USPS claimed to have delivered passport which never arrived?

[gnakr 43]

I'm asking this for a family member. She had her ceremony early last month, and applied for the passport at USPS a few days after. They sent back the certificate (Thank God) about 2 weeks after, but the passport was never received. After waiting for a week, thinking they were still processing, she called the DHS passport office. They claimed to have delivered the passport 2 weeks ago (a few days before the certificate). They gave her a USPS tracking number which showed that the passport was delivered. But it was never received. I know that there is a form to file to report a passport lost in the mail, and they can replace it, but I was wondering if anyone had come across anything like this? We're going to USPS to inquire about the package tomorrow. If they claim it was delivered and there is nothing they can do, what else could we try? Unfortunately she lives in an apartment complex where there are 100+ mailboxes adjacent to each other, and the mailboxes don't indicate house numbers. Hence asking neighbors is not an option.

Edited September 19, 2018 by gnakr

[Ontarkie 14,223]

If it ended up in the wrong box it may take a bit to get rerouted to you. File a claim with USPS so they can look for it. 

[gnakr 43]

2 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

If it ended up in the wrong box it may take a bit to get rerouted to you. File a claim with USPS so they can look for it. 

Thank you! I have a feeling that the USPS clerks won't be too useful if we physically go down there, so I'll look into filing a claim.

[Sunnyland 639]

So the mailboxes don't indicate apartment number?

Probably was delivered at someone else's apartment and that sucks because that is very personal information there. And I assume they have to make the passport invalid now. Did she receive her certificate back?  Did anybody sign for the receipt of passport?

According to this website it is important that the report be filed within 90 days from the date your passport was issued to avoid extra fees for a new passport.

If they need to have the new passport re-delivered again then see if there is an option at USPS that you go to pick it up there instead of having it delivered which it seems it not a good idea in this case. Hope you guys can locate the passport.

 

[gnakr 43]

3 minutes ago, Sunnyland said:

So the mailboxes don't indicate apartment number?

Probably was delivered at someone else's apartment and that sucks because that is very personal information there. And I assume they have to make the passport invalid now. Did she receive her certificate back?  Did anybody sign for the receipt of passport?

According to this website it is important that the report be filed within 90 days from the date your passport was issued to avoid extra fees for a new passport.

If they need to have the new passport re-delivered again then see if there is an option at USPS that you go to pick it up there instead of having it delivered which it seems it not a good idea in this case. Hope you guys can locate the passport.

 

Yeah. I've never seen such a weird assortment of mail boxes, they are plainly number from 1-20, and there are around 5 boxes (e.g. a given house may have the mailbox 'box 2, slot 3'). She's never had problems receiving important mail e.g. bills, in the past 3 years that she's been there.

 

Yeah, one of my biggest worries is the fact that a lot of personal information is on the document. If we're unable to get any useful info from USPS, we're going to have to file the document given on the website. Yeah, she did receive the certificate back.

[Sunnyland 639]

If she can not find the passport then I guess they will have to make it invalid so no one can use it, etc. I would go to pick up the next passport to the usps office or have it delivered to some other address where the mail boxes are not so confusing.

That was one of my fears when I did my US passport. I live in a house but each time I saw the mailman I pretty much ran outside and check the box. The poor guy did not know what was wrong with me.  Hope you guys can find the passport soon. All the best luck!

[gnakr 43]

1 minute ago, Sunnyland said:

If she can not find the passport then I guess they will have to make it invalid so no one can use it, etc. I would go to pick up the next passport to the usps office or have it delivered to some other address where the mail boxes are not so confusing. 

That was one of my fears when I did my US passport. I live in a house but each time I saw the mailman I pretty much ran outside and check the box. The poor guy did not know what was wrong with me.  Hope you guys can find the passport soon. All the best luck! 

Thank you!

[gnakr 43]

On 9/19/2018 at 7:43 PM, Ontarkie said:

If it ended up in the wrong box it may take a bit to get rerouted to you. File a claim with USPS so they can look for it. 

 

On 9/19/2018 at 7:46 PM, Sunnyland said:

So the mailboxes don't indicate apartment number?

Probably was delivered at someone else's apartment and that sucks because that is very personal information there. And I assume they have to make the passport invalid now. Did she receive her certificate back?  Did anybody sign for the receipt of passport?

According to this website it is important that the report be filed within 90 days from the date your passport was issued to avoid extra fees for a new passport.

If they need to have the new passport re-delivered again then see if there is an option at USPS that you go to pick it up there instead of having it delivered which it seems it not a good idea in this case. Hope you guys can locate the passport.

 

Thank you guys! We talked to our local USPS, they've found the passport! I think the carrier may have misplaced it!

[Ontarkie 14,223]

That's great news. 

 

When I applied for my passport the USPS lost the whole pile of applications they got. They had a few ppl in that pile with Naturalization certificates. We were not happy. They tried to say we can do redo our application for no cost. I asked if they would refund my money for my Naturalization certificate and how it would take 8 + months to replace that. I don't remember how long it took but they later called saying the package was found. USPS dropped it between two buckets. 

[gnakr 43]

5 hours ago, Ontarkie said:

That's great news. 

 

When I applied for my passport the USPS lost the whole pile of applications they got. They had a few ppl in that pile with Naturalization certificates. We were not happy. They tried to say we can do redo our application for no cost. I asked if they would refund my money for my Naturalization certificate and how it would take 8 + months to replace that. I don't remember how long it took but they later called saying the package was found. USPS dropped it between two buckets. 

Oh wow. Losing the certificate is everyone's biggest worry when doing the application. I'm glad they were able to find it.

[Ontarkie 14,223]

It was pretty crazy. 

[Sunnyland 639]

17 hours ago, gnakr said:

 

Thank you guys! We talked to our local USPS, they've found the passport! I think the carrier may have misplaced it!

 

I'm so happy they found her passport. I would go to pick it up in person if they have that option.