5 Rules for Timing Your Arrival to a Booked Appointment

Arrive 10–15 minutes early for most appointments Security checks take about 2 minutes unless there is an unexpected line. Elevators add another 2–3 minutes if you are on a high floor. This is enough time for courthouses and hospitals.

Do not arrive 30 minutes early You will stand around looking anxious. That is not useful to anyone.

Arrive 20 minutes early for federal buildings or bottleneck elevators Federal buildings with metal detectors require extra time. A 40-floor office with only four elevators is another exception.

Plan for the worst normal day, not a rare meltdown Assume typical delays, not one-in-a-hundred disasters. Overpreparing for rare events wastes time.

Call ahead if you are late due to a real delay That is more professional than hovering in the lobby for 15 minutes.