Passport book waiting time

[sami76 0]

Hi everyone,

I applied for a passport book using normal service and it took 3 weeks and one day to receive my passport.

Maybe this can help you decide between choosing normal or expedited service. So I am making a timeline here, you might like to add your info too.

User Name Location Passport Application Date Passport Receiving Date Post office service

---------- ----------------- ------------------------ ---------------------- ------------------

Sami76 Atlanta, GA 08/07/2009 08/28/2009 Normal (Not expedited)

Have a great day!

Edited August 28, 2009 by sami76

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Hi everyone,

I applied for a passport book using normal service and it took 3 weeks and one day to receive my passport.

Maybe this can help you decide between choosing normal or expedited service. So I am making a timeline here, you might like to add your info too.

User Name Location Passport Application Date Passport Receiving Date Post office service

---------- ----------------- ------------------------ ---------------------- ------------------

Sami76 Atlanta, GA 08/07/2009 08/28/2009 Normal (Not expedited)

Kathryn41 Stockbridge, GA 08/28/09 ------ Normal (not expedited)

Great idea Sami76! 3 weeks? Good to know - I was told 2 1/2 weeks today so that sounds about right then.

[rebelheart 0]

Hi Kathryn & Sami

Just a question... did u apply your passport at the Post Office or City Hall?? Where did you apply then??

It's because I apply my son US passport at our Post Office area last July 31st, and she said it will take 4-6 weeks for non-expedited application.. been trying to check it online, but no updates there yet, we're already on our 4th week.

Thanks.

[Old Dominion 26]

For a small fee, expedited service is available through your local court clerk. Ten days is pretty good turnaround.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I applied at our local Post Office. When the Post Office 'official' asked if I wanted expedited or regular service, I asked what the time frame was for the regular service. She said that their experience had been about 2 1/2 weeks but some were getting them in 2 weeks. I know that the published information online said it was from 4 to 6 weeks. Hmm, i hope you receive it soon. I'm curious now what the waiting time will actually turn out to be.

[sami76 0]

Hi,

I applied at the post office and she said the same to me too. It needs about one week to have your info in the website.

Hi Kathryn & Sami

Just a question... did u apply your passport at the Post Office or City Hall?? Where did you apply then??

It's because I apply my son US passport at our Post Office area last July 31st, and she said it will take 4-6 weeks for non-expedited application.. been trying to check it online, but no updates there yet, we're already on our 4th week.

Thanks.

[rebelheart 0]

Thanks for the replies... really appreciated it. (Kathryn & Sami )

Though i checked the website again, and said as per today Aug.28 , their processing time is 5-7 weeks.

Well, all i need to do was wait ( i guess... bcoz i always do! and still will be doing when it's my turn after my Citizenship approval ... hehehe )

God bless everyone!

[NickD 202]

Waiting time while probably far more accurate in describing dealings with either the USCIS or DOS, they prefer to use the phrase, processing time.

With the USCIS, you fill out all the applications, compile your evidence, look up the address you are suppose to send it off to, at least you know the address you sent it off to, then you hope and pray the accept it. DOS operates a bit differently, they have 9,000 agents scattered across the country, so you actually bring your stuff in to one of these agents and get to see a human being that makes you take an oath that you are telling the truth what you put into your application and that USC certificate you brought in is actually yours. But the must be trained to look at your photos to make sure that is you. Pay the money in person, then they send it off to only God or the agent knows where it is going. You don't know where they are sending it to and have no means to track it.

So in fairness, I like to ask the agent, do you solemnly swear you are going to address that envelop and get it off today and not let it sit on your desk for a couple of days? In talking to the DOS, was told they no longer fool with online processing and like to give themselves a few extra weeks in processing times. I am not afraid to ask questions like this. But was never given an answer as to why if you pay extra for overnight service, why they cannot slip your USC certificate in the same envelop, the return addresses on both your certificate and passport were identical.

You can order something off the net for a buck and the seller sends you an e-mail thanking you for your order and tells you the tracking number. For a couple of hundred bucks for a piece of paper, DOS can't do that. So just like the USCIS waiting for your interview or oath letter, you camp out at your mailbox waiting for your passport, then again, waiting for your certificate, if it doesn't come in, you say to yourself, maybe tomorrow.

Receive junk mail with a large DO NOT FOLD on the envelop, DOS can't even do that with your certificate. So they won't be any excuse, installed a large mail box, so no reason to fold it. When the certificate finally came in, could finally remove my pup tent from the mail box.

[tomsarah11 0]

I did expedited at the post office for my 2 month old daughter and it took 10 days from start to finish---thought that was great turn around.

[Tini27 0]

I did expedited at the post office for my 2 month old daughter and it took 10 days from start to finish---thought that was great turn around.

Same here! When I applied at the post office, they said regular service would take 4-5 weeks and expedited around 2 weeks. It took exactly 10 days for me. The only reason I took expedited is because I was afraid the passport would get lost in the mail and expedited included a guaranteed overnight delivery, that sort of reassured me. If I were to do it all over again, I would do normal service and spare the $75. Expedited only makes sense if you're travelling IMO. Also, the online status doesn't show your application before a week or so.

[rebelheart 0]

I got email yesterday confirming that my son passport was already processed, and will be sent in priority mail within the week until Sept. 5 <--- this date will count as our 5 weeks on process of my son passport in a normal application.

But in the end of the message of course, If I didn't get it until that day, need to call their customer service.

Maybe I will do the expedited process next time on myself, when I'm done with my citizenship interview/oath.

[NickD 202]

I had to renew my passport two years ago, natural USC and all that nonsense, applied four months before our trip, finally received my passport just hours before my plane was ready to leave with a lot of screaming to get my passport. Was when Canada and Mexico were made into foreign countries, really a mad rush back then.

Just saying you cannot depend on a steady flow in matters like this, never know when many will apply at the same time. Was dead when my wife applied after USC, could have saved some money, but went for expedient or is that bribery service. She felt like she was in jail without her passport.

[rebelheart 0]

Well, we got my son US passport today in the mailbox. So it took us 31 days ( 4 weeks and 3 days ) for a normal processing. stamped says it comes from New Orleans Office.

We applied it July 31st, and it was registered August 28 validity inside the passport details.. so I guess that's how long it stayed whether in our Post Office or in New Orleans.

[NickD 202]

Well, we got my son US passport today in the mailbox. So it took us 31 days ( 4 weeks and 3 days ) for a normal processing. stamped says it comes from New Orleans Office.

We applied it July 31st, and it was registered August 28 validity inside the passport details.. so I guess that's how long it stayed whether in our Post Office or in New Orleans.

We are in Wisconsin and my wife's application was also processed in New Orleans, looked at the place in google maps, was happy she got her certificate and passport back not soaking wet.

[annelizabeth 1]

Hi everyone,

I applied for a passport book using normal service and it took 3 weeks and one day to receive my passport.

Maybe this can help you decide between choosing normal or expedited service. So I am making a timeline here, you might like to add your info too.

User Name Location Passport Application Date Passport Receiving Date Post office service

---------- ----------------- ------------------------ ---------------------- ------------------

Sami76 Atlanta, GA 08/07/2009 08/28/2009 Normal (Not expedited)

Kathryn41 Stockbridge, GA 08/28/09 --/--/-- Normal (not expedited)

Annelizabeth New Albany IN 08/24/09 --/--/-- Normal (not expedited)