Feedback, experiences, timelines, tips and useful information from people that have recently been through the US passport application process.
1st Adult Passport
Type of Application:
First U.S Adult Passport
Application Date:
2022-07-08
Received Date:
2022-09-03
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Western Passport Center
Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Optional Comments:
Ghetto as heck. (Applied in Las Vegas, NV.)
First, the State Dept. website makes a grand secret of where to go in person, so I had to go to the post office and cross their palms with another $35. (They were nice though, and it didn’t take long.) They ask you to bring your original docs and a photocopy. I thought, oh, ok; they will check the photocopy against the original and let me take my original home. WRONG! They took both. So, apparently for spending an extra $35, you have to bring your own copies also. (And they don’t make it clear whether color or black and white.)
Second, I signed up for updates, of which I received two emails:
Aug 4. 2022: Application in Process
Sept. 2, 2022 Application Approved.
I found out online on Sept. 1, that my application was approved.
Passport arrived via priority mail (no signature needed) on Sept. 3. It was send in a letter size mailer, just the passport by itself, no inside envelope or sleeve, no explanation of where to sign or how to sign, NOTHING.
TWO STARS for taking longer than the average wait time, LACK OF COMMUNICATION, and ghetto treatment making me bring my own photocopies and then putting my passport into a cardboard envelope with no sleeve and no explanation about signing, or keeping a copy of the number of it, etc. Oh, and a super stupid sticker on the back with a QR code, mucking up the back cover. I suppose that is where they put the information? Stupid.
Type of Application:
First U.S Adult Passport
Application Date:
2022-08-16
Received Date:
2022-09-14
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Arkansas Passport Center
Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Application Date:
2022-07-23
Received Date:
2022-09-02
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Philadelphia Passport Agency
Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Application Date:
2022-08-09
Received Date:
2022-09-09
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
National Passport Center
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Optional Comments:
I paid extra for express priority mail – $18.32 so they can mail it back to me in 1-2 days.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Application Date:
2022-08-02
Received Date:
2022-09-03
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Western Passport Center
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Optional Comments:
Very straightforward process.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Application Date:
2022-08-09
Received Date:
2022-09-13
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Arkansas Passport Center
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Expedited Service
Type of Application:
Expedited Service
Application Date:
2022-08-20
Received Date:
2022-09-08
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Philadelphia Passport Agency
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Expedited Service
Application Date:
2022-08-24
Received Date:
2022-08-26
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Seattle Passport Agency
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Expedited Service
Application Date:
2022-08-15
Received Date:
2022-09-10
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Philadelphia Passport Agency
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
First Child Passport (Under 16)
Type of Application:
First Child Passport (Under 16)
Application Date:
2022-08-18
Received Date:
2022-09-14
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
I do not know
Experience:
3 Star – Average
Type of Application:
First Child Passport (Under 16)
Application Date:
2022-08-12
Received Date:
2022-09-12
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
I do not know
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy