Passport Renewal??

[Shmoo here]

2 hours ago, bandgbasset said:

This must be something new with the glasses because he had glasses on for his old passport.

Not that new.  We had to remove our glasses for our passport renewals in 2017.

[ldubs]

16 hours ago, bandgbasset said:

This must be something new with the glasses because he had glasses on for his old passport.

 

I recall the "no glasses"  instruction when we last renewed our PP's.  Not sure when that was, but the rule might have changed somewhere along the line.  I wonder what happens with guys who either remove or grow a beard.   

 

Kinda sorta thinly related, they always make me remove my sun glasses when they take my security photo during embarkation.  

[LGW59]

2 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

I recall the "no glasses"  instruction when we last renewed our PP's.  Not sure when that was, but the rule might have changed somewhere along the line.  I wonder what happens with guys who either remove or grow a beard.   

 

Kinda sorta thinly related, they always make me remove my sun glasses when they take my security photo during embarkation.  

Last renewed my passport in 2015 and was not allowed to wear my glasses.

[njhorseman]

As of November 1, 2016 wearing glasses in passport photos was prohibited .

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/you-soon-wont-be-able-to-wear-glasses-in-your-passport-photo

Edited November 22, 2021 by njhorseman

[navybankerteacher]

1 hour ago, njhorseman said:

As of November 1, 2016 wearing glasses in passport photos was prohibited .

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/you-soon-wont-be-able-to-wear-glasses-in-your-passport-photo

Makes sense,

[candydane]

My passport expired last June.

 

I mailed my renewal application 11/4 (regular, not expedited).  I received my new passport today.

 

 

[chamima]

On 11/19/2021 at 8:59 AM, nessachelle said:

Just to add to the insanity that seems to be passport processing. Just got notice today that my husbands passport is approved and should be delivered to our house today. Mine is still showing as processing.  We both applied on 10/25, passport tracking shows they received both applications on 10/27. I paid to have mine expedited, he did not. Neither of us have had passports in the past. Total time for his start to finish just under 4 weeks. Total time for my expedited passport TBD.

 

30 minutes ago, candydane said:

My passport expired last June.

 

I mailed my renewal application 11/4 (regular, not expedited).  I received my new passport today.

 

 

 

 

So it seems the quickest way to get your passport is NOT to use the expedited service!

[nessachelle]

2 minutes ago, chamima said:

 

 

 

So it seems the quickest way to get your passport is NOT to use the expedited service!

Seems that way. I did receive notice today that my passport has been approved so I should have it in the next week or so.

[Markanddonna]

We just received our passports today. They were sent in early Sept and notified us that they were received on Sept 9. We contacted our congressman's office on Nov 18th and they arrived 11/22.  The passport office told them that we should receive them on Dec 5th, so they came early...

 

So, I suspect contacting our congressman helped move our passports along.  BTW, I think the length of time to process law abiding Americans is too long. It's not like this service is free!

 

[navybankerteacher]

The fact that some people have to wait months while others report fulfillment in just a couple of weeks indicates that:

 

a) some people are just plain unlucky,

b) some agencies of our government are grossly incompetent,

c) some people just win every time they enter a ship's casino -and never have to wait for a passport.

 

I guess life is like that.

 

 

[marci22]

Mailed (husband's and mine) via priority mail 11/12. Passport office received 11/17. Status: both 'shipped' on Dec 7. Did not pay for expedited service. 

Edited December 8, 2021 by marci22

[chamima]

6 minutes ago, marci22 said:

Mailed (husband's and mine) via priority mail 11/12. Passport office received 11/17. Status: both 'shipped' on Dec 7. Did not pay for expedited service. 

 

That seems to be the current situation.

Non- expedited is arriving quicker than expedited.

It's really frustrating for those of us that paid so much extra.

[navybankerteacher]

10 minutes ago, marci22 said:

Mailed (husband's and mine) via priority mail 11/12. Passport office received 11/17. Status: both 'shipped' on Dec 7. Did not pay for expedited service. 

This is what should be expected of a government agency.   An office which exists specifically to routinely process a document should be able to do so in three weeks (11/17 to 12/7).   If there were a defect in the application which might delay processing, that defect should be pointed out to the submitting individual within the same three weeks.

[Croooser]

Our recent experience:

• Checks cashed 11/2
• Signed up for email notifications - none received
• Routine Service, both showed status approved on 11/30 with an expected receipt date of 12/6
• One received on 11/30 ????
• One still showing approved with an expected receipt date of on or around 12/6 🙄

Anyone have any experience with one of two MIA over a week after one received?

 

Anyone try calling to check status? Can they tell if they have already mailed it? 

 

 

 

[Croooser]

1 hour ago, marci22 said:

Mailed (husband's and mine) via priority mail 11/12. Passport office received 11/17. Status: both 'shipped' on Dec 7. Did not pay for expedited service. 

Does status show 'shipped' or 'approved'? Curious because ours shows 'approved' even after one was received?

