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-   -   Current US passport wait? (Merged Threads) (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/usa/1752928-current-us-passport-wait-merged-threads.html)

Steinbeck1211 Apr 20, 2021 3:35 pm


Originally Posted by Buster (Post 33192369)
I'm getting concerned that mine is still "in process" when you guys are getting things through. Mine has been "in process" since 3/17, with my check having been cashed on 3/18. Should I be worried that there has been absolutely no movement?

No you should not be worried at all, the reason why some people get their passports before others is based entirely on where your application is sent to be processed. After your application is mailed to either Philadelphia PA or Irving TX, it is scanned and sent to a passport agency such as Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Charleston South Carolina, Minneapolis Minnesota etc. and based on the workload of the agency that your application is assigned to, it will determine how fast your application is processed

crescatfloreat Apr 20, 2021 6:33 pm


Originally Posted by crescatfloreat (Post 33184592)
Yet another minor passport application from me. This time I'd like speed so I requested all the possible improvements, speed-ups initially. We shall see how it fares.

April 17th.
Deposited expedited US passport application at USPS for a child with priority express mailing back and forth. The child doesn't have its federal name, i.e. SS identifier, so an additional paper attesting to this was also added. It was sent to Philadelphia.

I should add that it was not as straightforward as I thought to schedule a passport application appointment at a local post office for the next day. The local ones I checked were booked until Thursday next week at the earliest and I eventually, luckily found a slot in the suburbs not too far away. Unexpected obstacles all along the way!

I shall provide updates.

It's off to a good start! The Priority Express letter with the application was supposed to be delivered to Philadelphia today before 3pm, but according to the tracker, it hasn't been. As a matter of fact, the tracker's last update is from April 17th in the evening, showing a location still the same general area as where I posted it... Another Priority (not Express) letter to Washington mailed at the same moment made it to its destination this afternoon without issues. This is going to be fun.

dvpatel Apr 20, 2021 6:38 pm


Originally Posted by lhc (Post 33190458)
Just got our acceptance email today, in total it took about 7 weeks (assuming the return priority mail is on time).
Passport book renewal, regular processing, didn't go through any special contact channels after mailing:

3/06/21 - Mailed from CT (USPS Priority Mail) to Philadelphia, PA processing center
4/05/21 - Got email notification from State Dept for "in-process"
4/06/21 - Check cashed
4/19/21 - Got email notification for "approved", second email ~2 hours later for "shipped" with tracking number
4/25/21 - Estimated delivery date

Does your tracking work? I got the shipped email at 5 PM and the whole today is gone but the tracking still only says Pre-Shipment Information Received.

dvpatel Apr 20, 2021 6:52 pm


Originally Posted by Steinbeck1211 (Post 33192494)
No you should not be worried at all, the reason why some people get their passports before others is based entirely on where your application is sent to be processed. After your application is mailed to either Philadelphia PA or Irving TX, it is scanned and sent to a passport agency such as Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Charleston South Carolina, Minneapolis Minnesota etc. and based on the workload of the agency that your application is assigned to, it will determine how fast your application is processed

I am positive that the National Passport Agency customer service folks said my application was in Houston, TX. It went from Philadelphia, PA to Houston, TX apparently.

dvpatel Apr 21, 2021 5:10 am

Our's was in Pre-Shiment Info Received, Awaiting item straight to "Out for Delivery". The Out for Delivery status changed a few mins back at 6:45 AM today. We should be getting the two passport books today. The label cites its coming from Houston, TX.

lhc Apr 21, 2021 6:20 am


Originally Posted by dvpatel (Post 33192860)
Does your tracking work? I got the shipped email at 5 PM and the whole today is gone but the tracking still only says Pre-Shipment Information Received.

Yes, but it took a day to go from pre-shipment to being in the system. The tracking history shows the package was received by USPS in Tucson, AZ on the morning of 4/20 and should be delivered in CT on 4/23 (delivery estimate moved 1 business day earlier).

crescatfloreat Apr 21, 2021 8:28 am


Originally Posted by crescatfloreat (Post 33184592)
Yet another minor passport application from me. This time I'd like speed so I requested all the possible improvements, speed-ups initially. We shall see how it fares.

