Passport - How long does it take?

[Stella08 0]

I'm going to take the citizenship oath soon and right now I'm deliberating if I should apply for an expedited passport or just go with the regular processing time. I might want to travel abroad in summer and when I book a flight, they usually ask for a passport number.

Who has applied for a passport recently and how long did it take to receive it?

[Flames9_RN 358]

I had my passport back in 10 days, and the naturalization cert came back a day or 2 later!! if ya can, I would goto the SSN office first and get that updated (as they will need to see ur Naturalization cert) then do the passport! The SSN office visit took me all of 5 minutes!

Oh yes, I did this back in Mid December 2008. Dude at post office said, 4-6 weeks, but as you see from above, was much much faster!!

[Stella08 0]

Thank you for your reply. The Social Security is an important factor which I even didn't think about. Now, when you go there and update your status, which date will they enter? The date on your certificate or the date when you actually go to their office?

[Flames9_RN 358]

No clue on that, probably the date that u became a USA citizen which is onthe cert! I downloaded the form from SSN.gov--it is the same form you had to sign out to get a SSN (if u went in person to get a SSN card) and all they do at the SSN office is up date ur info. He just retyped what he required, but since I had the form already filled out, it sped up the process! He then printed out what he had typed, gave it to me to sign, he took it, and handed back my Naturalization certificate. Was very very quick. I was at the office before it opened, so I was like the second person in line! Then off to the post office and applied for my passport.

[Stella08 0]

I went to the Social Security website to print out that form to update my status, but I'm not sure which form I should be looking for. Could anybody tell me the name or number of the form I need?

[Flames9_RN 358]

Its the same form as if ur applying for a new or replacement card the SS-5 http://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/

http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html

All the SSN office is going to do ( at least what they did for me) is take the sheet that you just completed, and retype the required information. Print off what he just typed, you sign it (verify the info is correct), hand it back to him, and thats it. Of course he will look at ur naturalization cert (and give it back to you). cheers

[broma25 2]

why do you have to update your info at SSA? Just curious as to what difference it makes to you being an immigrant or citizen?

[NickD 203]

Its the same form as if ur applying for a new or replacement card the SS-5 http://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/

http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html

All the SSN office is going to do ( at least what they did for me) is take the sheet that you just completed, and retype the required information. Print off what he just typed, you sign it (verify the info is correct), hand it back to him, and thats it. Of course he will look at ur naturalization cert (and give it back to you). cheers

Since I already had form SS-5 already on my computer and filled out for the EAD, the residence, then now for citizenship, only had to change the citizenship status and today's date on her last form and have her sign it. I made a really nice color copy of her certificate and brought that in with the original, but they wanted to make their own copy. Said okay, but be darn careful with it, it will cost you 400 bucks if you hurt it in anyway. Their copy sucked, their copy machine really needs service, with black lines in it, but whatever makes those idiots happy is fine with me.

Our first priority was showing her certificate to her legal deparment of her employer since they made such a stink about her one year extension notice, that only took a couple of minutes, second was the US passport and we paid the expedient fee as that passport is extremely important to her, she could not travel without it and was concerned about the health of her mother, back in September, that took nine days and eleven to get her certificate back, still don't know why they could not stick that in the same envelop, the hard cardboard overnight type. Third was SS, really no rush on that, she has a long time to go for benefits, but if she did need disability, we still had her certificate, whether we changed her status or not. Fourth was our DMV since they gave us a hard time again with that extension notice, they didn't want to see it, just said for her to check that she is a USC on the application and they will take her word for that, ha, an illegal could do that as well, the idiots.

Last was voters registration, like the DMV, didn't want to see her certificate, but did want to see her drivers' license, so I gather an illegal can vote as well.

Thinking about this, her certificate is the same as my US birth certificate, last time I dragged that out is when I was drafted, then had to drag it out again for the USCIS and the DOS, just about the only people that wanted to see it. And believe you have to dig it out again to get SS benefits. In terms of an illegal, at least won't get SS benefits nor a US passport, but I feel they can get by without the latter, they already know how to travel without proper documentation.

One agency that really wants to see a copy of your certificate is the USCIS along with two photos and 400 bucks, in case you lose yours, must take all but two minutes to make a new one with that information.

[AusCal 3]

I'm going to take the citizenship oath soon and right now I'm deliberating if I should apply for an expedited passport or just go with the regular processing time. I might want to travel abroad in summer and when I book a flight, they usually ask for a passport number.

Who has applied for a passport recently and how long did it take to receive it?

Stella, according to the State Gov website, regular processing is taking 4-6 weeks, expedited about three weeks. I applied 27th Feb, and received mine back on 3rd April - exactly five weeks, with regular processing. My experience seems fairly normal - at the moment. Back in late 2008 processing times were much quicker. It seems reasonable to expect that as the requirement for a passport being need for land crossings to Mexico/Canada draws closer, numbers of applications may increase, and processing times may get longer.

At some oath ceremonies, you can submit a passport application immediately after oath taking (you do need to take photo's with you). I considered doing this, but, the line on the day was very long - also, I wanted to scan and have a copy of my Naturalization certificate before I sent it off.

I booked an overseas flight during the period I was waiting for my passport to be returned - I called the airline rather than booking it online (Qantas), I was able to book the flight, and now just need to supply my passport details at check-in. They normally had a $15 phone booking fee, but waived it for me.

You can apply in person at an actual passport office, and receive your passport that day - provided you have proof that you are travelling in the near future (I think the time period is 7 days, not sure). There are, of course, additional fees for this type of application.

[Stella08 0]

@ AusCal

Thank you very much for your detailed information. I guess I'll just get all the paperwork and pictures ready and then I'll see if I have a chance to apply where they hold the oath ceremony or if I need to go to a post office. I decided I'll definitely pay extra and apply expedited since I want to be free to travel as soon as possible. My Dad is in poor health and I don't want to take any chances.

[mattr 0]

why do you have to update your info at SSA? Just curious as to what difference it makes to you being an immigrant or citizen?

It has to do with your work eligibility. If you apply for a new job, the social security will still think that you are on a green card (on my ss card it said "subject to INS authorization"). When you become a citizen you need to remove this restriction.

As for the passport times, it took me 6 weeks to get it. It's getting slower because of the deadline of June 1st to get a passport to travel in Mexico and Canada and they're getting a backlog.

Mattr.

[TayRivers 4]

My wife applied for her passport on March 7th 2009 with normal processing, as of yet she has not got the passport or her certificate back. She is now wishing she had paid for the expidited service to get the certificate back as soon as possible.

She still has to update SSA once it does come back.

[Stella08 0]

So do you have to inform your employer about your change of status, too? My co-workers know about it. But I hardly ever deal with the business office where they are in charge of my pay and so forth.

[mybunny'shoney 0]

I received my daughter's and my passports today in the mail. Tomorrow would of been 3 weeks since we applied, regular processing. Was surprised it was so fast.

[TayRivers 4]

My Wife got her passport in the mail yesterday. She sent off the application on March 7th 2009.