Passport Crisis Alert
 

Just wanted to let everyone know that there are major problems if you need a US passport. The website says 10 weeks for a nonexpress passport but the office is saying it is more like 12-14 weeks. The express passports are taking 4-6 weeks.

If you will need a passport or a passport renewal, please make sure you submit your application as early as possible!

Interesting. Last week, the son of a friend we knew when we used to visit Florida went into the passport office in Miami and was issued a new passport one hour later. Perhaps the turmoil was short-lived.

we have a similar problem here in Canada, the process takes much longer now.

CiaoLeone-

I believe you can have a passport issued immediately only if you are leaving within a short timeframe (and can prove it). Also, the fee is much higher than sending it in.

This is a major crisis for travelers throughout the US. They have been discussing this on the Europe forum. Here is a sample although there are many other postings. The newspapers are also picking this up and articles are being run throughout the US. Your friend's son was unbelievably lucky.

I tried to get you the link but was unable. Have a look at this posting in the Europe forum

Supposed to leave today...NO PASSPORT

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35002450 is the post withkids is talking about.

I cannot imagine why anyone would plan in a way that jeopardized obtaining a passport. I don't know anyone who doesn't keep passports up to date, ready for travel.

The point of my posting is to alert travelers of this very problem.

When we applied, they said it would take 6-8 weeks on the website. When we went in, we were told it might take as long as 10 weeks but most likely we would receive it in under 8 weeks.

We are still missing one of the passports and it is over 12 weeks and we have been calling frequently for the last 2 weeks. For the last two days, we have called 3-4 times a day.

Today, I got through on a back number and they told me they are now saying that it is taking 14 weeks.

I thought we had run into incompetence with a unique series of errors, but when I found these other postings, I realized this is an enormous problem that travelers need to be alerted to.

The bottom line is that travelers need to realize it may take 14 weeks or longer to get a passport and need to plan accordingly.

My 15 year old son lost his passport and we took him down to the county clerk's office on January 26th. His new passport did not arrive until 13 and a half weeks later! Fortunately he did not need the passport in the meanwhile but the delay did sort of freak me out. Of course, his old passport was "found" one week after his new one arrived and I promptly had to destroy it. But refrained from adding my son to the trash pile.

Here is another link on the subject from the European forum.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35004064

Wow, I wouldn't have thought it was such a problem to get a US passport. On April 16 we applied for our newborn's at the US Consulate in Shanghai and received it 3 weeks later. Didn't even request special service. I'd have thought it would take longer applying from abroad.

withkids
We have similar problems in Australia. My experience the time delay is often as good as the person who takes your application and follows it through. I try to present the nicest side of me when I file for renewal.

Neala, I just renewed my kids passports (x3), all back within 3 weeks !! (country city in Queensland !!)

It appears that it is easier to renew the passports when one is out of the country than in the country.

withkids: Congrats on getting the passports! Hope everything goes smoother from now on. If you need help, you know where to find me.

In amount of time taken, it is easier to renew kids passports out of the US. HOWEVER, you have to show up at the embassy or consulate with your child (even newborn) regardless or distance or cost or convenience. We had to go to Osaka, took an entire day which required time off from work. Cheapest for us was driving...tolls were 7000 yen each way plus 1/2 tank of gas at 8000/tank plus 2 meals out plus the passport fee. (Train or bus would have been more expensive).

The only good thing is we got the passport in 10 days, complete with extra pages. Bad thing, we have to do the same routine 3 more times, as even after kids turn 16 and can get an adult passport, you still have to go in person for the first adult passport.

A lot of hassle wherever you are. When I asked why children could no longer renew by mail, I was told it was for security issues. Everything these days is a security issue.

I'm not sure why but I had no problems with my renewal in late March. I mailed my request for expedited service on a Tuesday via Express mail - they got it Weds and I had my passport in the mail the following Monday. Perhaps it was a happy accident!