April 17th.
Deposited expedited US passport application at USPS for a child with priority express mailing back and forth. The child doesn't have its federal name, i.e. SS identifier, so an additional paper attesting to this was also added. It was sent to Philadelphia.

I should add that it was not as straightforward as I thought to schedule a passport application appointment at a local post office for the next day. The local ones I checked were booked until Thursday next week at the earliest and I eventually, luckily found a slot in the suburbs not too far away. Unexpected obstacles all along the way!

I shall provide updates.

April 17th - deposited expedited US passport application at USPS for a child with priority express mailing.
April 21st - application delivered in Philadelphia (one day late).

dvpatel Apr 21, 2021 10:27 am

Got our passports. They even sent the old ones in the same envelope. Thought the expired ones are supposed to arrive a week or more later separately. But we got both the new and the expired ones in the same Priority Mail envelopes.

3/04/21: Mailed application by Priority mail; did not pay to expedite. Mailed from Charlotte, NC to Philadelphia, PA
3/07/21: Application received in Philadelphia, PA
3/24/21: Application Status shows up as "Processing" and Check cashed
4/19/21: Approved / Shipped Notification
4/21/21: New passport received (unable to track it at all as the status stayed Pre-Shipment Info received. USPS is awaiting item)

crescatfloreat Apr 21, 2021 10:32 am


Originally Posted by dvpatel (Post 33194436)
4/21/21: New passport received (unable to track it at all as the status sayed Pre-Shipment Info received. USPS is awaiting item)

It looks like USPS has issues (or inconsistencies) with its tracking these days... Another hurdle in the passport saga.
My tracking mysteriously activated after I sent an investigation request to the USPS yesterday...

Section 107 Apr 21, 2021 11:11 am

UPDATE on Renewal of Minors w/ no special processing
 
Another touchpoint: renewing for 2 children under 16.

Since the kids are under 16 renewal must be in-person with both parents. Our appt was at the local post office. Took about 30 minutes to process, including taking two photos. In addition to the standard passbook & card fees with regular delivery service (not expedited), we were charged USPS processing fee for both, fees for two photographs, fees for photocopies of 7 pages of forms and documents (I think that should have come out of the USPS processing fee!) and, since paying electronically by credit/debit card - two fees to convert the electronic payment to two money orders. Will provide processing details as available:

3/15 Renewal Applications submitted
3/30 Status on Passport Application Status Page: Application Not Found (both applications).
Web page says if online status is "not found" after 2 weeks to call the center. Called around 3:50pm; 42 minutes on hold before speaking to service agent. Agent also did not find either application. Agent stated applications for minors are processed in Philadelphia after going through a postal security screening center which is very backed up; said check in another week and call back if still "not found."
4/15 Status on Passport Application Status Page: Application Not Found (both applications).
4/20 Received email notification applications received. Status webpage states: "The U.S. Department of State has received your application for your passport book and card on 04/20/2021. We're now reviewing your application and supporting documents. You requested routine service when you applied, which we are currently processing in 10-12 weeks. Your application locator number is xxx"

seawolf Apr 21, 2021 11:28 am


Originally Posted by Section 107 (Post 33194576)
Another touchpoint: renewing for 2 children under 16.

Since the kids are under 16 renewal must be in-person with both parents. Our appt was at the local post office. Took about 30 minutes to process, including taking two photos. In addition to the standard passbook & card fees with regular delivery service (not expedited), we were charged USPS processing fee for both, fees for two photographs, fees for photocopies of 7 pages of forms and documents (I think that should have come out of the USPS processing fee!) and, since paying electronically by credit/debit card - two fees to convert the electronic payment to two money orders. Will provide processing details as available:

