Where is my wife's passport?
May 11th, 2007, 12:02 PM
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Where is my wife's passport?
Okay, so I mailed in my wife's passport the first week of March just to get her last name changed to mine since we've been married. We leave next Friday, May 18 and I have yet to receive her passport. I started calling the Passport National Information Center starting last Friday (2 weeks prior to departure) as recommended on their website.
My first call said that they could notify the office that is processing the passport and to FedEx it overnight when it is done. No charge. They said that if we still didn't receive it in a week to call back. Paranoid as I am, I actually figured I would call them everyday to remind them. Boy what a hassle. I received varying responses, but basically, they said that it is in New Hampshire and the best they could do is send this office some form of correspondence (ie. email) indicating to get moving on this application. All I need is the name change! How hard is that to process?
So after a bit of research on Fodor's forum, I noticed some folks are calling up their Congressman. Good idea. I called up and they can assist but the outlook is grim. The staff at the Congressman's office informed me that they have assisted with 65 applications in the past 45 days and only one of those persons didn't get their passport in time. She also said that the folks that have requested assistance have been calling 2 weeks in advance. I am calling only one week in advance, so it puts a little strain on them.
Okay, I may have to result in going into the local agency here in Seattle with a new photo and some other credentials if our passport doesn't arrive within the next few days. I was thinking I should try to reserve an appointment at the agency ahead of time.
Now my question is, do they actually process the passport there at the agency that day and give it to you, so if I were to go there Thursday, my wife would have her passport?
What else can I do?
By the way, the message on the webpage after logging in to check the status indicates that the passport is in processing. It has said this since the first time I checked the status. And the check has been cleared since mid-March.
Talk about very unnecessary stress! As if I don't have enough of it going to visit a foreign country. Aren't vacations supposed to be relaxing?
My first call said that they could notify the office that is processing the passport and to FedEx it overnight when it is done. No charge. They said that if we still didn't receive it in a week to call back. Paranoid as I am, I actually figured I would call them everyday to remind them. Boy what a hassle. I received varying responses, but basically, they said that it is in New Hampshire and the best they could do is send this office some form of correspondence (ie. email) indicating to get moving on this application. All I need is the name change! How hard is that to process?
So after a bit of research on Fodor's forum, I noticed some folks are calling up their Congressman. Good idea. I called up and they can assist but the outlook is grim. The staff at the Congressman's office informed me that they have assisted with 65 applications in the past 45 days and only one of those persons didn't get their passport in time. She also said that the folks that have requested assistance have been calling 2 weeks in advance. I am calling only one week in advance, so it puts a little strain on them.
Okay, I may have to result in going into the local agency here in Seattle with a new photo and some other credentials if our passport doesn't arrive within the next few days. I was thinking I should try to reserve an appointment at the agency ahead of time.
Now my question is, do they actually process the passport there at the agency that day and give it to you, so if I were to go there Thursday, my wife would have her passport?
What else can I do?
By the way, the message on the webpage after logging in to check the status indicates that the passport is in processing. It has said this since the first time I checked the status. And the check has been cleared since mid-March.
Talk about very unnecessary stress! As if I don't have enough of it going to visit a foreign country. Aren't vacations supposed to be relaxing?
May 11th, 2007, 12:10 PM
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I was pretty much in the same boat. 3 weeks before our trip (leave leave for Paris in 20 minutes) I sent in for a renewal and a name change for marriage. In my request form, I did ask for expedited service. 7 days before our departure date, they changed my status to processed and shipped. I got it via 2 days mail a day earlier than they said. Still, it was only 4 days before our trip.
Yikes, good luck!
Yikes, good luck!
May 11th, 2007, 12:18 PM
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You will probably get it any day now and you will go on your trip with that added relief and sense of well being and happiness and anticipation...don't you know, no good trip starts out smoothly?
Best of luck!!
Best of luck!!
May 11th, 2007, 01:26 PM
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I suggest people make life easy for themselves when it comes to name changes, especially passports.
There is no law that one has to change their name due to marriage on their existing passport; let alone now where I understand they are charging for this. If one has time (years) till the passport expires, just leave it as is. But, you have to be sure that airline tickets are written in the maiden name and you have some other identification in the maiden name, i.e. drivers license, credit card.
When it's time to renew, then you can, if you wish, change the name.
There is no law that one has to change their name due to marriage on their existing passport; let alone now where I understand they are charging for this. If one has time (years) till the passport expires, just leave it as is. But, you have to be sure that airline tickets are written in the maiden name and you have some other identification in the maiden name, i.e. drivers license, credit card.
