HELP! Passport arrived and has a typo in last name

[AKKH 48]

Hi  VJ members,

 

I applied for a passport (book and card) 2 weeks ago and I was so happy when I got the book today, but I noticed my last name wrong (one letter is mistyped, letter K is placed instead of R). What can I do to fix this? And they should also fix this on my passport card I guess! (I changed my last name when I became a citizen) I don't have my original naturalization certificate neither original name-change paper now (they are still with them). 

 

That is ridiculously unbelievable for such obvious mistakes from Dept of State! They didn't double check the documents?! 

[millefleur 5,046]

**Moved from Off Topic to Passports, etc. - What to do now that you are a US citizen**

 

 

The naturalization certificate will show up eventually. Just sit tight a few more weeks until it arrives.

 

Check here under "correct a data or printing error":

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/change-correct.html

[MrKo 60]

I posted this before and I'm going to post it again as a side-note and friendly reminder:

 

When applying for a new passport, try using the OFFICIAL passport online Form Filler. It will generate a form with a bar code on top left hand side that contains all your information. When the passport office receives your form, they can scan this bar code and safely transfer your information into their system without hand-typing. It's more efficient and more error-proof (suppose you've made sure that all information on the form is correct).

[AKKH 48]

43 minutes ago, MrKo said:

I posted this before and I'm going to post it again as a side-note and friendly reminder:

 

When applying for a new passport, try using the OFFICIAL passport online Form Filler. It will generate a form with a bar code on top left hand side that contains all your information. When the passport office receives your form, they can scan this bar code and safely transfer your information into their system without hand-typing. It's more efficient and more error-proof (suppose you've made sure that all information on the form is correct).

That’s what I did, and the post office employee said we cannot use this form because it has to have the instructions with it, weird?!?. So I had to fill out the form by hand! 

[DianaLucena 72]

Did you request the expedited service? 2 weeks is super fast processing. Hopefully mine will be that fast as well. They received my documents on 12/23/2021.

[AKKH 48]

13 hours ago, DianaLucena said:

Did you request the expedited service? 2 weeks is super fast processing. Hopefully mine will be that fast as well. They received my documents on 12/23/2021.

Yes it was expedited and express delivery. 
They sent my passport card but I still haven’t received my certificate. So expedite service was pretty useless for me. I’ll have to send these all back to them. 

[AKKH 48]

UPDATE: I still didn't get my NC (documents), but I couldn't be more patient today!

So I gave them a call, I had to select wrong options to speak with someone, they don't an option to talk in general. Anyway, a lady picked up, she told me you should wait more, it could take longer, but they don't know how much longer, and they don't know where the documents are, and what I do if I don't get them soon. WHAT A SYSTEM!

 

Anyway I asked what the options are if I'm leaving the country soon. She said you may have 2 options:

1. If you are traveling now, talk with the airline and see if you can show them another document (which I have none!) to prove your correct name along with the wrong passport 😐  (I don't know how realistic they'd think about that) 
2. We can schedule an appointment 2 weeks before you travel (let's say if I travel on March 15th, I should call on March 2nd) and we will correct the error and give you the new passport and your documents 

So I'm going to wait until I am really tired of waiting OR maybe I get the docs, I'm really planning to travel to visit my wife soon (in a couple of month).

 

I will update you on this weird situation. 

Edited January 25, 2022 by AKKH

[ImmiGeek 59]

First of all, thank you for continuously updating this thread. Helping others to learn from.

1) Your first issue started with the USPS not accepting the bullet proof online passport fill-print. Sorry for that.

2) What is the typo status on your passport card? Is it still a typo?

3) Did you send the bad passport back to DOS(Dept of State) to get it corrected?

 

On 1/25/2022 at 6:36 AM, AKKH said:

f you are traveling now, talk with the airline and see if you can show them another document (which I have none!) to prove your correct name along with the wrong passport 😐  (I don't know how realistic they'd think about that) 

This is a VERY WRONG suggestion and dangerous gamble to try your odds at the counter of your travel boarding pass. I had 99% confidence that you will have your dinner at your home on the day of your travel.

