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Originally Posted by agpt
(Post 28394861)
We are approaching 8 weeks since passport applications for two minor children, planning to travel in a few weeks, still "processing". See below for timetable and questions.
History: ~4.5 years ago: applied with zeros for SSN; received standard processing (not expedited) passports in ~2 weeks. April 8, 2017. Pre-filled application forms online. Used zeros for SSN as before. April 10, 2017. Applied for two new passports at Post Office. Sent two old passports in for renewal. Unfortunately, minor passports are processed as new applications (not as renewals). Standard 6-8 week processing. April 27, 2017. Department of State generated letters stating that SSNs were now required. The outgoing administration made changes to allow the IRS to revoke passports, which now effectively require SSN. April 28, 2017. We received an emailed version of the form, printed it, and mailed it with the numbers. The application hotline refused to take the numbers over the phone. May 5, 2017. Our application was updated with the new data. June 2, 2017. Still "processing". Calling the phone number gives no useful information. Future: June 5 will be 8 weeks. June 11 we are planning to drive to Canada (Adults have passports/NEXUS/Global Entry, kids have NEXUS) for a conference in Victoria. June 15 we fly internationally from Vancouver. Questions: 1) Is there any way to find actual status of an application? 2) Is there any actual phone number for the Seattle Passport Agency? 3) If we request an in-person appointment in Seattle, how will that impact the already-in-process applications? 4) We are considering requesting a June 9 appointment; Seattle is a 700 mile drive, but at least "almost" on the way. Any comments/suggestions about the Seattle office? Note that they already have our application documents and old passports. Hopefully the above narrative will help some of you avoid future problems. In hindsight, we should have fully submitted to our benevolent government and provided SSNs and paid their "protection" fee (expedited processing, which seems to be almost a month for some). But at this point, we are really starting to worry. Any help, suggestions, or experience others can provide for us would be appreciated. The former Admin didn't come up with the IRS passport denial/revocation law. That was done by pretty much the same US House and Senate majority as is currently in place. And that law about passports wasn't fully implemented by the prior Admin; and it still hasn't been fully implemented by the current Admin. The gap between passort issue date and the date of passport delivery by mail/courier is the slowest it's been in quite some time. |
Originally Posted by GUWonder
(Post 28395168)
I can guarantee that State is still issuing US passports to US citizens who don't have a SSN. Plenty of US citizens don't have a SSN and are yet legally entitled to a US passport upon paying a fee and otherwise meeting the conditions to qualify for a US passport; and these people are still getting US passports issued as of today at least. If the passport applicants have a SSN, then the SSN of the passport applicant must be filed with the passport application for smooth processing.
Originally Posted by GUWonder
(Post 28395168)
The gap between passport issue date and the date of passport delivery by mail/courier is the slowest it's been in quite some time.
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Originally Posted by agpt
(Post 28397044)
The difference is that now, if you enter 000-00-0000, they require a signed statement, under penalty of perjury, that the applicant does not have a SSN. So while the SSN is not required, and in fact requiring cannot be legal as it violates the Privacy Act of 1974, they can prosecute on the catch-all "perjury" if you sign that form. So effectively, if you have a SSN, you must use it, or you will be denied a passport. This is what I was told by multiple people at the information number. So the only people that can get a passport without a SSN are people that do not have an SSN. This is a major change from previous policy.
This is quite unfortunate, especially since we live ~700 miles away from the Seattle Passport Agency. It looks like we will need to go in person this week. |
Update:
It seems that, after nearly 8 weeks, the application is finally entered in the system. As of yesterday, 6/3, the online system now gives "processing" when last 4 digits of actual SSN are entered. Until 6/2, it only listed that status when 0000 was entered, and found nothing with the actual numbers. Does anyone have experience with scheduling an in-person appointment to follow-up on a mailed-in application? |
Renewed US Passport in 4.5 weeks
Gotta give credit to the U.S. government for turning-around our passport renewal application in a little over a month. Standard time frame is stated at 6-8 weeks.
