Being a pathological optimist, I figured that it shouldn't take more than a month to renew my passport if I paid for expedited service. I got some
pictures taken. They were awful...so, I had a second set done which were just slightly less awful. That was $24.
I downloaded the application, and sent the pictures, my almost expired passport and a check for $127 (don't recall the postage) for the passport and
expedited service on January 20th. And then I waited, and waited, and waited. I started getting a little nervous around February 15th since an online
look showed that my application was not in the system...so, I began calling every day. Then I took the advice of one person I talked to and made a
back up appointment at the local office. Since I had mailed my passport, I now needed a birth certificate! I know there's a copy somewhere around,
but I don't remember where. After a short frantic search, I went online and ordered one with overnight delivery from the city of New York...that was
$33. It actually arrived on February 20.
The first local passport office appointment was February 21. The next one was February 27. I'm leaving for Loreto on March 1. I took the
appointment on the 21st. That meant a trip during rush hour for a nine o'clock appointment. You are not allowed to be more than 15 minutes
early...and if you are 15 minutes late they cancel your appointment. I decided to leave very early for a 9 am appointment to miss the worst
traffic...that meant a $5 Golden Gate Bridge Toll, a $15 parking fee, and a morning skipped from work. The night before the appointment, I called
again and found that my application was in New Hampshire, and finally being processed, and would be ready within 3 days or so! I decided to go with
the local appointment! That meant I had to use the really bad pictures, since I didn't have time for new ones! But, I had my birth certificate, a
photo copy of the first page of my passport, my downloaded airline confirmation...I went for it.
When you are told that you have a 9 am appointment, they don't tell you that so do 100 other people! (That might be a slight exaggeration...but the
place was jammed.) After giving all my stuff to an agent, and another $157, I was given a receipt that said I could pick up my passport on Friday the
23rd after 11 am. Fortunately, a friend who works in SF offered to pick it up for me...thereby saving another 1/2 day of work, another $15 parking
fee, and another $5 bridge toll.
The receipt had spaces to authorize someone else to pick up the passport, a line for them to sign, and a requirement for id. I worried a little
because I faxed the receipt, so it wasn't an original signature...and they had been so finickey about my documentation...but, when she went to pick it
up, the agent didn't even look at the receipt, got the envelope, no id, no signature, and said, "thank you Elizabeth"!!!
The moral to this story? If your passport is anywhere close to expiring...get on it right away.
elizabeth
PS I've missed not being part of this board, but I haven't felt much like posting...I guess I'm back!vgabndo - 2-25-2007 at 06:15 PM
Welcome back! I hope the rest of the more recent journey goes better. I'm so glad to hear that you are on the up-swing.
PerryBob and Susan - 2-25-2007 at 06:36 PM
sorry elizabeth...
To renew a passport FAST (within two weeks) is very easy…
You do it yourself by mail...
Pictures at Costco are $7
Who cares what the pictures look like.
Only officials look at the picture and only for identification
A picture is exactly what you looked like at that moment.
We ALL have to live with our LOOKS
The barcode inside is what they really need.
Express Mail the Application (DS82) and any other required documentation to the Passport Agency $14.40.
Enclose a return stamped Express Mail envelope $14.40 to track it back to you.
Attach Old Passport
$67 fee
Expedite fee $60
2 weeks the passport arrives in the mail
If you don’t want to pick it up at the Post Office if you’re not home…
Sign the wavier spot on the Express Mail Envelope before you enclose it.
It will be in the mailbox when you get home.
If you change your name follow the rules...
_______________________________________________
Complete Application For Passport By Mail
Form DS-82
And, a $67 fee payable to the U.S. Department of State.
If you need your passport urgently, you may request Expedited Service.
NOTE: Your previous passport will be returned to you with your new passport.
3. If your name has changed since your passport was issued:
Enclose a certified copy of the legal document specifying your name change
(e.g. marriage certificate, divorce decree, adoption decree, or court order).
No photocopies accepted.
NOTE: If your name has changed by other means, you must apply in person.