Keep updating this thread. Thank you.

[AKKH 48]

1 hour ago, ImmiGeek said:

First of all, thank you for continuously updating this thread. Helping others to learn from.

1) Your first issue started with the USPS not accepting the bullet proof online passport fill-print. Sorry for that.

2) What is the typo status on your passport card? Is it still a typo?

3) Did you send the bad passport back to DOS(Dept of State) to get it corrected?

 

This is a VERY WRONG suggestion and dangerous gamble to try your odds at the counter of your travel boarding pass. I had 99% confidence that you will have your dinner at your home on the day of your travel.

Keep updating this thread. Thank you.

Thank you for following me. 

1) Agreed. He could have saved me and passport center time & a lot of stress. 

2) Passport card has the same typo as well. 
 

3) No I didn’t send them back, I’m afraid if they lose it or don’t fix it due to lack of evidence and therefore I cannot prove anything afterwards. 
 

I agree with that, I’m not gonna travel, unless the DoS send me in writing that I can do this without a problem. 

[AKKH 48]

GOOD UPDATE: I finally received my NC and name change document today (it was sent on Jan 26 2022). It came in an orange large envelope with the wrong name 😐. Now, I'm wondering which one I should do first, I called SSA, they said I have to drop off the documents or mail it them. I'm really afraid if they're gonna lose it. 

I'm leaning toward SSA to update my information before doing anything, because then I can fix my ID and have an ID with me. 

They told me on the phone that they would process the document in the same day and mail it back the next day. 

 

I wonder if I can make an appointment and do it there... maybe I call them tomorrow and explain the situation.

 

I'll update you on the next steps (for SSA and Passport) later.

 

Thanks everyone for following the thread! 

[ImmiGeek 59]

Good to know that your NC and Name Change certificates are back to you.

I personally dont care about SSA(SSA updates happens automatically in 4-6 weeks in general. You can check its update on your SSA account.) Also I dont really care about my DL update as it doesnt make any difference for me.

I only care about getting the right passport book and passport card and my NC original. Everything else can be done using the passport book/card from that point onwards. Try to fix your passport book and card as soon as you can. Good luck.

[AKKH 48]

8 hours ago, ImmiGeek said:

Good to know that your NC and Name Change certificates are back to you.

I personally dont care about SSA(SSA updates happens automatically in 4-6 weeks in general. You can check its update on your SSA account.) Also I dont really care about my DL update as it doesnt make any difference for me.

I only care about getting the right passport book and passport card and my NC original. Everything else can be done using the passport book/card from that point onwards. Try to fix your passport book and card as soon as you can. Good luck.

Agreed. However, I booked an appointment today morning to correct the ID at DMV. After this I will ship out the NC & passport back to fix the passport.
 

I will not expedite it this time, actually, I’ll request a refund for the last one. This was not expedited service, and cost me money and time. 
 

I have been asking other folks who requested routine service and it was a 3-4 weeks process. 

[ImmiGeek 59]

2 hours ago, AKKH said:

Agreed. However, I booked an appointment today morning to correct the ID at DMV. After this I will ship out the NC & passport back to fix the passport.
 

I will not expedite it this time, actually, I’ll request a refund for the last one. This was not expedited service, and cost me money and time. 
 

I have been asking other folks who requested routine service and it was a 3-4 weeks process. 

Good luck:

Before sending the passport and NC back, dont forget to take a nice color photo copies of both for records.

Also write a nice cover letter to fix this and also refund your fees.

[AKKH 48]

New Update: Feb 14 2022

 

I got my DL and ID corrected and done, and I mailed the package on Feb 4th to the passport agency (priority mail). 
My mail still hasn’t been delivered to the passport agency. USPS started the search service on Feb 10 and still no news. 
I think it is meant for me to not get my passport soon. Its been two weeks since I mailed it and they somehow messed it up. Hopefully it’ll arrive.

[millefleur 5,046]

On 2/14/2022 at 7:56 AM, AKKH said:

My mail still hasn’t been delivered to the passport agency. USPS started the search service on Feb 10 and still no news. 

That's so frustrating. Does it say that there is a delay?