Does Passport Agency Immediately Return your Certificate?

[edt370a 3]

I'm trying to plan ahead here, and wanted to ask those who have applied for their passport at a Passport Agency. When you make the appointment and go there to apply in person, do they return your Naturalization Certificate to you immediately after verifying and scanning it?

I am asking because I am nervous about sending it by mail and then having them lose it. I will drive the 8+ hours to and from a Passport Agency if I know for sure that they will give the Certificate back immediately.

[ndprulx 5]

as far as i know, the passport service will take it, and will send it back to you through mail, and if its your first time passport, you have to appear in person, so that rules your question for if you are going or not.

[edt370a 3]

The procedure you mention is what (I think) happens at a passport "Acceptance Facility" like the local post office. I am talking about the dedicated Passport Agencies they have in big cities where they do same-day passports and so on ... my nearest one is eight hours away in Denver.

as far as i know, the passport service will take it, and will send it back to you through mail, and if its your first time passport, you have to appear in person, so that rules your question for if you are going or not.

[Pinkrlion 2,719]

You will get it back in the mail with your passport.

[Jo Së 200]

The procedure you mention is what (I think) happens at a passport "Acceptance Facility" like the local post office. I am talking about the dedicated Passport Agencies they have in big cities where they do same-day passports and so on ... my nearest one is eight hours away in Denver.

Best thing to do is call the agency and ask for that information to be sure about what happens with your naturalization certificate, either way you get it back.

I believe they only do same day passport if there is a life or death emergency, otherwise it still takes about a week for an expedited case.

Edited October 8, 2015 by Jose&Eli

[edt370a 3]

Thank you, that was a useful response!!!

Best thing to do is call the agency and ask for that information to be sure about what happens with your naturalization certificate, either way you get it back.

I believe they only do same day passport if there is a life or death emergency, otherwise it still takes about a week for an expedited case.

[Tom_Jim 40]

I did mine in the NY passport agency.

They will take your original and return it to you in the mail with your passport.

[TBoneTX 45,287]

Mrs. T-B.'s certificate arrived separately from her passport, within a day or so, in pristine condition. Filing had been done at a Post Office.

[Moderator hat on]

*** Thread moved from US Citizenship main forum to the Passports, Etc. subforum. ***

Edited October 9, 2015 by TBoneTX

[milimelo 4,477]

If you're doing it at the Passport Agency (with proof of travel within 15 days), you will give it to them and then pick it up when you pick up your passport.

[kovacs 20]

In Chicago, the passport agency will only do same day service if you have a flight that same day, or the next day. It also helps a lot if you have an appointment. In Chicago, now that it is low season, I can get a same day appointment if I call at 6am. Check out this link for a lot more info. Things I've shared may be applicable to Denver. Last but not least, YES, at the agency, if you are doing a hand pickup, you get your Certificate back at the same time. http://www.yelp.com/biz/chicago-passport-agency-chicago

[dioxide45 25]

I applied for my Passport at the Passport Agency in Detroit. I didn't have immediate travel. Travel was set for about 10 days after my Oath Ceremony.When I applied, I was given my Naturalization Certificate back on the spot. My Passport came via USPS two days later. When you apply at a Passport Agency, an officer actually accepts your application and validates your ID and proof of citizenship at the window. They have no need to then hold your certificate after that and you should be able to walk out with it. At least this was my experience in Detroit. YMMV.

Edited October 14, 2015 by dioxide45

[yahya_marie 5]

Remember, you can always order a replacement of naturalization certificate from USCIS, so no need to worry. Good luck!

[cdn_in_wa 1]

Remember, you can always order a replacement of naturalization certificate from USCIS, so no need to worry. Good luck!

Yes, it is true, except they told us the cost to get a replacement is $345. Ouch!

[lilsweetie 32]

Yes, it is true, except they told us the cost to get a replacement is $345. Ouch!

Anybody have any idea how long it takes to get a replacement? Thankfully i don't need one, but wondering just in case that situation should arise...

[jaysaldi 213]

My wife applied for her assort and passort card in Houston this week. She had travel booked five days away. They took her original naturalization certificate and a copy, as well as a copy of her drivers license. She got a receipt telling her to come back the next day between 1130a - 3p to collect the passport. There was a line right on the receipt for her to authorize someone else to collect the passport for her.

 

She signed authorizing me to collect it. The next day I drove to the office with the signed receipt, they checked my ID and they handed me an envelope containing her new passport, her original naturalization certificate, and her new passport card.