Need Passport Help!

[lisas414]

Have a quick question to see if anyone can help me with this. Applied for passports a few weeks back. Mine is stating that it is ready to be mailed, husband's is stating that it is still being processed.

Here is the question. There is a great deal on a cruise that leaves on 10/21. I don't think that I will get my passports in time. Does anyone have any idea's or suggestions of how to speed this process up since I would like to book this cruise tomorrow. I don't want to pay for this cruise and not be allowed to board if my passports do not arrive in time.

Thanks for all the help and advice you can give me.

[wrp96]

If you don't have an extra certified copy of your birth certificate, call and order one today, and you will definitely in time for a 10/21 cruise. You can still cruise on most routes with just the birth certificate.

 

And they have gotten very fast in the last few weeks, you may well have your passports before your cruise.

 

I say go ahead and book it.

[lisas414]

I thought that it said somewhere that you could not use birth certificates after 10/1/07.

[Sue L]

If you don't live near where you were born go to http://www.vitalchek.com and get another copy of your birth certificate and you can board with that and a driver's license.

[cb at sea]

As long as this is a Caribbean cruise, you don't need a passport. You will, however need a BC and picture ID. If you've sent your only copy of the birth certificates with the passport application, you can easily get another BC copy--usually in 72 hours (for a fee!).

[cb at sea]

A BC is fine until the passport rule goes into effect, sometime mid-2008.

[wrp96]

I thought that it said somewhere that you could not use birth certificates after 10/1/07.

 

 

10/1/07 is when they stop letting you fly without passports, you can still cruise without a passport until sometime in 2008 (or whenever they decide to finally get their act together).

[Sugar*Magnolia]

If you don't live near where you were born go to www.vitalchek.com and get another copy of your birth certificate and you can board with that and a driver's license.

 

I never knew there was a site...I thought I had to schlep into the city...My NY birth certificate is odd, doesnt even look like one, I really could use a new one!

 

Have you used this web site?? Is it reputable? They didnt ask for my SS#..

(quietly asking..is this a dumb question..Im not sure?)

[wrp96]

Yes, vitalcheck is reputable.

 

They wouldn't need your SS# because your SS# is not needed for a birth certificate to be issued.

[Sue L]

I never knew there was a site...I thought I had to schlep into the city...My NY birth certificate is odd, doesnt even look like one, I really could use a new one!

 

Have you used this web site?? Is it reputable? They didnt ask for my SS#..

(quietly asking..is this a dumb question..Im not sure?)

 

 

 

I have actually used them several times and they were great. Got my son's copies in 3 or 4 days.

[chargeit2him]

For our passports to get back. Wish you lots of luck.

 

Sandy

[Tralynn]

Check on the U. S. site where you saw the status of your applications. There will be a number to call if you are nearing your departure date. They will be able to push things along for you and help you with everything you need.

[zuscruiserz]

I never knew there was a site...I thought I had to schlep into the city...My NY birth certificate is odd, doesnt even look like one, I really could use a new one!

 

Have you used this web site?? Is it reputable? They didnt ask for my SS#..

(quietly asking..is this a dumb question..Im not sure?)

 

 

We used Vitalchek to get my DH's NY birth certificate (we live in CA) as we hadn't received our passports yet for our Freedom cruise this past Aug. We received it in 4 days (I think). Wonderful site, worth every penny!

[Sugar*Magnolia]

Wow!!! Thank you guys so much!!

I'm just about to click on purchase on vitalchek!

 

Yeah, was a blonde moment re: "they didnt ask for my SS#" :rolleyes:

 

(Sue..I left you a message on winter-guar-thread)