3/15 Renewal Applications submitted
3/30 Status on Passport Application Status Page: Application Not Found (both applications).
Web page says if online status is "not found" after 2 weeks to call the center. Called around 3:50pm; 42 minutes on hold before speaking to service agent. Agent also did not find either application. Agent stated applications for minors are processed in Philadelphia after going through a postal security screening center which is very backed up; said check in another week and call back if still "not found."
4/15 Status on Passport Application Status Page: Application Not Found (both applications).
4/20 Received email notification applications received. Status webpage states: "The U.S. Department of State has received your application for your passport book and card on 04/20/2021. We're now reviewing your application and supporting documents. You requested routine service when you applied, which we are currently processing in 10-12 weeks. Your application locator number is xxx"

Did you pay by check? If so, have they cashed it? I haven't bother looking online until I see the check is paid for a minor application submitted last week of March.

crescatfloreat Apr 21, 2021 11:33 am


Originally Posted by Section 107 (Post 33194576)
Agent stated applications for minors are processed in Philadelphia after going through a postal security screening center which is very backed up; said check in another week and call back if still "not found."

Quarantining all mail for about a month is one way of doing "security"... I remember a time when I was pitying my Russian friends who told me it could take several months to renew a passport. We're all equal now, except for those who manage to reach their nomenklatura senators.

b787bydesign Apr 21, 2021 11:52 am

Update on our expedited adult renewal, sent to Philly:
Applied 3/31/21
"Delivered" by USPS 4/10/21
In Process 4/20/21
Rest TBD

Anxiously waiting as we need the passport in hand by 5/20 latest. We got expedited with overnight shipping on the return.

dvpatel Apr 21, 2021 12:47 pm


Originally Posted by b787bydesign (Post 33194694)
Update on our expedited adult renewal, sent to Philly:
Applied 3/31/21
"Delivered" by USPS 4/10/21
In Process 4/20/21
Rest TBD

Anxiously waiting as we need the passport in hand by 5/20 latest. We got expedited with overnight shipping on the return.

You'll be fine since you paid for the expedited extortion.

dvpatel Apr 21, 2021 1:04 pm


Originally Posted by crescatfloreat (Post 33194643)
Quarantining all mail for about a month is one way of doing "security"... I remember a time when I was pitying my Russian friends who told me it could take several months to renew a passport. We're all equal now, except for those who manage to reach their nomenklatura senators.

While we did call our senator, there are more than a couple cases of people who did not expedite and did not call their senator and my timeline matches theirs so I am not even sure if us calling the senator helped our cause.

Section 107 Apr 22, 2021 11:26 am


Originally Posted by seawolf (Post 33194635)
Did you pay by check? If so, have they cashed it? I haven't bother looking online until I see the check is paid for a minor application submitted last week of March.

No, we paid by debit card at the post office at the time of submitting the application so unfortunately that's not a tell for us.

Witwiyl Apr 22, 2021 3:57 pm

Pleasantly surprised at how quick this appears to be moving:

adult passport renewal. Paid for expedited all around.

- 4/3: shipped USPS priority to Philadelphia
- 4/5: delivered to Philadelphia
- 4/7: status shows “in process”
- 4/22: status changed to “approved”
- 4/25: expected passport arrival date

if it does arrive on 4/25 that’s 22 days door to door.

Witwiyl Apr 22, 2021 9:35 pm


Originally Posted by Witwiyl (Post 33198065)
Pleasantly surprised at how quick this appears to be moving:

adult passport renewal. Paid for expedited all around.

- 4/3: shipped USPS priority to Philadelphia
- 4/5: delivered to Philadelphia
- 4/7: status shows “in process”
- 4/22: status changed to “approved”
- 4/25: expected passport arrival date

if it does arrive on 4/25 that’s 22 days door to door.

update: received my tracking and it now says delivery on 4/24. Looks like it’s coming from Tucson. I’m in NYC.

crescatfloreat Apr 23, 2021 6:47 am


Originally Posted by crescatfloreat (Post 33184592)
Yet another minor passport application from me. This time I'd like speed so I requested all the possible improvements, speed-ups initially. We shall see how it fares.

April 17th.
Deposited expedited US passport application at USPS for a child with priority express mailing back and forth. The child doesn't have its federal name, i.e. SS identifier, so an additional paper attesting to this was also added. It was sent to Philadelphia.