4. Mail in a padded envelope to:
National Passport Processing
P.O. Box 13349
Philadelphia, PA 19101-3349
5. If you use an overnight delivery service that does not deliver to a post office box, (BIG MISTAKE) then send it to:
National Passport Processing
Attn: Department 13349
1617 Brett Road
New Castle, DE 19720
NOTE:
Include a prepaid overnight return envelope.
Please note that overnight service will not speed up processing time unless the $60 fee for expedited service is also included.
(This explanation is written at 6th grade reading level)elizabeth - 2-25-2007 at 06:59 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
sorry elizabeth...
To renew a passport FAST (within two weeks) is very easy…
You do it yourself by mail...
)
I DID ALL of those things...they told me that they were way backed up, and had not hired enough staff to handle the overload.
[Edited on 2-26-2007 by elizabeth]Bob and Susan - 2-25-2007 at 07:02 PM
they lied...Sallysouth - 2-25-2007 at 07:56 PM
Oh Elizabeth, that is good! "you are not allowed to be more than 15 minutes early"!! Wow, what a fiasco you went thru, not to mention all the expenses
involved! Just getting to, driving, missing work, all of that must have cost you a pretty penny! Thanks for the heads up re; renewing ahead of
time...gotta go check my expiration date now!! Glad you finally got your passport renewed! congrats, after all that..... p.s. NOW go to Baja!!
[Edited on 2-26-2007 by Sallysouth]thebajarunner - 2-25-2007 at 08:23 PM
One of my partners had to have one on very short notice (his wife lost hers and they were going to buy a new condo in Mazatlan)
He called a number of "expediters" in SF.
Got one that had a "window" at 11 a.m. last week, so they drove over, parked at the corner of Haight/Ashbury (now there is some nostalgia) paid the
guy $100 and got right in line and two days later were outta here.
He said these guys make lots of reservations on time slots, then sell them to the highest bidder.
Again, they had that same 15 minute window.bancoduo - 2-26-2007 at 08:53 AM
Just go to a small town Post Office. " Piece of cake"capitolkat - 2-26-2007 at 09:33 AM
Just got my renewed passport back last week. Sent the regular fee, photos from Costco, and my old passport to the US passport agency- they said 6
weeks, and 5 weeks and 2 days later it came back. Plan ahead- no
worries
[Edited on 2-26-2007 by capitolkat]
You Never Can Tell
MrBillM - 2-26-2007 at 11:24 AM
Doing business with the Federal Government, you have to know that once in awhile (or more), your turn for FIASCO is going to come up. It is the
exception, though, in the case of passports. My wife and I and everyone we know has never had a problem.
Our last renewal was in 2001. We picked up the forms from the Town Hall, filled them out and had our pics made ($10.00 for each set) and took the
whole thing back to the Town Hall paying only for the normal interval. The new passports arrived back within three weeks.
When we applied for my Wife's original Passport years ago, we were told it would take awhile because she had no "official" Birth Certificate, only a
hospital certificate. We followed the prescribed rules when a Birth Certificate is not available and the whole process took less than Five weeks.Paula - 2-26-2007 at 12:14 PM
Glad to hear that your papers are all in order.... and how nice that the beaurocrats threw in the makings of a good story for you
We are looking forward to seeing you on the 2nd!Bob and Susan - 2-26-2007 at 12:34 PM
people don't realize that the "Post Office"
does not "DO passports"
They "JUST" collect the applications and fees and "mail" them to the Passport Agency.
The Passport agency distributes the workload to three locations across the country.
Contractors put the final product together...and mail the final product
Staffing complaints from employees are everywhere...why would an employer expect workers to actually work?DENNIS - 2-26-2007 at 03:59 PM
It amazes me that, in this day and age, they send out passports like picture postcards. No registration or protection. I failed to receive my
last renewel and the can of worms was opened. What a mess. And, did you know? The number given to make inquiries to the agency is, or was, a
900 number.....just like the phone-sex numbers. I asked the agency why this is and there reply was they wanted to be self supporting. So much for
taxes doing what they're supposed to do.Bob and Susan - 2-26-2007 at 04:56 PM
passports are not as important as "we" were led to belive...
it's ALL about the fees and limiting the "dollar" from leaving the countryDENNIS - 2-26-2007 at 06:14 PM
p.s. NOW go to Baja!!
Plan ahead- no
worries
