Passport Error / HELP! / Getting Close
 

Hey everyone! Finally got my first passport today in the mail. Well, to my surprise, it said under my place of birth: BURUNDI. I was shocked! I was born in Illinois and never have been to Africa in my life! This is obviously an error. Well, I'm now waiting on my birth certificate to come back from DOS that was submitted with my original application. I'm pushing it close as I'm going to the Philippines in June. I called DOS and they said since it's a new passport - just go back to the post office with the correction form and my birth certificate. I told him that THEY have my birth certificate. I know, allegedly, DOS sends the birth certificates at a later date (week or more), but, I need to get this crap handled SOON as I'm busy with other business projects. Any advice?

Thanks a bunch!

Can you get a duplicate original birth certificate quickly?

Sorry to hear you were at the receiving end of this booboo. Hopefully when all has been straightened out this can pass into family folklore.

Yeah, I can get a replacement...but, it's about $50. From what I've researched, my birth cert will be back within a week. If it stretches to two weeks, I'll get a new one. I'm not chancing this. The DOS said just take it to the post office and write, "DATA ERROR - EXPEDITE" on the envelope without paying the expedite fee. Thing is, however, there are TWO PO boxes for passports. One for regular service and one for expedite. No clue which it goes to. Hopefully I'll get this fixed by the end of the month.

I mean, do you really need to get this fixed before you leave the country? Either way, the passport shows you're a US citizen. You can always get it dealt with after your trip.

UPDATE:

Within two days of getting the bad passport, I received my birth certificate. I sent the passport in with my certificate again along with a signed letter explaining what happened and the correction application. I got the corrected passport back today. It took 2 weeks and everything is good to go!

PROTIP: pay attention to the correction application PDF you fill online for printing. It automatically populates the State of birth by your home address. I crossed it out and wrote the correct State in. No need to send in another photo if your passport is NEW and to be corrected within 90 days of receipt. Write on the envelope to be sent, "DATA ERROR - EXPEDITE."

For those who live near a Passport Agency or who travel to a city with one, an option is to simply show up with the incorrect passport and new photos. A new passport can be issued within 2-3 hours. In a worst case scenario, this can be done on the day of travel.

https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...-agencies.html

I'm not sure about just showing up. I had to make an appointment and the office in Miami said you HAVE to have an appointment. They wouldn't let anyone in without an appointment for the day you showed up. You had to call and make an appointment if the on-line one was too far away. And the 2-3 hours was more like 5-7 hours.