When it's time to renew, then you can, if you wish, change the name.
May 11th, 2007, 01:57 PM
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Sandi,
I figured that out after I booked the airline tickets in my wife's name. Unfortunately, we are flying multiple destinations and the airline would charge for the change in name, so I figured I would just change the passport.
Furthermore, I talked to a lot of people that suggested I change the passport name when I was considering this and most thought it was a good idea to change it so it would match any other idea that she has in case something happened. Probably better to be safe than sorry. So I would suggest to others to yes, get the passport name changed, but allow plenty of time.
I figured that out after I booked the airline tickets in my wife's name. Unfortunately, we are flying multiple destinations and the airline would charge for the change in name, so I figured I would just change the passport.
Furthermore, I talked to a lot of people that suggested I change the passport name when I was considering this and most thought it was a good idea to change it so it would match any other idea that she has in case something happened. Probably better to be safe than sorry. So I would suggest to others to yes, get the passport name changed, but allow plenty of time.
May 15th, 2007, 06:15 AM
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It looks like we will receive her passport today. Phewww! Talk about cutting it close.
Well I think the best thing is to call your Congressman. They have people that deal directly with passport issues. I say this because I gave my Congressman a call last Friday and they called me yesterday with a tracking number from FedEx and sure enough it is posted on its way.
It is great that they received a response, but my requests appeared to be repetively left up in the air. The online status check didn't reveal anything new. My several attempts yesterday to call up the National Passport Center came up to "call back later". Very annoying.
So call up your Congressman and let them go to work for you!
Well I think the best thing is to call your Congressman. They have people that deal directly with passport issues. I say this because I gave my Congressman a call last Friday and they called me yesterday with a tracking number from FedEx and sure enough it is posted on its way.
It is great that they received a response, but my requests appeared to be repetively left up in the air. The online status check didn't reveal anything new. My several attempts yesterday to call up the National Passport Center came up to "call back later". Very annoying.
So call up your Congressman and let them go to work for you!
May 19th, 2007, 10:40 AM
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I applied for mine in mid Feb for my trip last week, non expedited. After many hours on the phone with the NPA and Fedex I received mine at 7:30pm the night before I was supposed to leave. Talk about cutting it close.....
May 19th, 2007, 10:59 AM
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Here is the thing ... If you look at their website right now it explains that this time of year is their busiest time and you should expect at least 10 weeks to process. (I sent in a passport for renewal and it should be arriving at the beginning of June -I allowed plenty of time as I don't need it to the end of August)
That 10 weeks does not include the time it takes to actually get it to them through the mail.
They are working over-time right now. They are doing the best they can ... we can do our part by not waiting until the last minute (so to speak) to send it in. (That would be our fault, not theirs ... especially since they tell you that at this time of year it will take a little longer!)
That 10 weeks does not include the time it takes to actually get it to them through the mail.
They are working over-time right now. They are doing the best they can ... we can do our part by not waiting until the last minute (so to speak) to send it in. (That would be our fault, not theirs ... especially since they tell you that at this time of year it will take a little longer!)
May 31st, 2007, 12:06 PM
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Has anyone who lives in Nevada had luck contacting Harry Reid for help with passports? I applied 3 months ago and am leaving in 15 days and still don't have my passport!!! I called Harry Reid today and am wondering if he will be able to help. Thanks!
May 31st, 2007, 01:18 PM
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nvjourney - unless Harry Reid will get something out of it, don't count on too much help from him or his office - I've found that he is not only a huge embarassment to most Nevadans, he only looks out for HIS own best interests - which can be proven by taking a look at his (sorry) voting record. Good luck on getting your passport in time - I hope you do and have a great trip.
Jun 1st, 2007, 12:25 PM
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My husband and I applied for our passports in mid-March for a vacation starting July 12. After hearing horror stories about people missing trips, I called the 1-877 number today. I was very pleasant and the woman I spoke with appreciated it. She told me that our passports are still in New Hampshire, "being processed" (they have been in this state now for WEEKS). She told me that on June 28 to ask for a rush on my passport and not give up. When I told her our local news last night reported it was really taking up to 16 weeks for passports to be processed, she was quiet and then said "I agree with that". She also said she had a lot more to say but couldn't.
Jun 1st, 2007, 11:29 PM
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Dekbt,
In theory, calling them should slow things down. But how else do you know if the passport is going to arrive in time. They said 10 weeks processing, and that appears to have been a lie. So now we don't if the passport will come the last day or not, so we have to get some guidance as to where the application stands.
