Recent Applicants

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Type of Application:
Expedited Service

Application Date:
2023-03-22

Received Date:
2023-04-25

Application Method:
Paper Application

Passport Agency:
National Passport Center

Experience:
3 Star – Average

Optional Comments:
Applied on 03/22
Received by the National passport center on 03/27
Status change to In Process on 03/27
Status approved on 04/24 at noon
Status shipped son 04/24 evening
In my hands on 04/25

Call a few times as I was getting nervous, my international trip was on 05/03. More than 1 hour to speak to somebody. The basically tell you the same thing you see on line. So makes no sense. I did contact my congressman and my senator for help. They got in contact with the agency on my behalf. I the end I don’t know if that was the reason I got it in less than a month but it doesn’t hurt trying.

Type of Application:
Expedited Service

Application Date:
2023-02-11

Received Date:
2023-03-29

Application Method:
Paper Application

Passport Agency:
Western Passport Center

Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Optional Comments:
Passport wait time for expedited service was 3-5 weeks when we made our appointment. We were notified the wait time was extended to 5-7 weeks by the time of our appointment date. This might have been ok if the 5-7 weeks was from the time the application was submitted or application fee checks were deposited. In our case, the checks were deposited in 2 days, however the application was not accepted into the system for another 3 weeks. My first call to the passport information center, two weeks before my departure date, took 3.5 hours on hold. I was told that the closest in person appointment available was in Texas. I am in New York. I did inform them of my departure date. After opening a case with my congressman and calling the information center 2 more times, the passports switched from “In Process” directly to “Mailed” on 3/28 and arrived on 3/29 in time for a departure date of 3/31.

Type of Application:
Expedited Service

Application Date:
2023-03-24

Received Date:
2023-04-27

Application Method:
Paper Application

Passport Agency:
Chicago Passport Agency

Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Optional Comments:
THERE IS HOPE!!
Locator 18 – Expedited, 1-2 day shipping NEW APPLICANT (Travel date listed, 05/12/23)

03/24 – USPS application submission
03/29 – money order cashed
03/29 – Status changed from Not Available to In Process
04/10 – Reached out to congressman, submitted the release form and was told they will reach out until 14 days prior travel date.
04/23 SUNDAY – Called 877, flagged as URGENT travel. The lady was super nice!! Picked up right away, no wait time! Told them my work asked me if I can travel internationally but ofc I don’t want to say Yes if I don’t have a passport yet.
04/25 4pm PT – APPROVED! I have been checking since 4am, every 30 mins. I was about to call our Congressman again to bug after seeing all the posts here in the group.
04/25 6pm PT – SHIPPED via USPS Express Mail, provided tracking number

I have been stressing out, could not sleep at night. Can’t even feel the excitement for our trip to Switzerland! And here it comes, finally!!! Don’t give up guys, and please let’s try to be nice to the passport operators, and be thankful for their hard work! I know its stressful but I bet you they are all trying their best to get all these applications processed. Very very thankful for all of you, for this group!!

Sprinkling some good luck dust!

Type of Application:
Expedited Service

Application Date:
2023-03-31

Received Date:
2023-04-24

Application Method:
Paper Application

Passport Agency:
Arkansas Passport Center

Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Type of Application:
Expedited Service

Application Date:
2023-03-06

Received Date:
2023-04-24

Application Method:
Paper Application

Passport Agency:
I do not know

Experience:
4 Star – Easy