Passport process and required docs for new US Citizens

[Henry357 70]

13 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

you asked "so , i have to mail it in"   yes,  or go to DC and apply in person

There is no pp agency office in DC.  (There is one In VA) 

 

The full list is here: 

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast/passport-agencies.html

 

If you wait until phase 3 you can get your passport in person, in a few days as long as you have travel within 2 weeks. 

Edited July 18, 2020 by Henry357

[JeanneAdil 6,491]

9 minutes ago, Henry357 said:

There is no pp agency office in DC.  (There is one In VA) 

 

The full list is here: 

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast/passport-agencies.html

 

If you wait until phase 3 you can get your passport in person, in a few days as long as you have travel within 2 weeks. 

sorry my first one went to DC  and was marked 

my first renewal said NYC/ my new one just says US Dept of State

but my post was meant to mean either you apply by sending mail or in person 

and a person can apply in person if they need an expedited passport 

 

 

[Henry357 70]

9 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

sorry my first one went to DC  and was marked 

my first renewal said NYC/ my new one just says US Dept of State

but my post was meant to mean either you apply by sending mail or in person 

and a person can apply in person if they need an expedited passport 

 

 

You really only need a flight booked to get expedited in person service once we hit phase 3.   They will probably hit phase 3 and clear the backlog before your able to actually go anywhere anyways so I really don’t see the point of people mailing in the application to some black hole that is taking months, especially since some application have been reported missing.  Also, What if you DO have an emergency in the next month, you are screwed.
 

Just wait a few months, they will clear the backlog, than you only have to wait <2 weeks for mail or a day or two for in person expedited. 50% of Americans don’t ever get a passport. 

Edited July 18, 2020 by Henry357

[Scandi 4,166]

24 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

sorry my first one went to DC  and was marked 

my first renewal said NYC/ my new one just says US Dept of State

but my post was meant to mean either you apply by sending mail or in person 

and a person can apply in person if they need an expedited passport 

 

 

We are probably talking about two different things. For the process that I need to go through I need to apply in person at a local passport station, there is no other option, which is great. Thanks anyway.

Edited July 18, 2020 by Scandi

[Suze1 366]

4 hours ago, Georgia16 said:

I don't have issues sending it in not worried if it gets lost as the post service will pay for the new one (would like to not have that headache!) 

 

BUT I would hate if they fold it or squeeze it i(read fold it) in the mailbox when they return it! 

We thought/hoped we would get it back today. But, nope.

Yeah, the stapling was traumatic enough...now folding it up to put it our mailbox....blasphemous!

We took very, very high resolution scans of the original, and printed high quality copies, before we handed it over, begrudgingly....cuz...you know...stuff happens.

Once received, it will go in our military-grade Pelican Case Go-Bag...with all the rest of the important stuff....

 

Edited July 18, 2020 by Suze1

[Suze1 366]

@Georgia16 In fact, the copies are so high res, we though about taking them to SSA to update their records....

Thought about it...but they are closed....so....we will wait...all back of the bus...for now.... lol

Edited July 18, 2020 by Suze1

[RunTheRoad 75]

4 minutes ago, Suze1 said:

We thought/hoped we would get it back today. But, nope.

Yeah, the stapling was traumatic enough...now folding it up to put it our mailbox....blasphemous!

We took very, very high resolution scans of the original, and printed high quality copies, before we handed it over, begrudgingly....cuz...you know...stuff happens.

Once received, it will go in our military-grade Pelican Case Go-Bag...with all the rest of the important stuff....

 

I need to get that Go Bag! Been looking for one. Do you know where I can find one?

[Suze1 366]

8 minutes ago, RunTheRoad said:

I need to get that Go Bag! Been looking for one. Do you know where I can find one?

I'm thinking we got it from eBay...Pelican case...will check for ya...

Looks so serious...am dying to get a nice pair of handcuffs and head to the airport, baseball cap hanging low...dark glasses....u know...stealthy....

 

ebay - available now for $65

https://www.ebay.com/p/1979290708?iid=164286698011

Edited July 18, 2020 by Suze1

[Suze1 366]

@RunTheRoad We got the Pelican 1490...came with the inner foam thingie...and shoulder strap. Makes us feel covered....

One of the first things we threw in the car when Irma hit Tampa a couple of years ago...

