Recent Applicants

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Type of Application:
Expedited Service

Application Date:
2023-07-24

Received Date:
2023-08-03

Application Method:
Paper Application

Passport Agency:
#58 – Philadelphia Passport Agency

Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Optional Comments:
I selected Philadelphia processing center, here, because we sent the passports to the Philly expedited address…. we live in Maryland.

This was renewal of two individual large book (higher number of pages) passports, which is what we had before. We mailed the passports express mail, not priority, on Monday July 24. Three days later, on Thursday the 27th, the system had assigned numbers. The following Thursday we had the passports in hand. This meant the processing happened in 4 business days. We had paid for priority return.

Our passports were not expiring till March 2024. However with all the articles on delays, we realized we didn’t have any 7 week period without international travel that was required for work, other than July 24 through September 26. In the application envelope we included the details and countries for all the upcoming trips and obligations and the reason for each trip. We wrote these in the form where it asked for upcoming trips, even using the space below box. We added a letter with all the specifics for each trip.

This was not diplomatic of government passport, rather education obligations, travel on regular passport.

Type of Application:
Expedited Service

Application Date:
2023-06-24

Received Date:
2023-08-05

Application Method:
Paper Application

Passport Agency:
#15,#20-#29,#45,#68,#69,#71 – National Passport Center

Experience:
3 Star – Average

Optional Comments:
Overall I stressed a lot thinking it wouldn’t be easy to get my passport. But it arrived in a timely manner. Locator 45 was the best for me. So happy I have my passport book and card in my hands now.

Type of Application:
Expedited Service

Application Date:
2023-05-12

Received Date:
2023-08-08

Application Method:
Please Select

Passport Agency:
#11- New York Passport Agency

Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Optional Comments:
Application received on 5/12/2023, absolutely no change for 12 weeks. Paid for expedited service from the very beginning. Called the state department’s number at the beginning of the 10th week, no use. Requested help from senator Durbin’s office on the 12th week. Filled out the form from their office and got a phone call from senator Durbin’s office on the same day. Application was approved two days later on 8/4/2023 and system said ‘shipped’. USPS only received it on 8/7/2023, expect to receive it on 8/8 (today). It was supposed to be processed in NY (#11), but the passport was sent out from AZ. Very grateful of the help from senator Durbin’s office. Also, very much amazed by the efficiency of our government agency.

Type of Application:
Expedited Service

Application Date:
2023-07-07

Received Date:
2023-08-08

Application Method:
Paper Application

Passport Agency:
#40-#42 New Orleans Passport Center

Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Optional Comments:
I was a renewal, and paid for expedition. I also have global entry (not sure if that helps expedite the process or not)
Sent 7/723 by 2 day air
Received on 7/11/23
8/8/23 checked status and said “approved” and will receive by 8/9/23
8/8/23 in mail box

Type of Application:
Expedited Service

Application Date:
2023-07-24

Received Date:
2023-08-08

Application Method:
Paper Application

Passport Agency:
I do not know

Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Type of Application:
Expedited Service

Application Date:
2023-06-30

Received Date:
2023-08-07

Application Method:
Paper Application

Passport Agency:
#61-64 – Western Passport Center

Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Optional Comments:
6/30 – applied at post office
7/5 – check cashed & in process @ locator 62
8/3 – approved and shipped (status changed to ‘approved’ during the evening and then to ‘shipped’ during the night)
8/7 – delivered

DOT – early September

All in all took about four weeks. Did not contact congressmen or NCIP. I also received all my supporting documents.

Type of Application:
Expedited Service

Application Date:
2023-06-10

Received Date:
2023-08-08

Application Method:
Paper Application

Passport Agency:
#77 – Buffalo Passport Agency

Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Optional Comments:
First time child’s passport, expedited. DOT 8/13
Passport application submitted: 6/10
Application received and processing: 6/15
Reached out to our local congresspersons office 7/31, 2 weeks before travel
Took one day to be assigned to a member of staff and have them reach out to the passport office on our behalf. They received no updates from the passport office the entire time, though kept us updated each step.
8/7 started calling NPIC for same day appointments, none were local but we were able to get one a short flight away for Friday (8/11) so took that one and called throughout the day to try and get a better option. Towards the end of the day are called and turns out the passport was printed with the shipping label created.
Received in the mail with expedited shipping: 8/8

I think having our congressperson involved helped, but no way to know for certain!

Type of Application:
First Child Passport (Under 16)

Application Date:
2023-05-18

Received Date:
2023-08-04

Application Method:
Paper Application

Passport Agency:
#18 – Chicago Passport Agency

Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Optional Comments:
Application was received and appeared in their system on 5/18/2023. No change at all for 11 weeks. Had to ask help from my state’s US senator for my other kid’s passport application, so I included this application as well. I filled out the form from Senator Durbin’s office. One of Senator Durbin’s aid called me on the same day. This application was approved and shipped on the 2nd day. Pretty amazed on how they could sit on an application for so long and do nothing, and get things done so quickly after someone powerful made a simple phone call. On one side, I am sincerely grateful of senator Durbin and his aid’s kind help; on the other hand, wouldn’t it be better to have a functional system in the first place?