Posted on 07/05/2005 10:24:35 PM PDT by TheBattman
OK - I need some help or suggestions. I am scheduled to go on a mission trip, leaving on July 13. When I first found out that I had a spot available for the trip, I immediately applied for my Passport - but choosing the "standard" service - after being assured by the passport agent (at the Jacksonville Post Office) that the current time frame given to them would allow more than ample time to get my passport in time for the trip (this was the last week of May).
Well, having not heard anything back (other than delivery confirmatin of my stuff to the passport processing center in New Orleans on June 2), I decided to give them a call to check on the status of my Passport.
After waiting on hold and then being hung up on by the automated answering system, I finally waited out a human being. This individual told me that the processing time was 20 business days from the day the application was received by the processing center. He said that that date would be this Thursday (interesting math - even with the federal holidays I count that to be last Friday or today.
But anyway, his suggestion was to call back Thursday or Friday and check back then. If my passport hadn't been processed and mailed, then he could send a "reminder message" to the processing center to remind them that the 20 days had expired. Big help - it will take more than two days to get it form New Orleans.... and that's too late for the trip that is paid for (and non-refundable).
The primary suggestion I have received from family is to contact my Senator or Representative and see what they can do. I even got one reply back from a friend of my mother who said they had a similar case a year ago and their Senator (Texas) was able to get the whole thing expedited.
It's a rather frustrating situation - if there were ANY doubt that the passport would not be in my hands in time, I would have paid the extra $50 for expedited service (suppose to take less than two weeks).
Any suggestions?
Call the local office. My Mom had to make a last-minute trip overseas several years ago and she went to the local office in Chicago. If I recall correctly, she showed them the ticket and explained it was an unexpected trip, etc., etc.
Of course, things are different post 9-11. Anyway, best of luck to you.
I believe that you can still get it with the expidited fee. My father-in law had the same problem and then paid the fee and it came on the day before his flight( we had to go to the post office to get it). That's how close it was to screwing up his trip.
Go to the passport office at the nearest federal court building and get it straightened out. Don't fool with the post office.
The Battmobile may be your best shot. :-)
Here is some official info - http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
There are also private companies that will hand-carry your application for emergency processing, if needed.
Good luck on your trip.
PPPPPPP!
I was willing to pay the extra $60 bucks for expedited service, but the lady at the passort office told me that there was plenty of time.
AS my application is currently "processing", that tells me that it's just sitting on a desk somewhere, as my understanding is that the status says that from the time they actually receive the application.
I placed a call to my Senator's office and am awaiting a return call.
Today makes 6 weeks - and the line from the Passport office was "less than 6 weeks". I guess that's why the passport office originally told me "plenty of time".
I have been digging, and the only number I can find for the New Orleans processing center (where my application is) has a recording suggesting the nationwide Passport info line that I have already called.
Here in Arkansas, we have no "Passport Agency", we have Post Offices, and Circuit Court offices. All are staffed by people not actually part of the Dept. of State. Instead, they are Postmasters, Court Clerks, etc.
As of about 5 years ago, there were still some offices of the Passport Service where you could go (Airplane ticket in hand) for immediate service. NEW YORK CITY is NOT one of them.
Stuck with a soon-to-expire PP, I went to Philadelphia, brought my ticket and birth certificate etc. and got the new passport in 4 hours.
Make a few calls, find out if and where you can do this, and go there. I hope that 9/11 didn't wreck this.
Very good luck and Bon Voyage!
Rule number 1 for mission trip attendees: Have faith.
Amen to that comment!
I heard back from both the Senator's office and Representative's office within minutes of each other.
My passport went out today by FedEx. I was under strict instructions to contact their offices if I didn't have it by Friday morning at the VERY LATEST.
Awesome!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.