FlyerTalk Forums - Current US passport wait? (Merged Threads)

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Quote:

Originally Posted by hfly (Post 35214231)

Stan1162. You can only carry a second (or even a third passport) with permission of the DoS. 300 days of travel a year on its own does NOT mean anything. You must demonstrate that you have a reason, which has often included;

1) Frequent travel to Israel and any one of a number of Muslim countries....however......certain things over the last decade have made this more difficult, such as the fact that Israel stopped stamping most US passports on arrival, and the fact that fewer Muslim states will deny entry to someone with an Israeli stamp. The big exception being of course that Israel generally does still stamp for land crossings (as opposed to TLV).
2) Evidence that you are traveling to places that require your passport for extended period of times in order to issue a visa. Russia was a great one for this as even in good times, at times it could take weeks to get a Russian visa issued. If you evidenced that you had/have to travel somewhere else while this is being done, then they would issue it. China is another one, but is somewhat of a catch 22, at least before Covid as the more you traveled to China the greater the duration of visa would be, so if you have 10 year China visas, you have no excuse. Also certain central African and Central Asian countries.
3) Certain professions. The entire (US) White House press corps has 2-3 passports each, specifically because they often need journalist visas to many places that take longer to process (or in some cases because they have to go by the letter of the law, they need press visas where regular travelers need none). So they always have a passport or two in process somewhere for visas. Certain types of humanitarian and religious charity workers will have 2. The DoS has a list of many categories that they regularly allow this for.

So is Embassy/Consulate my best option? I passed thru the US last year 2 X. Once for 15 days, and another for 15 days. We are full-time nomads with only our daughters mailing address as our "home". So, if wait times are 5-8 weeks, how do I renew when we are only home for 2 weeks at a time? DD does NOT want me at her house for 5-8 weeks waiting on my passport!!!

I've read the wiki and several pages of recent responses and am still confused about the in person renewal.
My work schedule is packed for the rest of the year and will need to use my passport every two to three weeks until March of next year. I need to make an in person appointment but I live in KC and the closest in person office is pretty far away.

When I call to make the in person appointment, can I request which office I would like to go to? Or do I have to call and have them tell me which office they can get me into? Ill have to buy a flight to whichever office I go to, I don't want to wait until I call and then have to buy a last minute flight.

Also, can I get an in person appointment before my passport actually expires? I would like to renew it sooner rather than later since any of these trips could get extended and I don't want to get stuck somewhere with an expired passport.

Thanks for the help!

Just found out that emergency/same-day/next-day service is completely clogged.
Even being near a major passport office, the closest/earliest appointment is 5 days out, in Los Angeles (across the country).

Ah, summer travel. Ah, college kids.

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelinterpreters (Post 35240713)

You cross-posted this.

The state department webpage still shows "Processing Times as of March 24, 2023"
Things must be getting pretty bad when they don't publish updated estimates.

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelinterpreters (Post 35240713)

When I call to make the in person appointment, can I request which office I would like to go to? Or do I have to call and have them tell me which office they can get me into? Ill have to buy a flight to whichever office I go to, I don't want to wait until I call and then have to buy a last minute flight.
Also, can I get an in person appointment before my passport actually expires? I would like to renew it sooner rather than later since any of these trips could get extended and I don't want to get stuck somewhere with an expired passport.

When you call, exactly at 8am EST 14 days prior to one of your upcoming international departures (using your existing departure as your "urgent" one), yes you can get an appointment even if your passport is still valid (given most countries require you to have at least 6 months left of validity, so you can argue that you need the new one prior to departure). They will tell you what office has in-person availability. Main problem as noted in this thread is that they may offer you a time in El Paso and a time in New Hampshire, and you just have to take whatever they can give you - and yes - book a last minute flight (or 14 days out flight) to whatever office has an opening.

And yes - the US passport system is totally irrational and under-funded.

The missus realized she had misplaced hers a couple days before an international trip. No way to get an appointment, she stood in line at 6am to try an get one at the Miami office. Line was already longer than their would be time to process the people. Way underfunded.
Thankfully, in a moment of clarity while waiting, she realized where she had put it! Phew!

1 April 2023 sent in passport book from California for renewal via USPS first class mail to Philadelphia. Paid additional $60 for expedited service. Used online application form with bar code.

12 May 2023. Received new passport book via USPS Priority Mail. Shipped from TUCSON, AZ 85710 on 10 May 2023. Return address is Philadelphia.

Still waiting for old passport book to be returned.

Submitted renewal for minor at USPS on 5/6
Application received 5/9
Status says 7 to 9 weeks for expedited service, office locator 69
Travel planned for 6/22

Any chance, I’ll get the passport back in time to make the travel ??

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zgla (Post 35250886)

I hate to say it, but your chance is pretty slim to none. I mailed on 4/17. Received and Processed on 4/19 and using expedite service. Status still saying "in process". Locator 69.

Quote:

Originally Posted by berombeu (Post 35250921)

I hate to say it, but your chance is pretty slim to none. I mailed on 4/17. Received and Processed on 4/19 and using expedite service. Status still saying "in process". Locator 69.

Damn, that’s what I’ve been afraid of as well. Thanks & good luck to you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zgla (Post 35250962)

Damn, that’s what I’ve been afraid of as well. Thanks & good luck to you.

Hihi, thanks. You probably need more luck than me because you need it soon. Me, it just time to renew.

How long does it take to receive the old passport book back? Also, do they send the old passport card back?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zgla (Post 35250962)

Damn, that’s what I’ve been afraid of as well. Thanks & good luck to you.

Well - maybe not. Look at the earlier posting from the earlier discussion about center 69:
Mailed application 3/25. Delivered 3/27. Today, 3/29, check was cashed.
and later: Received Passport, 5/2 -- That means from "check cashed/start of processing" (3/29) to received (5/2) was exactly 5 weeks from that center.

We are in a similar boat. Our "check cashed" "start of processing" date is 5/3 also from "69"/New Hampshire, Expedited, 6 days ahead of you. We have travel planned for 6/23. Which means we would make it if they complete the processing in 7 weeks.

It looks like center 69 has been faster than others (like 62), so crossing fingers that's still true.

I will post here if/when we get the passport back. Otherwise you will have to look at the 14 (or 5) day before departure emergency appointments IF (and that's a big IF) you can get a time slot.

locator 79
I applied for a passport for my son in early April. The DOS application page says it was received 4/12/23 so it's been 5 weeks. I paid for the expedited service which is apparently between 7-9 weeks of processing time. Is it guaranteed that it'll be within 9 weeks?

Our travel date is June 30th, but we need the passport probably by June 26th because we're going to be in a different state for a few days and won't be at our home address between June 26th - June 30th.

I know there's the backup option of in person application, but I was told I need to wait until June 20th to schedule that, so that doesn't really give me any time, and those appointments aren't guaranteed, right?