The real problem is that the normal passport applications are probably being shunted backwards for the RUSH passports. So in hindsight (wish I had not listened to my wife and the guy at the local passport acceptance facility), we should have just done a RUSH.
We have called the National Passport Agency now about 100 times and there is never any answer.
In theory, calling them should slow things down. But how else do you know if the passport is going to arrive in time. They said 10 weeks processing, and that appears to have been a lie. So now we don't if the passport will come the last day or not, so we have to get some guidance as to where the application stands.
The real problem is that the normal passport applications are probably being shunted backwards for the RUSH passports. So in hindsight (wish I had not listened to my wife and the guy at the local passport acceptance facility), we should have just done a RUSH.
We have called the National Passport Agency now about 100 times and there is never any answer.
Jun 1st, 2007, 11:31 PM
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"Here is the thing ... If you look at their website right now it explains that this time of year is their busiest time and you should expect at least 10 weeks to process. (I sent in a passport for renewal and it should be arriving at the beginning of June -I allowed plenty of time as I don't need it to the end of August)
That 10 weeks does not include the time it takes to actually get it to them through the mail.
They are working over-time right now. They are doing the best they can ... we can do our part by not waiting until the last minute (so to speak) to send it in. (That would be our fault, not theirs ... especially since they tell you that at this time of year it will take a little longer!)"
Yes, and the 10 weeks is BS. The mistake is to believe what they actually say.
Amazing to see people justify this kind of egregious behavior...
That 10 weeks does not include the time it takes to actually get it to them through the mail.
They are working over-time right now. They are doing the best they can ... we can do our part by not waiting until the last minute (so to speak) to send it in. (That would be our fault, not theirs ... especially since they tell you that at this time of year it will take a little longer!)"
Yes, and the 10 weeks is BS. The mistake is to believe what they actually say.
Amazing to see people justify this kind of egregious behavior...
Jun 2nd, 2007, 09:22 AM
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Umm, the people answering the phone are customer service reps - I don't think they're the same as whoever is processing the applications. So "not calling" is not the answer.
Believe me, it takes sooo much effort to get through to someone, you wouldn't be calling unless you were desperate. I've spent the better part of the last two days trying to get through. Five attempts, each about 45 minutes of trying to get through. Only two of my attempts actually got connected to a CSR, just to be told as another poster wrote "call back later". The last two tries at an hour a piece of redialing have resulted in nothing. The website is useless, as other posters have said, because it's never updated; and they state that it will be a minimum of 2-4 days just to reply to an email!
The whole system is a total mess, and I completely sympathize with those people like the OP who put their passports in with more than enough of the specified lead time only to end up in this stressful situation. How crazy is it that you have to call your *Congressman* to deal with this?? (Though I will certainly try that on Monday!!)
BTW, to answer OP's question about going to the agency in person: yes they will process the application and give it back to you the same day, but only if you prove you're flying in 2 weeks. In my situation, I was able to make and complete the reservation for an in-person appointment because I need a visa. But because I'm not *flying* within two weeks, they wouldn't let me wait for it at the agency - and now I'm screwed waiting around for days for an overnight package. I leave in 3 weeks and still need to get the visa; at this point I'm not convinced I'm going to get my passport in time! We'll see...
Believe me, it takes sooo much effort to get through to someone, you wouldn't be calling unless you were desperate. I've spent the better part of the last two days trying to get through. Five attempts, each about 45 minutes of trying to get through. Only two of my attempts actually got connected to a CSR, just to be told as another poster wrote "call back later". The last two tries at an hour a piece of redialing have resulted in nothing. The website is useless, as other posters have said, because it's never updated; and they state that it will be a minimum of 2-4 days just to reply to an email!
The whole system is a total mess, and I completely sympathize with those people like the OP who put their passports in with more than enough of the specified lead time only to end up in this stressful situation. How crazy is it that you have to call your *Congressman* to deal with this?? (Though I will certainly try that on Monday!!)
BTW, to answer OP's question about going to the agency in person: yes they will process the application and give it back to you the same day, but only if you prove you're flying in 2 weeks. In my situation, I was able to make and complete the reservation for an in-person appointment because I need a visa. But because I'm not *flying* within two weeks, they wouldn't let me wait for it at the agency - and now I'm screwed waiting around for days for an overnight package. I leave in 3 weeks and still need to get the visa; at this point I'm not convinced I'm going to get my passport in time! We'll see...
