Passport Services at Coral Square Mall: What Most People Get Wrong

You’re standing in the middle of Coral Square Mall in Coral Springs, Florida. You’ve got a shopping bag in one hand and a soft pretzel in the other, and suddenly it hits you—you’ve been putting off that passport renewal for six months. It’s one of those nagging errands that feels like it’s going to involve a fluorescent-lit basement and three hours of standing in a line that doesn't move. But here's the thing: passport services at Coral Square Mall actually exist, though they aren't exactly what most people expect when they think of a "government office."

Honestly, the logistics of getting a passport in Broward County can be a total headache if you don't know where you're going. Most people assume they have to trek down to the main post office or find a specialized county clerk’s office with weird operating hours. While those are options, the mall location offers a weirdly convenient alternative that blends high-stakes bureaucracy with the smell of cinnamon rolls.

Where the heck is it located?

Don't just wander around the food court looking for a "Passport" sign. You'll be disappointed.

The primary hub for passport services at Coral Square Mall is tucked away inside the Coral Square Mall Post Office. This isn't a massive, standalone building; it’s a retail unit within the mall itself. You can usually find it on the north side of the mall, specifically near the entrance between Macy's and JCPenney. If you're coming from the outside, look for the entrance closest to University Drive. It’s easy to miss if you aren't looking for the blue and white USPS logo.

Wait. There's a catch.

Just because it’s in a mall doesn’t mean it follows "mall hours." This is still a federal operation. If the mall opens at 10:00 AM, don't assume the passport desk is ready for you then. Most people get burned by this. They show up on a Saturday afternoon thinking they'll knock out an application after buying new shoes, only to find the passport window shuttered while the rest of the post office is still selling stamps.

The Appointment Myth vs. Reality

Can you walk in? Maybe. Should you? Probably not.

For years, the USPS has been pushing hard toward an appointment-only model for new passport applications (Form DS-11). If you show up at the passport services at Coral Square Mall without a slot booked through the official USPS Retail Customer Appointment Scheduler (RCAS), you’re basically gambling with your afternoon.

Sometimes—and I mean sometimes—they take walk-ins if someone cancels or if the staff is feeling particularly generous. But this is South Florida. It’s busy. You've got families of five trying to get documents for a summer cruise. If you don't have that confirmation email on your phone, you're likely going to be told to come back in three weeks.

What you actually need to bring

Most people fail the "documentation test" on their first try. It’s frustrating. You need the basics, but the specifics are where it gets dicey:

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• Proof of Citizenship: An original birth certificate (with a raised seal) or a previous passport. Photocopies aren't enough for the primary proof; they want the real deal to send off to the State Department.
• Identification: A valid Florida driver's license. If your license is from out of state, you might need a secondary form of ID.
• The Photocopies: This is the big one. You need a black-and-white photocopy of the front and back of your ID and your citizenship evidence. If you don't have these, you'll be paying for copies at the mall, or worse, running to a nearby office supply store while holding your spot in line.
• The Checkbook: Yes, a physical checkbook. The State Department fee and the USPS execution fee are often paid separately. The State Department doesn't take credit cards for the application fee at these locations—they want a check or a money order. The USPS fee can usually be paid by card, but bring a checkbook to be safe. It feels like 1995, but that's the federal government for you.

Photos: The Mall Advantage

One genuine perk of using passport services at Coral Square Mall is the photo situation. The USPS office inside can take your photo for a fee (usually around $15). It’s fast. It’s compliant.

However, because you're in a mall, you have options. If you’re worried about the "mugshot" look that post office cameras often produce, you can hit up a place like CVS or even a specialized photo studio within the mall beforehand. Just make sure they follow the 2x2 inch requirement and the "no glasses" rule. If your photo is rejected because of a shadow or a weird glare, your whole application stalls.

Actually, just let the USPS workers do it. They know exactly what the State Department reviewers are looking for. It saves a lot of back-and-forth.

Timing is Everything

If you’re planning a trip, don't wait.

