Marsh, I mailed my passport in for new visa pages with regular processing, and I also noticed that mine was in the system today (was not there yesterday). It's been just over five weeks since they received it.

ttt

I called the number on the website and they tagged mine for a three day service. It cost about $49 more, but I didn't want to wait. Then it was sent by FedEx, which for some reason, I didn't have to pay for. I think it was worth it.

The saddest guy walked into my restaurant Sunday morning. He had just left DTW where he was turned away from taking a trip with his girlfriend to St. Martin. Seems his passport never got to the mailbox in time, He had paid for the rush delivery, called when he still hadn't received it, and was promised a letter via overnight to state his passport # and the fact he had one it just hadn't arrived yet, that didn't show up either. He took the chance of going to the airport, after much jerking around by the airline (like saying we'll let you go, but we'll have to call S. Carolina to see if they'll let you through, they said no) so after waiting around the airport for 3 hours he left. Broken hearted and His girlfriend gone on without him (I told him I would have left my man standing at the gate too)he came to my place to wallow in his coffee and eggs. Oh, BTW he called his travel agent for advise the night before and she led him to believe they'd let him on the plane (another reason in my book why NOT use a TA, then you have only yourself to blame)

He booked a flight for tues. to St. Martin and is hoping and praying it comes in on time. Also another Customer called Me and asked if I could find a cheap ticket to Cancun for her daughter who was going on spring break and had not got her passport yet (applied Jan 15, and paid extra for rush)and no way was she missing out on the trip. Even if she had to drive to chicago and pick up the passport. It came in the night before she was supposed to leave.

Anyone got the stat's on what our government is raking in on all this passport crap. You need one to fly out of the country, but you don't need one to drive in or out of the country. And who knows what other rules they'll be changing. It's all about the money I believe.

It doesn't have anything to do with the money, it is "homeland" security. Actually, although I don't like that whole issue nor the admin, I agree that you should have a passport to go to/from a foreign country. I think it's silly of folks who don't think they should have to have one or never got one. I got one as soon as I was an adult, it's just common sense. St Martin is a foreign country, as is Mexico.

Obviously the requirement of a passport is to keep track of who gets in - as well as who is leaving. We used to be able to travel to much of the Caribbean without a passport, but it's been determined that the bad guys could use that as a port of entry to the US.

I recall that I was able to get my first passport fast, but then I live in NYC, where there is an office. (Most people here use the mail, however, I see them at the post office every time I go in.) I discovered on my first visit to the office here that by the time they open there would be a day-long line - literally, by 9:00 AM, 300 people in line. But arrive by 8:00 and you'd be in the first 50 in line. (Remind anyone of attending the Vatican museum?)

All that said, if a business suddenly had the increase in work that the passport office has, they'd hire some temps to take up the slack = why let backlogs get to the point of several months? Of course, they do not have budget flexibility to make those moves.

Deegirl,
How recently did you call & get 3 day service on your passport? I have been dealing with the office of my Congressman. On Friday she told me basically that my passports would be found & the pages added soon. Today, it was a different story! She said the passports are in a box in a building in Charleston & who knows when they will be located, even though I was given a "locator #" on the website of the state dept. I am going to be in panic mode until I get some good news! I need time to get that Russian Visa. If only I had know to expedite!

GOOD NEWS! Our passports arrived today by overnight priority FEDEX! I don't know exactly how it happened, but I can breathe again. This is exactly five weeks from the day I mailed them by priority mail. The first person I spoke with at the National Passport Agency told me that she would FAX my info to the proper dept. & state that I needed the passports for my Russian Visas. I didn't pay for anything! It is a miracle!

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!! I am so glad they arrived Marsh. Have a wonderful trip and I hope the worst of the problems are over now.

I thought I'd add another data point for anyone wondering how long this is taking now...

I mailed my passport in for additional visa pages (normal processing) on March 6 and received it back today--just under eight weeks. It took more than five weeks before it showed up in the tracking system. Once it did, though, it was processed fairly quickly, in a little less than two weeks.

I took my son to the post office to renew his passpost about 3 weeks ago and was told it should take about 10-12 weeks. that gives us 3 weeks leeway. Hmmm, should I start to worry now or wait till July?

To those of you stressing.... CALL YOUR CONGRESSPERSON!!!! They have people whose JOB it is to deal with issues like that for their citizens. Besides which they oversee this agency and should be aware that the VOTERS are not happy!

There's another thread on this and several persons have reported that the congressperson method is helping!

I sent in my renewal two weeks ago and they've already cashed the check and the website says it is being processed. Considering what I read prior to sending it in, I'm amazed that it is already being tracked. I didn't request expedited service either.

This has been a nightmare.

After I checked on here and saw all the nightmares I figured it would be best to get an appointment.
So I call,when I finally get someone she tells me they won't process my renewal until 14 days before I leave and to call back on the 20th. The automated service gives me an appointment the day before I fly out. I leave on a Saturday. So I keep at it until I get someone. She makes me an appointment for May 3 and takes my e-mail address to send me the info. What do I get???? A cancellation saying they only allow appointments no sooner than 3 days before travel date. WTF?????/ Why didn't she say so on the phone?

I try the automated again,cause I can't get anyone on the phone. Now I'm getting an appointment 2 days after I leave. *filled with murderous rage*
So I take off work to get this all straightened out. I can't find my passport and apparently there's some kind of code that won't allow me to print my itinerary. I do some flipping around of subject and copy/paste some more stuff to get it to print.

Finally get down there (DC office) with the stench of desperation and no ticket. They let me file and I have to go back Tues. (tomorrow) I hope there are no issues. I leave for Prague this Sat. May 5th.

*totally screaming inside*

Thanks for telling me about the passport tracking site. Unfortunately, my son's application has not yet entered the system, but I'll just keep checking for a while. It does say that it takes 4 weeks to enter the system and last year I know we did get our passports on time.

tzarinna - it's not enough to have the stress of getting ready for a vacation and now have this problem. Just letting you know I feel for you and hope it gets straightened out quickly so you can enjoy your trip.

Thanks,kwren. This got to be the most stress trip planning ever for me. I cna breathe a little better now though.

I got it. They told me on Friday to come on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. I got there at 2 p.m. and they hadn't given any out,the line was bad but not as bad as it could've been. So I got to chat and complain with some fellow travelers. One woman had sent in her application in February and some how it got sent to another state *can't remember which* and here it is May and she still hasn't gotten it. She told them her travel date was for April 30th. *shakes head*

Friday there were two or three armed guards. Today there were 5 or more. Hmmmmmm,I wonder what ever for?

Hi, I am new but have passport anxiety! My son applied March 23rd (did not expedite) and my question is:

If May 14th (2 wks before trip) comes and we call the Passport Office, what will be involved in expediting the passport? Will we be required to go to a regional office, or can it be done by phone?
Thanks for any tips to help me sleep at night...

t

Ever since I first saw this thread I've been checking to see if my son's passport had been started. Finally, success! Thought I'd give you all some info.

We applied April 11 and it's in the system now, 3 weeks later. The page is still saying it should take 10 weeks.

Hope that helps anyone in the early stages of the process. I know I was getting worried reading about all this.

We applied March 18th and received them on May 2nd. (only 6+ weeks?- I was told 10 weeks) I was impressed. Remember that your birth certificates will be sent back to you separately.