So I sent my passport on Saturday PRIORITY MAIL with delivery confirmation (I need to get a name change and already cutting it close to how long it coudl take). It is going to South Carolina (So from VA to SC) regular mail would usually take 2 days, well it still hasn't been delivered! When I called, they said it isn't considered lost for 14 days, so there is nothing I can do until then! Plus the public copy machine wasn't working at the PO on Saturday and they wouldn't let me make 1 copy of it with theri one in the back so I didn't make a copy (I still have my old one though).

Don't you have a tracking number for it? You can usually track on line from the postmaster website.

Yea I tracked it online on Tuesday all it said was that it was received at the PO where I dropped it off. So I checked online again this morning, same message so then I decided to call and that's when she told me what I already knew and said there is nothing else they can do for me. "Priority Mail isn't a guarentee" So you pay $4.00 for nothing! "It usually takes 2-3 days-no guarentee" yea well so does reguar mail-you'd just think it would be harder to loose a priority envelope.

Hi Smiley.

Sorry about them losing your passport. I just wanted to give you reassurance. I sent my passport in to SC to have my name amended on my passport in August. I had a delivery confirmation so that I could track as well. About two weeks later I received something on my front door telling me I had a package at the post office. My passport had been returned via Express Mail.

If worst comes to worst, you can always apply for an expedited passport in your new name. I'll cross my fingers for you!

Why didn't you shell out a few more of your hard earned $ and send your passport overnight/guaranteed delivery?

Priority is just that - 2 to 3 days. Second Day, gets it there in 2 days. It'll be delivered and processed. A name change is turned around rather quickly. Did you enclose a note as to when you will be departing on your trip, along with copy of your airline ticket - that helps to process and return quickly. You can check daily, but I'm sure you'll have it returned in time.

OK, I'll be snide. Did you just move to the US this week?

Otherwise, is it possible that it took you this long to figure out that the US Post Office is terrible?

I really am sorry for the problem, but somehow I'm not surprised. Maybe it will all turn out. Sometimes I think they do a better job than even they think they can do -- and everything may be fine, they just can't track it.

Please don't lose faith yet. It's possible they do have it, but the receipt of your PP has not yet been entered into their system at the PP office. Here's why I say that: I sent my PP for renewal on 9/17. The check I wrote cleared my bank on 9/22, so at the very latest, the package arrived that day. I called earlier this week to check the status (I know that's too soon, but I am impatient) and they told me they received it 9/23. I know for a fact it was there before that because my check cleared 9/22. So I'm betting it actually got there on 9/21, but they did not log in the receipt until a couple of days later.

I know it's a bit late for this advice but personally I would have sprung for an overnight guaranteed service (Fed Ex, UPS) AND paid for the expedited service (yes I know $60 extra) with the passport office.

So it's an unfortunately situation but there are at least 3 things you could have done differently. I'd be kicking myself not the post office.

Do you know for a fact that it hasn't been received, or are you basing your conclusion on the tracking results? I sent a letter certified/return receipt and started checking after I didn't receive the receipt within two weeks. Online, it only showed me that my letter had been accepted at the Post Office where I mailed it two weeks before. I went to the Post Office, and they had me fill out a form to track it. I received their answer the next week: "No record of delivery". But on the same day I received that, I also received a reply from the person I had written to, so they did get my letter after all. Can you call the passport office and see if they have received your package?

good idea I'll call the passport office!

Call 1-877-487-2778. Please let us know if it's there.

When it comes to the US postal system the only one I have any faith in is Lance Armstrong

Lance is moving to Discovery - USPS dropped him!!

Well they don't have it in their system yet (but she said that can take a week to do once they receive it and suggested to call back Monday). I've learned my lesson about trying to be cheap!

You must have sent a check for the fee--has the check cleared yet?

My sympathies go out to you smiley! I sent mine in for renewal Sat. by express mail (both directions) and paid the expedite fee (you never know when you might want to travel!) I was surprised how awful I felt parting with it. I'm really hoping I get it back in the next couple of days.

Is was free to change your name (unless you wanted it quickly), so no check...

I, too, am cutting it close on my passport renewal for my October trip. Thought I was allowing enough time, but it seems like the system is slower than in the past.

Today I read this post and began to get concerned. I called the passport office to track my documents. A very helpful woman informed me that my documents are in New Hampshire. (While they are sent to Pittsburgh, that's just for the "banking." Then they are forwarded to a more local office--I'm in NYC.)

She told me when they would be available--way too close to my departure date. So she was able to change me to expedited service over the phone. Credit cards are really handy sometimes.

I know what you mean, Grasshopper. I did not pay the expidite fee since the next trip I have planned is in May 2005, but somehow I really miss having a passport, just in case something comes up.

Ellenem, you have just solved a couple of mysteries for me: 1. I wondered why my check cleared on 9/22, but the PP office says they didn't receive my package until 9/23. I see now that it took an extra day or so to get it to NH. 2. I could have sworn that 10 years ago when I did this before, I sent my PP to NH, not Pittsburgh for renewal. Thanks for the info. Can you tell me, please, when you sent your documents and when they would have been available if you had not expidited? I'm just curious as to what the turnaround time would be for non-expedited service.