US Passport Book and Passport Card

[kvngwynth 0]

I have been a US Citizen since November 20, 2009. I live in Phoenix, AZ and would love to get my Passport Book and Passport Card. Does anybody on here maybe (hopefully) know on how to obtain both of them in person? Am I correct that I would have to do it in San Fransisco, CA? I do not want to send my original Nauralization Certificate by mail or courier. I rather drop it off in person when applying and pick it up in person along with the new passports. Since the original will be kept by them how can I get a certified copy of my certificate? I have learned the hard way... They never returned my husband's US birth cerificate or somehow it got lost in the mail and never to be seen again. I cannot have that happen to my Naturalization Certificate... Better safe than sorry.

[v333k 59]

I have been a US Citizen since November 20, 2009. I live in Phoenix, AZ and would love to get my Passport Book and Passport Card. Does anybody on here maybe (hopefully) know on how to obtain both of them in person? Am I correct that I would have to do it in San Fransisco, CA? I do not want to send my original Nauralization Certificate by mail or courier. I rather drop it off in person when applying and pick it up in person along with the new passports. Since the original will be kept by them how can I get a certified copy of my certificate? I have learned the hard way... They never returned my husband's US birth cerificate or somehow it got lost in the mail and never to be seen again. I cannot have that happen to my Naturalization Certificate... Better safe than sorry.

Not sure about the exact details, but start by reading this page and follow the links for the acceptance agencies or Passport Agency

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html

However, I think you need to give them your naturalization certificate and you will receive it back when they verify it for authenticity... not sure if there are ways around it.

Edited April 30, 2010 by v333k

[NickD 203]

Something we are all concerned, especially when the DOS does not even trust their own agents to verify in person if your USC certificate. I addressed this issue with our local agent and even asked her why does the DOS trust her in assuring that photo on my wife's certificate looks like my wife in person. How come the DOS doesn't also want my wife in the envelop with her certificate? She can't answer these questions, with all of our laws and procedures, most people are like sheep and obedient obey these, even when led to slaughter.

I considered the risk factor, may or may not lose the certificate, that is a gamble, but the expense to make that trip to the nearest service center that would be for us even more expensive to get that passport in person would be sure money down the drain. Was a good risk in that her certificate was returned, but did tell the agent, if the DOS lost it, would be after her and the DOS to replace it.

I put her certificate in a stiff plastic folder with a cardboard backing, was amazed her passport came back overnight mail in a cardboard envelop that I had to sign for, but her certificate came back three days later in a cheap brown envelop first class mail with no means of tracking it. But they did leave it in my protective covering. Since I have a rural type mail box, installed a larger one so my postman didn't have to fold it and jam it in. It was a relief. The DOS did lose my birth certificate, but that was only eight bucks so do have a bad history with them.

I have to visit Arizona occasionally for business reasons, sounds like I better take my US passport with me so I don't end up in one of your jails.

[masterpiece 2]

@ Nick....

"...I have to visit Arizona occasionally for business reasons, sounds like I better take my US passport with me so I don't end up in one of your jails"

The DOS clearly do not have enough trained people manning the postoffices or some other application receiving spots- Was at my local postoffice on Mar 10 with a letter detailing all the requirements for US passport for my child. The agent at the postoffice said she needed to see only Hubby`s passport (and not his Naturalization certificate)....much to my short-lived delight...March 30th i receive a letter from New Orleans Passport office asking for...wait for it.....child`s foreign passport and green card (ofcourse i had all these documents on Mar 10). I responded fedeximmediately (dont bother checking...lexicon patent pending) with said documents while mentally calculating if i am getting any closer to the $420.00 i would have paid for N600.

Today i received yet another letter from the passport agency...this one coming after i had rattled the cage by filing an online status check..and would you believe the request now is for Naturalization certificate. Okay! Deep breath!!....Exhale!!!.....dont touch the hair!!!!.....

Once more i comply amidst vivid images of worst case scenarios that both Night shyamalan and Stephen King would applaud.....

(Green Card, Passport, Naturalization Certificate mangled up someplace and a greasy DOS staff smiling mischieviously while picking his teeth)

So i tenderly enclosed hubby`s laminated Cert of Naturalization with a cover letter "humbly pleading" that they return all documents in the enclosed padded envelope that had been prelabeled (and almost stamped but for the images of the greasly DOS staff saying...oh really?)

Now i am thinking perhaps route N600-USCIS may be as swell as Route 66...what with all the DOS RFEs...

Okay so i shall play nice until all documents are safely back in my possession......then the hunt for some supervisor will begin and the Canal street office in NOLA would turn into Complaintville, LA.

[NickD 203]

@ Nick....

"...I have to visit Arizona occasionally for business reasons, sounds like I better take my US passport with me so I don't end up in one of your jails"

The DOS clearly do not have enough trained people manning the postoffices or some other application receiving spots- Was at my local postoffice on Mar 10 with a letter detailing all the requirements for US passport for my child. The agent at the postoffice said she needed to see only Hubby`s passport (and not his Naturalization certificate)....much to my short-lived delight...March 30th i receive a letter from New Orleans Passport office asking for...wait for it.....child`s foreign passport and green card (ofcourse i had all these documents on Mar 10). I responded fedeximmediately (dont bother checking...lexicon patent pending) with said documents while mentally calculating if i am getting any closer to the $420.00 i would have paid for N600.

Today i received yet another letter from the passport agency...this one coming after i had rattled the cage by filing an online status check..and would you believe the request now is for Naturalization certificate. Okay! Deep breath!!....Exhale!!!.....dont touch the hair!!!!.....

Once more i comply amidst vivid images of worst case scenarios that both Night shyamalan and Stephen King would applaud.....

(Green Card, Passport, Naturalization Certificate mangled up someplace and a greasy DOS staff smiling mischieviously while picking his teeth)

So i tenderly enclosed hubby`s laminated Cert of Naturalization with a cover letter "humbly pleading" that they return all documents in the enclosed padded envelope that had been prelabeled (and almost stamped but for the images of the greasly DOS staff saying...oh really?)

Now i am thinking perhaps route N600-USCIS may be as swell as Route 66...what with all the DOS RFEs...

Okay so i shall play nice until all documents are safely back in my possession......then the hunt for some supervisor will begin and the Canal street office in NOLA would turn into Complaintville, LA.

We were equally concerned about my wife's certificate, her passport did come in from New Orleans shortly after Katrina and maybe it would be soaking wet. The return address for her passport and certificate was identical, why couldn't they have slipped her certificate in the same envelop as her passport? That thick cardboard one I had to sign for. They could have saved first class postage by sticking the certificate in there.

According to the DOS site, had two choices in my small town, city clerk or the post office, city clerk had 20 years of experience, guy at the post office was six months, chose the city clerk. Besides, always a line at the post office, in off tax season, clerks office was deserted.

Not as bad as trying to maintain a foreign passport that we learned we had to do because of the place of birth, only three consulates in the entire USA and have to show up in person. We had to leave at 1:00 AM in the morning, kept us waiting for six hours to hit the Chicago rush hour that took four hours to get from downtown to O'Hare before the traffic finally broke. Was too tired for the other five hours of driving, so had to pay for a motel. When a person leaves their home country to come here, they don't treat you too kindly. And its only good for five years.