Originally Posted by
crescatfloreat
Has anyone around here already used the long waiting times (compared to other similar countries) and the fact that the old passport must be surrendered during the renewal (also unusual in other countries) as an argument to get a second, parallel USA passport? I can't see how certain professionals can be expected not to travel for so long, or pop into some inconvenient and far-away issuance agency after some telephone acrobatics...
The fact is that the old passport can be examined by the embassy/consulate personnel for the DS-11/DS-82s and the passport returned to the applicant for the applicant’s use during the entire period between the applicant submitting the application in-person at the embassy/consulate and returning to the embassy/consulate to pick up the new (full duration) passport. I touched upon this being done in a post in this thread:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/35146999-post2367.html
See the last sentence in the first paragraph of that post: “It’s also possible for the embassy/consulate to allow the applicant to keep the current passport (used for the application) for use (to stay and/or travel) until picking up the new full duration passport after it gets back to the station.” Upon being informed via email that the passport is back at the station, someone just needs to show up with the email and the old passport (and their own passport/ID) and then the station will collect the old passport, invalidate it, and return the invalidated passport and the new passport.
In other words, this allowance for applicants outside of the US reduces the strength of a case for wanting a second/limited duration US passport as a secondary US passport.
Originally Posted by
crescatfloreat
Has anyone done the consulate trick as a tourist with his children's passports? I presume the rules are the same - two parents present and that's it?
Considering the shorter 5 year validity period, long and uncertain renewal times... if multiplied by several children, the slowness' consequences are also multiplied and start to unpleasantly affect travel plans.
Yes, lots of acquaintances do this with their children. Both parents present is part of the same routine as when doing it at passport agency offices in the US. Without an appointment, the embassy/consulate may make a fuss and reject access — depending on the particular circumstances involved for a potential applicant. In other words, for those considering this, best to book an appointment for passport services at the consulate/embassy before wanting to count on having it done while visiting another country.