White House tour

Question

Does it increase our chances for a tour if we book through several members of congress? We’ve already submitted for one senator and are able to submit through the other. Just wondering if it helps.

Thanks.

Answer

White House tours are highly sought after and are arranged through members of Congress (Senators and Representatives). Submitting a request through multiple offices is a common question, but the process is fairly structured.

Here’s what you should know:

Each member of Congress has a limited number of tour slots to allocate each day. Requests are submitted for specific dates and are reviewed in order of submission.
Submitting requests through more than one office does not officially increase your chance of getting a tour. Each request is considered independently, and if you are approved by one office, that is usually sufficient.
Submitting multiple requests can sometimes complicate scheduling if both offices grant approval — you cannot “double-book” and will have to choose one confirmed tour date.

Tips to maximize your chances:

Submit your request as early as possible. Tour requests can be submitted up to several months in advance, and earlier requests have a higher chance of being accommodated.
Check both your Senators’ offices as well as your Representative. You only need one confirmation, but knowing all three offices accept requests increases flexibility.
Be flexible with dates. If you can accommodate different weekdays, your odds of getting a tour improve.

In summary, submitting through multiple offices does not guarantee a better chance, but it can provide alternatives if one office cannot fulfill your request. Once one office confirms your tour, you should proceed with that confirmation and cancel any other pending requests to avoid conflicts.

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