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If time frame should be 2 weeks on a reasonable basis but the government is 6-8 then 4.5 is a pat on the back.... some great system.
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Originally Posted by txtxyeha
(Post 28422160)
Gotta give credit to the U.S. government for turning-around our passport renewal application in a little over a month. Standard time frame is stated at 6-8 weeks.
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Aren't we approaching the 10 year anniversary of needing a passport for U.S./Canada flights? I wonder if that's part of the bump...
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Many people can renew USA passports more quickly by going to a Passport Agency with the completed application form, new passport photos, and the old passport. You're supposed to make an appointment in advance but YMMV.
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Originally Posted by MSPeconomist
(Post 28422414)
Many people can renew USA passports more quickly by going to a Passport Agency with the completed application form, new passport photos, and the old passport. You're supposed to make an appointment in advance but YMMV.
In Kansas City, getting an appointment is the harder part: you have to go to a post office in person, get the appointment, and then come back 8-12 weeks later for your appointment slot. We did this last year: I happened to be in the main Union Station post office the Friday before Memorial Day weekend and they had one appointment slot open in late July. In other parts of the country, it's a lot easier. We did our other kid while we were on vacation in LA. Orange County has passport processing in a couple of their county offices. Online reservation system, 2-3 week lead time. I think one of the local library systems was another option, but we didn't investigate it since the county appointment worked fine. |
Originally Posted by pinniped
(Post 28422470)
We've had to do this for our kids.
In Kansas City, getting an appointment is the harder part: you have to go to a post office in person, get the appointment, and then come back 8-12 weeks later for your appointment slot. We did this last year: I happened to be in the main Union Station post office the Friday before Memorial Day weekend and they had one appointment slot open in late July. In other parts of the country, it's a lot easier. We did our other kid while we were on vacation in LA. Orange County has passport processing in a couple of their county offices. Online reservation system, 2-3 week lead time. I think one of the local library systems was another option, but we didn't investigate it since the county appointment worked fine. https://travel.state.gov/content/pas.../agencies.html |
Originally Posted by pinniped
(Post 28422395)
Aren't we approaching the 10 year anniversary of needing a passport for U.S./Canada flights? I wonder if that's part of the bump...
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Originally Posted by pinniped
(Post 28422470)
We've had to do this for our kids.
In Kansas City, getting an appointment is the harder part: you have to go to a post office in person, get the appointment, and then come back 8-12 weeks later for your appointment slot. We did this last year: I happened to be in the main Union Station post office the Friday before Memorial Day weekend and they had one appointment slot open in late July. In other parts of the country, it's a lot easier. We did our other kid while we were on vacation in LA. Orange County has passport processing in a couple of their county offices. Online reservation system, 2-3 week lead time. I think one of the local library systems was another option, but we didn't investigate it since the county appointment worked fine. https://travel.state.gov/content/pas.../agencies.html A Passport Agency is a State Department office. It can issue a passport on the spot. As others note, if you show up with your paperwork, photos, and people necessary to the process before opening time, you may well have your passport a few hours later and at worst, in the early afternoon. This approach is supposed to be for emergencies only and only by appointment through the hotline required. But, the practicality is that if you are low maintenance and have everything in order, this may work. You will pay the expedite fees, but those may not be so high once you consider the time wasted on the in-person USPS process. This process is also useful for people who may have out-of-the-ordinary situations, including secondary documents which are acceptable but not common. The worst you get is a "no" and then you are stuck with the USPS mail/in-person process. |
OK, great, you can get one lightning fast at a Passport Agency. We all know that.
Why would you go to the trouble of that if you only needed the passport in 4.5 (or even 6 to 8) weeks? |
Originally Posted by pinniped
(Post 28422730)
OK, great, you can get one lightning fast at a Passport Agency. We all know that.
Why would you go to the trouble of that if you only needed the passport in 4.5 (or even 6 to 8) weeks? IIRC you can do a regular (nonemergency) renewal at a Passport Agency and get the passport by mail in about two weeks. |
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