<<<<<<<<Author: herenthere
Date: 05/04/2007, 12:51 am
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...>>>>>>>>>>&g t;>

You can't do it over the phone,that I know of. You'll have to go in if you're not doing it by mail. I was unable to get an appointment but I had to go to the DC office which is probably a bit popular location.

Good luck.

I applied for ours in early Feb. The website said we'd recieve it April 22, saying it was being processed. Well, April 22 came and went and no passport! I called the national number 14 days before we are to leave and while it took a while to get through (call first thing EARLY as you can in the morning)they were very helpful and understanding and FEDEx overnighted it to me (no extra expense to me, I had originally not elected expedited service)and I had it in two days!

We applied for our passports in early February and still have not received them. My husband and I are supposed to fly out to Spain on Thursday and I have remained relatively patient and not freaked out until this morning. I have called the national passport agency 5 times in the past 1.5 weeks and spoke last with a woman on Saturday who said they would overnight it and to call this morning for a tracking number, I have not been able to get through.

After much anxiety I now have our passports with pages added and Russian Visas! It took 4 weeks for visa pages to be added (with help from someone) and two weeks for the PVS agency to get our Russian Visas! It was very stressful there for awhile!

tt

We had my son apply on Feb 24th and we received it 10 weeks later. I think it still took a month once the check was cashed and the website said it was in process. I recommend applying for a passport now if you are thinking about anything in the next year. Don't worry. And don't be the one stressing or missing your connection.

Progress report - thank you to those who advised to contact my congressman. I did so last Friday (6 weeks after application), and the very helpful office person said she'd get right on it and to check back w her in a few days. She said that once they contact the passport office, it speeds things up, so I'm hopeful. Meanwhile, I have Plan B to go to the city passport office and just pay the extra money, if it is not here by Friday (2 weeks before trip, May 29, since Memorial Day is a federal holiday - I am backing it up to the previous Friday). Thanks for the tip that the congressman's office could set up an appointment there if they are "full". I'll let you know what happens. Good luck to us all.

Finally, the passport is being Fedexed. It will be here tomorrow, which is Friday before we leave Tuesday. There is no mail delivery Monday b/c of Memorial Day, so we were getting nervous. Credit goes to our congressman's office for applying the pressure to get this done!

Thank God, I just got my passport in the mail. After reading these threads I was starting to worry. It took 12 weeks sans expedited service. Now I just have to worry about DW's!

thereyet

Just when it looked like things were coming together...the passport office did not specify "Saturday delivery", and now the passport won't get here until Tuesday - the day we leave. Very frustrated. Our congressman's staff has worked so hard to try and help us... Now my son has to go to a regional passport office tomorrow and start from scratch. If it weren't for our congressman's staff, we would be nowhere. BOTTOM LINE: WATCH OUT FOR YOURSELF because if I had not tried to track the passport online on Fedex's web site, I would not have discovered the too-late expected arrival date. We are very upset and distraught over this whole ordeal.

In-laws applied for renewals March 6(did not expedite), check cashed March 25 and received passports via priority mail on May 24. Just a little over 11 weeks total. Their passports came from the Portsmouth, N.H. office and they live in the Pittsburgh area.

We were definitely pleased with getting visa via Intercontinental Visa Service in Los Angeles.

Cost $50 each + FexEx expense of about $20 (+$100 for Russian Visa). Entire process took less than three weeks.

An update!!! Just short of 11 weeks from my son's passport application, we received it...by FedEx! We didn't expedite or call anyone, but thought I'd let you know the current timeframe.

*Sigh of relief*

kwren, well, you were lucky. I'm at 14 weeks waiting for my daughter's RENEWAL and still nothing.

kwren,

From what I understand reading other websites/ posts of frantic travelers, your case is an exception and not the rule. I am starting my 14th week after submitting renewal of my daughter's passport.

I do understand that there are a lot of problems going on with the passports, but just wanted to give some hope - it couldn't be the only one getting through. (It was also a renewal, which I failed to mention.) I really hope you get yours soon Monica and cruiseluv! I was on pins and needles too.

It was sent from Charleston, if that makes any difference.

It's actually very pretty - the pages now have pictures of famous American sights and monuments, but they no longer say the pages are for entry and departure stamps - just visas. I think those stamps are being phased out, or at least I have to ask for the passport to be stamped whenever I enter a country.

kwren,
Congrats on the passports!! i know what a stress that can be.
Travelatte

Oh my gosh, I just called to check status on my daughter's passport, got through after only pressing 3,1 once and then the person on the other end of the line said it was mostly done and would be printed on Friday. Knock on wood that was the truth and things really are getting better!

That's great Monica! Do you know which office it is coming from?

I foolishly forgot to ask what office. I was just in shock for getting through so fast!