I should add that it was not as straightforward as I thought to schedule a passport application appointment at a local post office for the next day. The local ones I checked were booked until Thursday next week at the earliest and I eventually, luckily found a slot in the suburbs not too far away. Unexpected obstacles all along the way!

I shall provide updates.

April 17th - deposited expedited US passport application at USPS for a child with priority express mailing.
April 21st - application delivered in Philadelphia (one day late).
April 23rd - application appears as "in process" online. "
The U.S. Department of State has received your application for your passportbook on 04/22/2021, etc."
Encouraged by Witwiyl's experience I decided to check online. I can confirm it seems to work even if you set 0000 for the Social Security number when there isn't one. I have not received an email however.

Iamwesanderson Apr 23, 2021 7:37 am

Wife sent in old passport and required information on 3/14 to have name changed. Check was cashed days later. We paid to have expedited, so should be 4-6 weeks.

3/17 - Shows in process and has been in process ever since with no other contact. Found out it’s at their Virginia office, but they have no contact to give us.

We’re passed 5 weeks now and I’m starting to worry since I’m seeing others have gotten theirs in less time. We leave on our trip 5/23, but I have to fill out a form with the country’s government website a week before we leave and I need the passport info. Anyone else waiting this long on expedited passport?

GUWonder Apr 23, 2021 6:06 pm


Originally Posted by Iamwesanderson (Post 33199402)
Wife sent in old passport and required information on 3/14 to have name changed. Check was cashed days later. We paid to have expedited, so should be 4-6 weeks.

3/17 - Shows in process and has been in process ever since with no other contact. Found out it’s at their Virginia office, but they have no contact to give us.

We’re passed 5 weeks now and I’m starting to worry since I’m seeing others have gotten theirs in less time. We leave on our trip 5/23, but I have to fill out a form with the country’s government website a week before we leave and I need the passport info. Anyone else waiting this long on expedited passport?

Does her Social Security Administration card have her new name on it?

Iamwesanderson Apr 23, 2021 6:13 pm


Originally Posted by GUWonder (Post 33200965)
Does her Social Security Administration card have her new name on it?

Yes her new social security card has her new name. She sent both her old one and new one.

GUWonder Apr 23, 2021 6:25 pm


Originally Posted by Iamwesanderson (Post 33200974)
Yes her new social security card has her new name. She sent both her old one and new one.

Then your wife's application should probably be fine if the other documents supplied for the DS-11 application are accepted as appropriate for the application.

If I were in this kind of situation and needing to fly out on the 23rd of May, I would probably give it two more weeks before I would even start to get concerned. But I also would tend to keep at hand enough documents to do the DS-11 again in-person and done on an expedited basis at a passport agency office after that.

Iamwesanderson Apr 23, 2021 8:35 pm


Originally Posted by GUWonder (Post 33200991)
Then your wife's application should probably be fine if the other documents supplied for the DS-11 application are accepted as appropriate for the application.

If I were in this kind of situation and needing to fly out on the 23rd of May, I would probably give it two more weeks before I would even start to get concerned. But I also would tend to keep at hand enough documents to do the DS-11 again in-person and done on an expedited basis at a passport agency office after that.

Hopefully we’ll get an update soon.

Couldn’t keep documents to go in-person because she had to send in her actual birth certificate and our marriage license. As well as a few other things. But we called the Senators office today and they sent her a form to fill out and said they could help. Hopefully that does something.

GUWonder Apr 23, 2021 8:43 pm


Originally Posted by Iamwesanderson (Post 33201189)
Hopefully we’ll get an update soon.

Couldn’t keep documents to go in-person because she had to send in her actual birth certificate and our marriage license. As well as a few other things. But we called the Senators office today and they sent her a form to fill out and said they could help. Hopefully that does something.

I always suggest getting at least two certified copies of the birth certificate for keeping when possible, for moments such as this too. Just something to keep in mind for the future. [I have at least three raised-seal certified copies of my state birth certificate.]

SPLITTERZ Apr 24, 2021 9:33 am

Passport appointment
 
Was able to snag an appointment at a passport agency for a renewal last night in Chicago.

what’s the experience like at these agency’s currently? The email confirmation said delivery of passport would be discussed at the appointment; what does that mean?

last time I utilized a passport agency, i picked it up same day. Unsure if that’s possible in the current climate.

