Advice on U.S. Passport Application Rejection - Path Forward
 

So, my eldest son who's now 21 submitted an application for a new U.S. passport last year. The application was rejected. Now that he has some time, he intends to reapply for a passport. Here's his story and request for advice:

To give some context, after reviewing the passport renewal process, I realized that I needed to submit a DS-11 application because I was issued my first passport 23 days before I turned 16.

So I submitted my DS-11 application back in late September. The application was rejected and I never got around to resubmitting a new one because I was busy with school. But the reason has been confusing me:

"Thank you for your recent passport application. Unfortunately, we could not process your DS-82 "Application for a U.S. Passport by Mail" due to the following reason:

You submitted a DS-11 "Application for a U.S. Passport""

Which didn't make too much sense to me, because based on the passport application guidelines I was supposed to submit a DS-11 for the reason stated above, and (I believe) they are asking me to submit a DS-82.

So I assume this was likely rejected because:

(1) The 16 age requirement is within the same month of birth

(2) The person reviewing my application didn't realize

So I was planning to submit both a DS-11 and DS-82 at the same time this time around because I fear that it was because the person who was reviewing my application didn't realize and reject it if I submit a DS-82 only. I was wondering if this was allowed (i.e. submitting 2 applications for the same person)?

David

You should be submitting no more than one application per applicant at a time unless the application is: (a) for a person seeking a secondary, limited validity passport of the same passport type as that for the other application; or (b) for someone eligible for a service/official/diplomatic passport and seeking a passport of one of those special purpose types.

Did he do/attempt to do the DS-11 application in person?

Based on a quick scan it looks as if you have to use DS-11 and must appear in person at an acceptance facility as you are treated as applying for a new passport rather than a renewal.

I concurred with only one application per applicant. He did go to the local post office who checked his application packet and concurred with his use of the DS-11 before sending it in.

It's my son now thinking, I should submit both applications so that there's no question and they can pick. However, I don't think it will work. But I'm only Dad. Likely what y'all recommend is what he'll go with.

David

Presumably he went through the new passport application process with an authorized postal clerk then, which seems to be what they want. It sounds as if the passport office tried to process it as a renewal so perhaps the circumstances need to be made clearer on the application.

The trained USPS postal clerks authorized to handle/accept in-person applications had a history of errors too at a rate that was different than that of State’s own employees — that too with a net outcome worse than for those who do passport agency office or embassy/consulate in-person applications for in-person pick -up or mail-out delivery of the passports issued against DS-11s. I indicated about this dynamic a few years ago on FT, and it informed my preference and drove my suggestion to use the US passport agency offices or US missions abroad to get the State Department’s own employees to handle way more of the process between an applicant’s beginning the application to getting a new passport in hand — as much as possible while being reasonably convenient to the applicant.

The more messed up or complicated a passport applicant’s passport situation is, the more likely I would try to go in person to a US passport agency office to get it handled faster and with quicker feedback from the employees of the authority issuing the passport: the State Department.

USPS employees trained to work passport acceptance make mistakes too. And when they make a mistake, by the time the applicant has feedback on what the issue is and gets a chance to resolve it, more time will have passed than if having applied without going through an outside application acceptance facility like the USPS.

Do you have a final set of recommendations for him?

David

Can he apply in person with the DS-11 at a US passport agency office near him?

A list of such locations are in the following:

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

And when applying in person at one of those locations, he should inform the acceptance clerk what the bungle has been that he has experienced and inform them about the multiple applications before they may find/note yet another attempt to apply for a passport for the same person in a rather short period of time. If it were me, I would hand in a written/printed note explaining what has already been done and not seemed to work. Multiple applications at around the same time for the same person may make a mess of their own for some, so best to try to make sure it’s noted out clearly before it gets noted as a possible ID/identity theft concern.

Many thanks!

David

Just to update: Mike searched around the LA area and found a number of places that had open appointment slots. He made a reservation at the passport acceptance office in Atwood/Placentia and both he and his brother drove up, made the appointment and were through in 15 minutes.

They (the passport acceptance office) instructed both of them to complete and submit DS-11s.

On behalf of both of them, my thanks to the FlyerTalkers - especially GUWonder for inputs, advice and recommendations.

David