 

Here is exactly what we got...with the foam, strap, and key -

ebay $75 + $4 shipping

https://www.ebay.com/p/1979290708?iid=383623366507

Edited July 18, 2020 by Suze1

[jan22 3,052]

1 hour ago, Henry357 said:

There is no pp agency office in DC.  (There is one In VA) 

 

The full list is here: 

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast/passport-agencies.html

 

If you wait until phase 3 you can get your passport in person, in a few days as long as you have travel within 2 weeks. 

???  There is, in fact, a passport agency in DC (Washington Passport Agency) --- on 19th St NW, between F & G Streets -- but there is no passport agency in Virginia.  Most are in Phase One of reopening, doing in-person applications for individuals with life-and-death level emergencies with passports needed in the next 72 hours.  A few agencies are in Phase Two, with most staff returning and more routine processing being done on applications they have received, and in-person applications in life-and-death emergencies.

Edited July 18, 2020 by jan22

[Henry357 70]

11 minutes ago, jan22 said:

???  There is, in fact, a passport agency in DC (Washington Passport Agency) --- on 19th St NW, between F & G Streets -- but there is no passport agency in Virginia.  Most are in Phase One of reopening, doing in-person applications for individuals with life-and-death level emergencies with passports needed in the next 72 hours.  A few agencies are in Phase Two, with most staff returning and more routine processing being done on applications they have received, and in-person applications in life-and-death emergencies.

Ahh the mailing address is VA but physical office in DC. Regardless, my point still stands that you don’t have to go to DC to apply in person.

 

i still don’t understand the rush to get a passport before Phase Three?  Where are people going ?!   You realize you are risking not having your documents in an emergency or when expedited returns allowing you to actually get a passport when you need it. 

Edited July 18, 2020 by Henry357

[jan22 3,052]

1 minute ago, Henry357 said:

Ahh the mailing address is VA but physical office in DC. Regardless, my point still stands that you don’t have to go to DC to apply in person.

 

i still don’t understand the rush to get a passport before Phase Three?  Where are people going ?! 

A lot of people, especially near the border, like to have the security of proof of citizenship handy at all times, in case they get stopped by law enforcement or immigration.  Plus, if they are naturalized citizens with a large number of family members outside the US, they also want the security of knowing they are prepared to travel in an emergency to be with their loved one.  There would be no way to even plead your case to be allowed entry to another country in an emergency if you didn't already have the passport in hand.

[Henry357 70]

14 minutes ago, jan22 said:

A lot of people, especially near the border, like to have the security of proof of citizenship handy at all times, in case they get stopped by law enforcement or immigration.  Plus, if they are naturalized citizens with a large number of family members outside the US, they also want the security of knowing they are prepared to travel in an emergency to be with their loved one.  There would be no way to even plead your case to be allowed entry to another country in an emergency if you didn't already have the passport in hand.

None of the makes sense. 
 

You can get a passport in 1-2 days right now at a passport agency office in an emergency.  But you can’t if you mailed off your certificate.  You are screwed in an emergency and will be waiting months. 
 

Also how does parting with your one evidence of citizenship for months make sense if your worried about proving your status to law enforcement. 

The only logical use case is that you plan to go to Mexico or some island in 3 months but think the virus will be so bad that DOS will not hit phase 3. 

 

Edited July 18, 2020 by Henry357

[trudi 1,317]

9 hours ago, RunTheRoad said:

Did you apply after the COVID -19 shutdown? Three weeks doesn't seem all that bad, given how everything is going.

 

No I was incredibly lucky and naturalized in January.

The passport took a little over 2 weeks to arrive, the documents took another 3 weeks

[jan22 3,052]

4 minutes ago, Henry357 said:

None of the makes sense. 
 

You can get a passport in 1-2 days right now at a passport agency office in an emergency.  But you can’t if you mailed off your certificate.  You are screwed in an emergency and will be waiting months. 
 

Also how does parting with your one evidence of citizenship for months make sense if your worried about proving your status to law enforcement. 
 

 

Might not make sense to you....but it doesn't have to.   It is perfectly normal for a newly naturalized citizen to want to apply for/get a passport as soon as possible.

 

Not everyone lives close to a passport agency and/or can't afford to travel there while also needing to pay for a last-minute international flight in an emergency, so want to to have the passport in hand.   

 

And, for passport renewals, your expiring passport is not your only proof of citizenship; you have the original certificate and, in many cases along the border, a passport card.  For first time applicants, they should have a copy of the naturalization certificate to show while they explain the original is with the passport agency.

 

Probably have let this stray too far from the original question -- I really just wanted to clarify the mis-information on the Washington Passport Agency.