Amil Apr 24, 2021 11:44 pm


Originally Posted by SPLITTERZ (Post 33202086)
Was able to snag an appointment at a passport agency for a renewal last night in Chicago.

what’s the experience like at these agency’s currently? The email confirmation said delivery of passport would be discussed at the appointment; what does that mean?

last time I utilized a passport agency, i picked it up same day. Unsure if that’s possible in the current climate.

they said they will next day to me and that same day wasn't possible when I went to San Diego in December it came the next day as promised. also they demanded a reason why I needed to expedite and checked my upcoming flight itinerary

GUWonder Apr 25, 2021 11:55 am


Originally Posted by SPLITTERZ (Post 33202086)
Was able to snag an appointment at a passport agency for a renewal last night in Chicago.

what’s the experience like at these agency’s currently? The email confirmation said delivery of passport would be discussed at the appointment; what does that mean?

last time I utilized a passport agency, i picked it up same day. Unsure if that’s possible in the current climate.

Haven't dealt with that office during the pandemic, but previously they would most often tell me to come back the next day to pick up my passports even when I was one of the first people to get in my applications into the morning. It would have been different if I was facing same-day flights those times.

SPLITTERZ Apr 26, 2021 7:18 am


Originally Posted by GUWonder (Post 33204477)
Haven't dealt with that office during the pandemic, but previously they would most often tell me to come back the next day to pick up my passports even when I was one of the first people to get in my applications into the morning. It would have been different if I was facing same-day flights those times.

Thanks for the follow up. Appreciate the DPs.

Section 107 Apr 26, 2021 1:32 pm


Originally Posted by GUWonder (Post 33201200)
I always suggest getting at least two certified copies of the birth certificate for keeping when possible, for moments such as this too. Just something to keep in mind for the future. [I have at least three raised-seal certified copies of my state birth certificate.]

For these reasons I requested 10 copies of both my sons' birth certificates from Mexico. Man, it caused quite the stir - I think no-one had ever asked for more than 2 in the last 10 years!

On the other hand, Mexico is so advanced not only do they require hole-punching of voter registration cards and inking fingers in addition to photo id (which are compared to poll books held by the registrars and party poll watchers), they also let people print out vital statistics documents (birth, marriage, divorce, etc.) from atm-like kiosks in shopping malls. I havent seen how they driver's licenses, though.

GUWonder Apr 26, 2021 2:01 pm

10 official copies for each child sounds like overkill to me, but I can't speak to your circumstances. :D

Section 107 Apr 26, 2021 2:26 pm


Originally Posted by GUWonder (Post 33207246)
10 official copies for each child sounds like overkill to me, but I can't speak to your circumstances. :D

Yes, but these things get submitted several times over the years and its just better to have original certified copies then trying to go back and get them when someone demands to see the "long-form" cert.... no, I dont really wish that torture upon them but you never know.... At one time I pondered my sons being the first Mexican-born POTUS at the same time the other was the first US-born President of Mexico. But got disabused of that when I learned Mexico's laws are different; it does not allow all natural-born citizens to be eligible for elective office, only those born actually on Mexican soil (and extremely limited other locations). Eh, YMMV. :)

hfly Apr 27, 2021 2:53 am

When I discovered that getting certified copies etc cost not just more money than getting extra originals, not to mention the time involved and the pain of getting them remotely, I too started ordering them up in multiples, not quite 10, but not too far from it.

crescatfloreat Apr 27, 2021 7:08 am


Originally Posted by GUWonder (Post 33207246)
10 official copies for each child sounds like overkill to me, but I can't speak to your circumstances. :D

Maybe a good rule of thumb is two copies for each citizenship one holds, with a couple more if you have only one. Original copies are required (and not always given back) for transcription of the birth certificate into the other country's vital records registers, issuance of a (first) passport and identity card, etc. And as countries improve "security", sometimes they require them again even for passport renewals.

crescatfloreat Apr 28, 2021 7:12 am


Originally Posted by crescatfloreat (Post 33184592)
Yet another minor passport application from me. This time I'd like speed so I requested all the possible improvements, speed-ups initially. We shall see how it fares.

