2020/ 21- US Passport & Card Application-Tracker

[striking19 9]

10 hours ago, Chaka Quaker said:

Call your senator. Mine reached out to them the same day and located my app. Today we called again and once again explained how urgent everything is. The senator assigned a lady to my case and she called the supervisor in the passport center. She also told us, she did 15 passports like that today, the passport centers are really busy, that’s why it’s taking longer now. Contact your senator and let them know, you tried your congressperson but it didn’t work, be nice and make it sound like your life depends on it. 😂 

Did they ask you to send a copy of your flight tickets?

[Chaka Quaker 41]

20 minutes ago, striking19 said:

Did they ask you to send a copy of your flight tickets?

No. Just have ready a signed scanned copy of the privacy release act form they have so they can speak on your behalf. I just sent the same documents I sent for my app, plus, a cover letter saying I needed the passport urgently by 6/18. On Monday they located the app, but then yesterday there was no movement, so we called again the lady in charge of my case and nicely explained how important it was to get my passport, so she made it happen. I think the calls are crucial to get done fast because they have other people asking for the same thing so they will probably give priority to whoever needs it the quickest.

[The415 5]

15 hours ago, Scandi said:

It's possible the passport agency made a mistake, you need to call and have it corrected if so. They don't care if you actually get it expedited or not, they will just pay back the $60 that you paid extra if you call and complain once you're outside normal processing time. So you need to talk to them before that.

The issue is that I have been calling for a week now at least twice a day and spent hours on hold with no results. When I get lucky and reach an agent they tell me just wait and they have no idea what is going on with my case. The check has not even been cashed yet and it has been two weeks already. I am beyond stressed and upset. 

[The415 5]

15 hours ago, Chaka Quaker said:

Call your senator. Mine reached out to them the same day and located my app. Today we called again and once again explained how urgent everything is. The senator assigned a lady to my case and she called the supervisor in the passport center. She also told us, she did 15 passports like that today, the passport centers are really busy, that’s why it’s taking longer now. Contact your senator and let them know, you tried your congressperson but it didn’t work, be nice and make it sound like your life depends on it. 😂 

 

I tried to call but here in CA they do not pick up phones apparently so I sent them an email with the required docs, including my flight ticket.  Hoping to hear something this week! fingers crossed 😪

[Chaka Quaker 41]

I got both my passport and citizenship certificate together today. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about the certificate.

[striking19 9]

53 minutes ago, Chaka Quaker said:

I got both my passport and citizenship certificate together today. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about the certificate.

good for you. I hope the certificate is not mishandled in any way

[Jhon_A 14]

1 hour ago, Chaka Quaker said:

I got both my passport and citizenship certificate together today. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about the certificate.

Congrats, so lucky.

[MrKo 60]

First time passport application is the ONLY time that you "officially" need to hand over / send your original naturalization certificate and worry about it. After it is done and after you get everything back, you can put the certificate in a safe place and most likely you'll never need to use it again. From now on you can use your US passport to prove your citizenship or to renew itself. Even in case (God forbid) you lose your passport, you can use the DOS Request for a File Search service (w. extra fees) to apply for a new passport because you're already in their system. So congrats to all who've gone through the entire process, it's all over😁.

[striking19 9]

35 minutes ago, MrKo said:

First time passport application is the ONLY time that you "officially" need to hand over / send your original naturalization certificate and worry about it. After it is done and after you get everything back, you can put the certificate in a safe place and most likely you'll never need to use it again. From now on you can use your US passport to prove your citizenship or to renew itself. Even in case (God forbid) you lose your passport, you can use the DOS Request for a File Search service (w. extra fees) to apply for a new passport because you're already in their system. So congrats to all who've gone through the entire process, it's all over😁.

Technically, you could use the file search even the first time from what I have read.

 

Also, why couldn't we use a certified copy of the naturalization certificate? DOS website has this...

 

You must submit one of the following. Your evidence must be an original or certified, physical copy. A certified copy is any document that has the seal or stamp of the official issuing authority.

[LaughingBuddha 64]

Mailed at USPS on 05/14/2021 (expedited service)

Status changed to In Process on 05/19/2021

Check is being cashed out on 05/20/2021

Status changed to Approved on 06/11/2021,  no online update to "shipped" after that

Received passport on 06/16/2021

[striking19 9]

1 minute ago, LaughingBuddha said:

Mailed at USPS on 05/14/2021 (expedited service)

Status changed to In Process on 05/19/2021

Check is being cashed out on 05/20/2021

Status changed to Approved on 06/11/2021,  no online update to "shipped" after that

Received passport on 06/16/2021

Congratulations! I am glad your passport journey is done

[JoannaV 174]

Wowzers. I applied for my kids' passports (non-expedited) a month ago and was worried that nothing shows up yet and the checks aren't cashed, but seems that is normal right now?? I wish they would at least take my money!!
(Side-note, the UK is throwing out passports like they're hot potatoes, and also - USPS is managing to get UK passport documents across the ocean super fast. 🤷‍♀️)

[Scandi 4,166]

11 hours ago, JoannaV said:

Wowzers. I applied for my kids' passports (non-expedited) a month ago and was worried that nothing shows up yet and the checks aren't cashed, but seems that is normal right now?? I wish they would at least take my money!!
(Side-note, the UK is throwing out passports like they're hot potatoes, and also - USPS is managing to get UK passport documents across the ocean super fast. 🤷‍♀️)

It's sometimes difficult to move from a country where most things run smooth, to a country that is relatively backwards, like the US. Last time I was back in Sweden I received my passport within 24 hours of applying in person, and there's no such thing as "expedited", just regular processing for everyone. 

Seems like it can take up to 6 weeks for the application to show "in process" if you chose regular processing, yes. 

Edited June 17, 2021 by Scandi

[striking19 9]

It's not the USPS - trust me on this.... They may be a day late, but consistently being 6 weeks is a myth that the state department somehow is artificially creating. Possibly in edge cases, but not in most cases, anyway

 

If the state department is shorthanded, they should just be transparent about it rather than beating around the bush and unnecessarily blaming the 

 

My passport application was delivered to the Philadelphia center within two days of applying, but it got bounced around for 5 more weeks before showing up as 'in process'.

 

Definitely a 'backward' process for an 'advanced' country.....

[The415 5]

4 minutes ago, striking19 said:

It's not the USPS - trust me on this.... They may be a day late, but consistently being 6 weeks is a myth that the state department somehow is artificially creating. Possibly in edge cases, but not in most cases, anyway

 

If the state department is shorthanded, they should just be transparent about it rather than beating around the bush and unnecessarily blaming the 

 

My passport application was delivered to the Philadelphia center within two days of applying, but it got bounced around for 5 more weeks before showing up as 'in process'.

 

Definitely a 'backward' process for an 'advanced' country.....

I agree! 6 weeks for mailing is definitely too long. I have been calling at least twice a day and each agent tells me something different. Yesterday I was told that my passport is almost finished and I should be receiving it within a week, today they told me there is no way to find out where in the process it is and my best option is to keep looking for an urgent appointment 24/7 praying someone cancels. I don’t know how helpful the phone service is if they can’t give a straight answer or help clarifying the process. It’s sad we have to go through this really.