PASSPORT

[Walley 0]

Hi Everybody,

Just want to ask a simple question. How long did it take you to receive your passport from day of filing?

Thanks in advance for all your replies.

Take care,

Walley

[Flames9_RN 358]

Just over a week! Think 9 days!! Naturalization came about 2 days later (always sent in a separate envelope)

[NickD 202]

Just over a week! Think 9 days!! Naturalization came about 2 days later (always sent in a separate envelope)

About the same for us with expedient service, still don't know why they tossed the certificate in a separate first class cheap envelope when the return address was exactly the same as the passport that came in a thick cardboard like envelop. Had to sign for that, the really expensive to replace certificate came back with all the junk mail. Or why they sent it to New Orleans when we are a day away with first class mail from Chicago. Or why a certified DOS agent can't just make a copy of your certificate, SS does that.

But I suppose they have their reasons.

[kokobearus 4]

Just over a week! Think 9 days!! Naturalization came about 2 days later (always sent in a separate envelope)

About the same for us with expedient service, still don't know why they tossed the certificate in a separate first class cheap envelope when the return address was exactly the same as the passport that came in a thick cardboard like envelop. Had to sign for that, the really expensive to replace certificate came back with all the junk mail. Or why they sent it to New Orleans when we are a day away with first class mail from Chicago. Or why a certified DOS agent can't just make a copy of your certificate, SS does that.

But I suppose they have their reasons.

To avoid identity thef and if it get lost,they won't be both lost.

[Walley 0]

Thank you all for all the replies. I really appreciate it.

I filed mine Feb 06 and had it expedited. Asked the person in-charge at the Post Office but he had no idea about the timeline, expedited or not, all he said was "it depends". I put my cetificate in a clear plastic so that they would not staple it and poke ugly holes on a very important and expensive piece of paper. He told me to remove the plastic as it is not needed but told him my reasons of doing so, so he kept the plastic with the certificate in it.

I also made a copy of my certificate and had it certified by them that the original copy is in their possession for passport/passbook application. So, he stamped and signed it with notes but told me it is against the law to copy the certificate. Told him I authorized it, don't know if I was correct. But I needed proof I sent it aside from the official receipt.

With the certified copy of my certificate, is this enough documentation if I cross the Canadian border and back? Just wondering if the Customs will honor it. If anyone has done this, please let me know.

Take care,

Walley

[Flames9_RN 358]

Mine was NOT expedited. The posty told me like 3-4 weeks!! lot faster than that,lol

[NickD 202]

but told me it is against the law to copy the certificate

Even the USCIS recommends you make copies of your certificate, and they want a copy along with your 400 bucks, so they can make you a new one if you lose your original.

[Flames9_RN 358]

We were told at the oath ceremony , one could copy it, BUT no COLOR copies!

[thea 1]

With the certified copy of my certificate, is this enough documentation if I cross the Canadian border and back? Just wondering if the Customs will honor it. If anyone has done this, please let me know.

Do not leave the country without your passport. Even the original certificate is not good for travel and the certified copy won't be either.

Although Canada may still be slightly different - not sure if you can get there and back on your drivers license. In any case, even if still possible rules are to change.

I applied for my passport on Wednesday and the guy at the passport office says currently there is no difference in processing times between standard and expedited (except for fees) and that it should take about a week to 10 days to receive the passport.

Edited February 8, 2009 by thea

[Flames9_RN 358]

They STRESSED, over and over and over again at the oath ceremony, that the Naturalization certificate CAN NOT be used for entry into the USA. You have to get a passport.

[NickD 202]

They STRESSED, over and over and over again at the oath ceremony, that the Naturalization certificate CAN NOT be used for entry into the USA. You have to get a passport.

Wife still has her foreign passport with a valid US visa in it that was good for ten years, was told definitely not to use that either, can get into deep trouble. Leaving is never a problem, coming back is.

We were not told anything about color copies, but enough on there to give you a fear of making copies. After scanning, just put in red letters in a blank spot for the copies, A COPY, FOR USCIS CERTIFICATE REPLACEMENT ONLY! So maybe I won't go to jail.

Doesn't really take a Sherlock to tell the difference between the original and a copy, ha, a guy in WI tried to make color copies of twenty dollar bills, was caught in two seconds.

To date, only SS and the DOS wanted to see her original, other governmental agencies just said to check the USC box, with renewal of her passport, if the world is still here in ten years, just have to supply her old passport, so maybe will never have to show her certificate again.

[griffin 7]

GREETINGS!

I applied both passport book and passport card via USPS, may call or check online for the application status.

a. US paaport book 9th day.

b. US certificate got it back 10th day.

c. US paasport card 11th day.

Edited February 9, 2009 by griffin

[Walley 0]

Thank you all for your inputs. Very well taken.

Griffin, I applied for both passport book and card too. Hope to get them soon.

Take care,

Walley

[NickD 202]

Thank you all for your inputs. Very well taken.

Griffin, I applied for both passport book and card too. Hope to get them soon.

Take care,

Walley

It was a mess when you were required to get a US passport to fly to Canada or Mexico. Also was a huge mess when the USCIS decided to double the fees with zillions of new applications, never understood that, in our case applications were sent in when due, nothing to do with the fees. To counter, Emilio started shifting application processing all over the country that resulted in applications getting lost. What a mess, what poor timing on our part. Least things are looking far more stable today. Ha, we should reapply, hopefully would be far less stress. But still see a lot of stressed out people on this board.

[yukkles 0]

Do you have to sign for your passport when it arrives in the mail?