April 17th.
Deposited expedited US passport application at USPS for a child with priority express mailing back and forth. The child doesn't have its federal name, i.e. SS identifier, so an additional paper attesting to this was also added. It was sent to Philadelphia.

I should add that it was not as straightforward as I thought to schedule a passport application appointment at a local post office for the next day. The local ones I checked were booked until Thursday next week at the earliest and I eventually, luckily found a slot in the suburbs not too far away. Unexpected obstacles all along the way!

I shall provide updates.

April 17th - deposited expedited US passport application at USPS for a child with priority express mailing.
April 21st - application delivered in Philadelphia (one day late).
April 23rd - application appears as "in process" online. "
The U.S. Department of State has received your application for your passport book on 04/22/2021, etc."
April 28th - "in process" email received.

gaobest Apr 28, 2021 11:14 am

I keep procrastinating about renewing my expired passport. One reason I want it is so that I can fly without REAL ID or so that I have the passport while awaiting REAL ID process. So I’m both very happy and torn about the REAL ID extension because I still should renew passport and I feel relief for not needing to expedite. I love this thread!!


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...63f7daea3a.png

Iamwesanderson Apr 28, 2021 2:41 pm


Originally Posted by Iamwesanderson (Post 33199402)
Wife sent in old passport and required information on 3/14 to have name changed. Check was cashed days later. We paid to have expedited, so should be 4-6 weeks.

3/17 - Shows in process and has been in process ever since with no other contact. Found out it’s at their Virginia office, but they have no contact to give us.

We’re passed 5 weeks now and I’m starting to worry since I’m seeing others have gotten theirs in less time. We leave on our trip 5/23, but I have to fill out a form with the country’s government website a week before we leave and I need the passport info. Anyone else waiting this long on expedited passport?

Update:
Application still shows in process with no communication about anything wrong or needed. Already called the state senators office to see if that helps. Passport customer service is useless and say there’s no way to contact the location the application is being processed, which I call BS on. You’re telling me your offices have no way to be contacted... We paid for expedited everything and it’s been in process for over 6 weeks now. They’re real quick to cash our check though! 3 days and the check was cashed.

dvpatel Apr 28, 2021 7:47 pm


Originally Posted by mnbp (Post 33181087)
+1

I'm in the same boat as FallenPlat re TTP not accepting a new passport. I'm thinking the back end system only updates once or twice per month (unbelievable, right?) and am simply trying once per day to make my passport update on the TTP website. I'll report back as to the number of days it takes from the date a passport is issued to the date that TTP website will accept that new passport number.

I kept forgetting to try the TTP update. Was able to update my passport number without trouble today. My passport was approved on April 19 and we received it on April 21.

crescatfloreat Apr 29, 2021 9:19 am


Originally Posted by gaobest (Post 33211831)
I keep procrastinating about renewing my expired passport. One reason I want it is so that I can fly without REAL ID or so that I have the passport while awaiting REAL ID process. So I’m both very happy and torn about the REAL ID extension because I still should renew passport and I feel relief for not needing to expedite. I love this thread!!

Why not just get the Passport Card and be rid of the states' nonsense with regards to their "real" and "unreal" IDs?

dvpatel Apr 29, 2021 9:45 am


Originally Posted by gaobest (Post 33211831)
I keep procrastinating about renewing my expired passport. One reason I want it is so that I can fly without REAL ID or so that I have the passport while awaiting REAL ID process. So I’m both very happy and torn about the REAL ID extension because I still should renew passport and I feel relief for not needing to expedite. I love this thread!!

Not sure if you are using sane logic. We got our UNREAL ID converted to a REAL one effortlessly. We took an appointment at the DMV, took our required documents which they scanned and gave them back to us, we paid the $13 needed fees for a duplicate license and we got our REAL star Driver's license in 2 weeks. This was in Julyish 2019 so pre-Covid. Since they keep extending, now, it seems, we wasted $13 x 2 as we could have done it at next renewal but my renewal is in 2022.


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