Katiemay

I talked to two agencies that expedite
passports and I asked them how they
can get them thru so quickly when the
pp dept is so backlogged.
They hand carry them and walk the
paperwork thru. It takes some of the
workload off of them.
I'm concerned that when they see our
date of travel and that our pp
doesn't expire until 2/8/07 that we
are going to be put at the bottom of
the pile.
My husband wants to just pay the extra
and be done with it.

doug_stallings

Hiring passport expediters is helpful and can lessen your waiting time significantly. By prior arrangement, these companies can get same-day appointments at the national passport center and other centers. If you are truly under the gun, that's the route I'd suggest you follow (if you must get a passport in less than 2 weeks, for example). But these services are very expensive and if you plan ahead unnecessary.

For the person traveling in October, passports for adults (over 16) are valid for 10 years and the expiration date is clearly marked on the main information page. If you got a passport in 2000, it's valid until 2010.

Katiemay

Doug, thank you for your response.
My pp does expire on Feb 8,2008.
That is short the 6 mos out that I
need. I checked with another consular's
office and they also said 6 mos.
Once we send it in to our pp office,
you can't use an expediter.
I also checked on Poland's website on
the visa section, to get any more info
available, and to get a visa , you need
a valid pp 6 mos out. I know we don't
need a visa, but it did give me that
info.
Another thought, if we are denied entry,
would they let us go to the American
Embassey and renew or pp there??
I am impressed that you are reading the
posts.

doug_stallings

If you are going to be denied entry, it will most likely be at the airport before ou board your initial flight.

However, if you are denied entry at your point of entry into any country, you are immediately deported on the next available flight with no chance to visit a US consulate or embassy. So you definitely have to renew before you leave, not on arrival.

Katiemay

Update. I checked with aa airlines
and pp valid. I checked with Lot a/l
and even though we aren't flying
with them, the agent checked and said
pp valid for travel.
I checked on NY Consulate website and
it shows pp valid. This is the one
that the lady said I need 6 mos out.
I sent another email and asked about
the discrepancy, no reply yet.
Also I checked on the web of an
outside expediter that has their
office on the same floor as the
L.A. consulate's office and it states 3 mos for Poland. An email from the
American Embassy in Warsaw states
pp valid. Also, email from Wash D.C
consulate's office that pp is valid.
I haven't heard back from the Consulate,s office in Warsaw. Would
all of this paperwork save me if they
say 6mos? Probably depends if they are
in a good mood. I hope they like
Americans.
Sooooooooo--should I go for it???

taitai

Katiemay:

Do not trust what the airlines say...the consulates and embassies yes, the airlines, no. There was a long thread not too long ago about a family who listened to the airlines when going to Costa Rica and got deported once there due to getting the wrong info regarding passports.

Good luck and have a fun trip.
Taitai

doug_stallings

Well, in defense of the airlines, Costa Rica is particularly difficult. A friend of mine applied for a visa to Costa Rica and was deported upon arrival because the immigration agent said hte consulate issued the wrong visa.

To Katiemay: It's really up to you. I'm uncomfortable that you've waited another week, but if you apply now, you can still renew, and that's the safest option of all. I'd probably choose regular expedited service given the delays, and keep all the paperwork. I do think the 3-month validity rule applies in this case. The real reason I think you should renew now is that you have to renew anyway, and one should always have an valid passport just in case the opportunity fro last-minute travel arises.

(Poland loves the U.S., though.) Good luck and have a good trip either way.

Marianna

My son is still waiting for his passport to arrive - over 4 months now! It is supposed to be in his hands by this Thursday. It is being processed in Portsmouth, NH and has expedites put on it by various people he spoke to about it. If it doesn't arrive, we have to find out what to do next. Such an ordeal! My passport expires in April, but as soon as we return from this trip, I am starting the renewal process for mine.

Good luck to all who are waiting!

Marianna

Update: Our son's passport arrived today just as they said it would! All those phone calls and time spent on hold has paid off.

Good luck to all who are still waiting!

Katiemay

I finally got thru yesterday to the
Los Angeles Consulate of Poland. I was
told by the consulate's office that
it is the 90 day rule. I told her that
their website doesn't give any info
on passports, just visas. She said
she will change that. We shall see!!!
That was my last source of information
and if immigration stops me, they are
going to see this old lady cry.
I do feel much better about the pp.

tomassocroccante

I started a thread or two with this information, but seems useful to add here since so many are in it already:

June 20 the Senate held hearings on the critical passport backlog

I'm listening right now to the CSpan replay - Senator Bill Nelson of FL is telling the State Dept rep how the people questioning her there would not be very nice, since they've been spending months dealing with hundreds of thousands of complaints.

Interestingly, the backlog grew out of the Western Hemisphere Security INitiative - requiring passport for transit between US and Caribbean/Mexico/Canada - and because of the severe backlog, that initiative is being scaled back for at least the rest of the summer!

Anyway, here's an article about the hearings from the NYTimes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/20/wa...mp;oref=slogin

As mentioned above, Congress are really annoyed that the State Department's Consular Affairs group has let this develop and that SO MANY travelers have lost money, time and trips. How much Congress is to blame, I can't say - maybe a lot, maybe not. But the Secretary of State is Condoleeza Rice, and you know who her boss is. So give him a call, too! The White House should share in the remedy, even if not the blame.

tomassocroccante

Editorial in New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/23/op...?th&emc=th

Of course, the "reprieve" for visitors to the Caribbean, Canada and Mexico is little help or comfort to other travelers.