute last minute and did the two week expedited service. I never had a passport before so I needed more than just a renewal. Passport Depot was incredible at making sure I had all the right documents, setting up appointments with the Postal Service, and got me my passport a week earlier than expected. Huge lift off my shoulders, the team was nice and professional. I highly recommend using Passport Depot!

    We have been going to Passport Depot for years now, since they were located on Haight St. They now…read morehave a beautiful new location in Union Square. Let's be honest we never keep track of when our passport expires. Then when you suddenly book a last minute trip, you notice you're passport has expired and you're franticly trying to see how you can get it renewed before your trip. Michael and Christine take all the stress of getting an appointment and filling out paperwork for you. They expedite and streamline the renewal process for you, saving you time and stress. When you're handing over your passport to an agency, you want to make sure that they are professional, trustworthy, reliable and that everything will be handled with care and on time. They also can help you with travel Visa's and can answer any questions you may have. When I was renewing an expire passport for my mom recently, I also noticed that they have a passport card available now that works as a secondary ID, or for domestic travel if you don't have a real ID. Working with them for our passport renewals has given us peace of mind that everything will be handled properly for us in time. Great customer service. Would highly recommend.

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    Passport Depot
    Passport Depot
    Passport Depot

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    China Visa Service Center

    China Visa Service Center

    4.7(153 reviews)
    0.7 miFinancial District

    Got my China visa TWO weeks ahead of when I asked for it (created the request 11/2, documents…read morereceived at office 11/16, visa ready on 11/26)! Efficient service. Since the consulate recently removed the option to book appointments, this is the cheapest option I found for getting the visa and IMO totally worth it to skip waiting in the consulate line. The website is a little outdated but updates with the bare minimum information that is needed. You can ship materials ($37 each way) or drop them off at the in-person office in SF. My total invoice for getting the visa was $380 -- $185 for the mandatory consulate fee, $185 service fee, and the remainder was a processing fee. Other than that, there are no add-ons for "checking documents" or "photo print" (which is not necessary for the SF consulate) like other websites, which I appreciated. One of the biggest downsides: it is *really* difficult to contact customer service (the phone lines have 20+ minute wait times and my email went unanswered). Overall, I was able to get my visa for China within 3 weeks using this service. It lifted a huge burden of stress off my shoulders. When my 10-year visa expires, I would definitely consider reusing this service!

    I submitted all the paperwork and they kept telling me to update my work history for the past five…read moreyears, which I did, and it turns out they don't even need this information. Then they said I had not updated it despite having updated 3 times. I called them to update it and they said it can only be done through their website which doesn't function. Then they gave me a refund minus $180 or so. This is a rip off and these people are incompetent.

    Photos
    China Visa Service Center
    China Visa Service Center
    China Visa Service Center - When I got to the Consulate, my number was 200 -- and they were only up to 76 for the day. China Visa Service Center was a godsend!!!

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    When I got to the Consulate, my number was 200 -- and they were only up to 76 for the day. China Visa Service Center was a godsend!!!

    Bow Joy Services - Translation Service

    Bow Joy Services

    4.8(149 reviews)
    0.6 miChinatown

    I had a very pleasant experience with their service. They were all quick and responsive throughtout…read morethe entire process.

    Spencer Chase is a scammer. I wish I had read the recent reviews before paying him…read more I hired Spencer for assistance for a Chinese Visa application. Similar to other reviewers here, he initially seemed very responsive and knowledgeable, but then the delays and excuses started. Since he has had legitimate experience in this field, his excuses seemed reasonable, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt. In the end, they were all lies. Here is an incomplete list of the excuses he used: "Waiting for the pickup notification" "Should be today or tomorrow" "It will definitely be next week" "They are a little backlogged at the Consulate" "Should be any day" "Will contact you soon, at the consulate now" "Should be getting the pickup ticket tomorrow" "They are prioritizing business first, ticket applicants second, and non-ticket applicants like yours third" "This delay is not typical" "Your application was batched with a tourism order last week" "I've been using all methods to try to get this done as soon as possible and it will be completed this week" "I got the pick up date and it's for next Thursday" "I just received one for another case that was submitted shortly before yours so it looks like we're almost there" All of these excuses sounded believable and made the process sound like it was always tantalizingly close to completion, but every one of these updates was a lie. Every. Single. One. I was a fool to have believed him. I hired Spencer in July when he promised it would be done in 2-3 weeks. I had to threaten him with legal action in order to recover my passport in November (4 months later, still with no visa in hand). After getting my passport back, I went to the consulate myself. The whole process took just 40 minutes (mostly waiting in line). It makes my blood boil just thinking about how Spencer strung me along for 4 agonizing months because he couldn't have bothered to go to the consulate for a mere 40 minutes. He exploited my inexperience and took advantage of my patience. My advice for anyone applying for a Chinese visa: do it yourself. The consulate updated their online application process in October 2025 so it's much smoother. If there is anything missing in your application, they'll tell you online exactly what you need. When it's time to submit your passport to the consulate in person, you just need to drop off the passport. The processing is super fast now because they've already reviewed everything online. And you don't have to pay a penny until your actually pick up your passport with the visa. Even worse than wasting your money and time, Spencer will ruin your travel plans and your mental health. He never planned on completing the work. Please don't make the same mistake I did.

    Photos
    Bow Joy Services - Notary Service

    Notary Service

    Bow Joy Services - Passport Renewal

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    Passport Renewal

    VFS Services USA - Documents needed

    VFS Services USA

    2.0(197 reviews)
    0.4 miFinancial District

    I had a very positive experience with VFS Global at the Atlanta office. The staff were…read moreprofessional, polite, and very helpful throughout the entire process. From the moment I arrived, they clearly guided me through each step and made sure everything was handled efficiently. The processing was very quick, and the team worked in a well-organized manner. I especially appreciated how attentive the staff were in answering questions and assisting applicants to ensure all documents were properly submitted. Overall, the service was smooth, efficient, and stress-free. I would definitely recommend VFS Global to anyone looking for a reliable and well-managed visa application service.

    This is for the new office 642 Harrison street…read more I am still doing OCI MISC services which I got frustrated when I started Feburary 2021. Now it is mandatory to get the OCI Misc serivecs. After four years still nothing changed. Here is my updated review from March 2026 I applied for OCI miscellaneous services through the Government of India website. The online application process itself was actually quite easy compared to a few years ago. However, the problems started after submitting the application. The instructions said to create an account with VFS and follow their guidelines. Unfortunately, the instructions were not clear either on the Indian government website or on the VFS website. I mailed my physical application along with a check to VFS, and it has now been 14 business days with no response. When I try to track the application online, the VFS website does not work properly. When I attempt to contact them through the online support system, I cannot even submit a query because the page stalls. I also tried calling their customer service number. They mention that the first 10 minutes are free, but after that it costs $2.48 per minute, which is ridiculous. Even after calling, the service was very poor. The representatives were not able to answer my questions and simply kept telling me to track the status online. However, the main issue is that their website itself is not working, so I have no other way to get information about my application. Overall, the service experience has been extremely frustrating. I am not sure why the Government of India has hired this company to handle such important application processing.

    Photos
    VFS Services USA
    VFS Services USA
    VFS Services USA

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    The Passport Office - passportvisaservices - Updated July 2026

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