[marci22]

1 hour ago, Croooser said:

Does status show 'shipped' or 'approved'? Curious because ours shows 'approved' even after one was received?

Status shows 'shipped' for both. I've been checking occasionally and never saw the 'approved' status.

 

I was worried about my husband's because I thought the CVS photo was overexposed.

Edited December 8, 2021 by marci22

[Croooser]

On 12/8/2021 at 10:24 AM, Croooser said:

Our recent experience:

• Checks cashed 11/2
• Signed up for email notifications - none received
• Routine Service, both showed status approved on 11/30 with an expected receipt date of 12/6
• One received on 11/30 ????
• One still showing approved with an expected receipt date of on or around 12/6 🙄

Anyone have any experience with one of two MIA over a week after one received?

 

Anyone try calling to check status? Can they tell if they have already mailed it? 

 

 

 

For the benefit of those looking for added data.. our second showed up on 12/9. It had some serious skid marks from, what we think, was a USPS sorting machine. There is some slight damage to the cover of the passport but it looks like if the photo page is not damaged, it will be acceptable. USPS did not acknowledge damage.

 

Status on website still says "Approved". So, that info is not kept up to date.

 

If ever there was a couple pf examples of government agencies that are not able to maintain reasonable standards of performance, this is it. 

 

HTH...Good luck to all navigating this process.

[chamima]

I'll add my experience with the expedited service - which turned out to be great.

I sent in my paperwork on November 18. I paid for every quick service available (overnight there and back plus expedited). I also noted in the application that we had a cruise on January 2.

My online info never got past "processing" but my new passport showed up  Dec. 10 - which was basically 3 weeks start to finish!

[Lois R]

2 hours ago, chamima said:

I'll add my experience with the expedited service - which turned out to be great.

I sent in my paperwork on November 18. I paid for every quick service available (overnight there and back plus expedited). I also noted in the application that we had a cruise on January 2.

My online info never got past "processing" but my new passport showed up  Dec. 10 - which was basically 3 weeks start to finish!

Awesome😀

[Honolulu Blue]

I sent my old passport in with my renewal application on Friday, 12/10

They should have received it on Monday, 12/13 (haven't checked)

I paid for expedited processing and express mail on the way back

Fingers crossed! 🤞

[capriccio]

Relief may be in sight but not immediately!

 

From today's Washington Post on-line (https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/tips/online-passport-renewal-biden-order/)

 

President Biden signed an executive order Monday to allow Americans to renew their passports online, eliminating the need for physical documents and paper checks to be sent through the mail.

 

According to White House press secretary Jen Psaki, the order could take between six to 12 months to take effect.

 

The White House said the order will mean “passengers will have shorter security and check-in lines at airports due to increased use of technologies, like new security machines and computers with advanced screening features.”

[Lois R]

I saw that news the other day too! Hopefully it will come to fruition.

[cruisegal40]

Thought I would give an update for our passports. I mailed them the day before Thanksgiving. Expedite there and back. Check cashed and "in process" by November 30, 2021.  Checked last week. Nothing on status. Checked this Monday.  Said "verify information).  Just received them in the mail today. That's close to a bit over 2 weeks. I am in the NE if anyone cares to know since it seems all around the US is different.  Now I can sign a relief for our April cruise.

[Lois R]

Well, I sent mine in TODAY.........paid the 60.00 extra for expedited processing. Will be checking as the weeks go by until I get the new one.  My next flight overseas is March 30th.

And it was quite a story about it too..........I posted it on another thread and will copy it here.....sometimes my mind is just not all there........😲

 

I went this morning and paid for the expedited process but after I left the PO and was at the grocery store and realized I thought I forgot to sign and date the form👎.......talk about dumb.....I had to go back to the PO and THANKFULLY they still had the envelope and I was able to get it back.......I was right, I had forgotten to sign it and date it😲........sometimes I wonder where my mind is (probably distracted on a cruise ship).    Yes, the PO was crowded......but if I had not gone back and it was sent without that signature? I am SURE they would have rejected it.......so at least now I know it is correct.

I know I can't be the first person in the universe to have made this mistake......one would think.

 

So I was at the Post Office twice today......took up most of the morning (with the waiting). The PO is open from 9-12 on Saturdays........I got lucky on that 2nd trip. Made it there at 11:30. 

[SmoothFlying]

17 hours ago, Lois R said:

..so at least now I know it is correct.

I know I can't be the first person in the universe to have made this mistake......one would think.

Lois,

NOT a 'dumb' mistake just a human one, something we ALL are guilty of, being human. As I grow older, (71) I find myself leaving articles of importance, i.e. car keys etc.. down while talking to someone in a store, and just walking off, only to remember them and have too return saying, 'Well I guess I'm gonna NEED these'. So, please don't feel alone because we all do it. I'm glad you were able to get the envelope back, sign the form, the same day, and it didn't get mailed.

 

Mac