How early should I arrive for a booked appointment?

Arrive 10–15 minutes early for a booked slot unless you’re going to a courthouse or hospital. Security checks are usually quick, and elevators add a few minutes. Showing up 30 minutes early just makes you look anxious. Exceptions: federal buildings with metal detectors or buildings with bad elevator bottlenecks—go 20 minutes early. Plan for a normal day, not a rare meltdown.