The processing times for passports fluctuate wildly. In 2023 and 2024, we saw massive backlogs where "routine" service was taking 10 to 13 weeks. By 2026, things have stabilized a bit, but you're still looking at a solid 6 to 8 weeks for routine processing and 2 to 3 weeks for expedited.

Expedited service costs an extra $60. Is it worth it? If your flight is in less than two months, absolutely. If you're really in a pinch—like "I'm flying to Paris in 48 hours and my dog ate my passport" in a pinch—the mall location cannot help you. You have to go to a Regional Passport Agency. The closest one to Coral Springs is the Miami Passport Agency. That requires a whole different level of proof (like a flight itinerary departing within 14 days) and a very specific type of appointment.

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Common Pitfalls at Coral Square

I’ve seen people lose their minds at this location because they didn't realize a few simple things.

First, children's passports are a whole different beast. If you're getting a passport for a minor under 16, both parents must be present. If one parent can't make it, you need a notarized Form DS-3053. I once saw a dad try to apply for his daughter's passport while the mom was at work, thinking he could just "sign for her." Nope. They sent him packing.

Second, the "Renew by Mail" trap. If you already have a passport and it's just expired (and it was issued when you were 16 or older), you don't actually need the passport services at Coral Square Mall at all. You can do it via Form DS-82 and mail it in yourself. In fact, the staff at the mall might even refuse to see you for a renewal because it's meant to be a mail-in process. You save the $35 execution fee by doing it at home.

How to actually secure a spot

1. Go to the USPS website at midnight or early in the morning.
2. Search for the 33071 zip code.
3. Filter by "Passport Appointments."
4. Look for "Coral Square" in the list.
5. If nothing is open, check the Margate or Coconut Creek locations—they are close by and sometimes have more "hidden" availability.

Navigating the Costs

Let’s be real: this isn't cheap. For an adult first-time applicant, you’re looking at $130 for the passport book (the State Department fee) plus a $35 execution fee to the USPS. That’s $165 before you even think about photos or overnight shipping.

If you want the "Passport Card" too (good for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean), add another $30. Most people skip the card unless they're frequent cruisers or live on a border.

Practical Steps to Take Right Now

If you're serious about getting this done at Coral Square Mall, don't just "wing it."

• Verify your documents today: Find your original birth certificate. If it’s a "hospital certificate" with tiny footprints on it, it won't work. It has to be the state-issued one with the registrar's signature.
• Book the slot: Do not wait for the weekend. Check the USPS scheduler now.
• Pre-fill the form: Download the DS-11 from travel.state.gov and fill it out in black ink. Do not sign it. You have to sign it in front of the agent at the mall. If you sign it early, you have to start all over with a fresh form.
• Check the mall’s "hidden" hours: Call the specific Coral Square USPS branch at (954) 346-0708 to confirm their passport window hours for that specific day. Sometimes they have staffing shortages and close the passport desk early.

Taking care of your passport at the mall is actually a smart move if you're already in the Coral Springs area. It beats driving into downtown Fort Lauderdale or Miami. Just remember that it’s a federal office that happens to be near a food court—treat it with the same preparation you'd give a trip to the IRS, and you'll be through it in thirty minutes.

Once you’ve submitted everything, keep your tracking number. You can check your status online after about two weeks. Your new passport will arrive in one envelope, and your original documents (like that birth certificate) usually arrive in a second, separate envelope about a week later. Don't panic when the first envelope arrives and your birth certificate isn't in it. It's coming.

Now, go grab that pretzel. You've earned it.

Next Steps for Your Application:

1. Check your birth certificate: Ensure it is a government-issued original with a raised seal and lists both parents' names.
2. Visit the USPS Retail Customer Appointment Scheduler: Look specifically for the Coral Square Mall location (Zip 33071) to grab the earliest available morning slot.
3. Print and complete Form DS-11: Use black ink only and leave the signature line blank until you are standing at the service window.
4. Prepare your payments: Write out a check or money order for $130 (Adult) or $100 (Minor) made payable to "U.S. Department of State."