Need fast passport renewal - death in the famil
May 26, 23, 10:38 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 3
Need fast passport renewal - death in the famil
I mailed my application 3 weeks ago and it was accepted on 09 May. I paid the expedite and return mail fees. Any info would be appreciated on how to get an expedited renewal to attend a family funeral in France. Thank you
May 26, 23, 12:52 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Everywhere
Programs: AA EXP - 3.7MM, Bonv LIFETIME Titan, HH Dmd, Hyatt Glob., Priority Clb Dmd, Ntnl Exec El., Sixt PLT
Posts: 1,655
- I suggest contacting the office of your U.S. representative in Congress.
May 26, 23, 1:02 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 28,559
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...ergencies.html
("Life-or-Death Emergencies")
May 28, 23, 12:50 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 315
We had a very unpleasant experience of renewing my husband's passport. We sent in his passport renewal application and paid for expedited service and overnight delivery. Received a confirmation email and listed a 3 to 5 weeks processing time. We did not receive the passport until the end of the eighth week.
We spent endless time contacting them and tried to set up an onsite appointment. Every time we were lucky to get through the phone line, it was a minimum 2 to 3 hours hold. We were told if our travel date was less than a week, we can go to the passport agency to get a passport on the spot, but they did not tell us it was impossible to set up an appointment. By the rare chance there was a slot available, it was either out of state or across to the other side of the country. We finally engaged the help of our congressman's office. They were helpful and got back to us right away, but they could only contact the State Department on our behalf by emailing them. We were told to be patient and it could take up to 5 days for the State Department to respond, but our flight was leaving in less than 5 days.
Long story short, his passport arrived on his departure date in the afternoon while his flight was at 7 in the morning.
Needless to say, we had to cancel everything and endured hundreds of dollars in loss.
I believe they might have a different number for the life and death situation, but everything else is back to the one and only one 877 number. My suggestion is to take the advice from the agent with a grain of salt, and do your own due diligence way ahead of time.
I emailed them and asked for my expedited fee to be refunded. I feel the passport agency should refund the fee for a promise they cannot be delivered. Of course, I heard nothing from them...
We spent endless time contacting them and tried to set up an onsite appointment. Every time we were lucky to get through the phone line, it was a minimum 2 to 3 hours hold. We were told if our travel date was less than a week, we can go to the passport agency to get a passport on the spot, but they did not tell us it was impossible to set up an appointment. By the rare chance there was a slot available, it was either out of state or across to the other side of the country. We finally engaged the help of our congressman's office. They were helpful and got back to us right away, but they could only contact the State Department on our behalf by emailing them. We were told to be patient and it could take up to 5 days for the State Department to respond, but our flight was leaving in less than 5 days.
Long story short, his passport arrived on his departure date in the afternoon while his flight was at 7 in the morning.
Needless to say, we had to cancel everything and endured hundreds of dollars in loss.
I believe they might have a different number for the life and death situation, but everything else is back to the one and only one 877 number. My suggestion is to take the advice from the agent with a grain of salt, and do your own due diligence way ahead of time.
I emailed them and asked for my expedited fee to be refunded. I feel the passport agency should refund the fee for a promise they cannot be delivered. Of course, I heard nothing from them...
