US Passport Question - How long to receive your CoN back?

[HuffyTheSlayer 22]

Hi Everyone,

I received my US passport back 2 weeks ago on Thursday, but I am still waiting to receive my Naturalization certificate back. Is this kind of wait time normal? I will be calling the department of state tomorrow to enquire if they still have and/or recently mailed my certificate. But am I worrying over nothing? With what I read here on VJ I am worried that perhaps it got lost or stolen in the mail system and don't want to leave it too long in case there's a chance to track it down.

[lawren14 3]

Hi Everyone,

I received my US passport back 2 weeks ago on Thursday, but I am still waiting to receive my Naturalization certificate back. Is this kind of wait time normal? I will be calling the department of state tomorrow to enquire if they still have and/or recently mailed my certificate. But am I worrying over nothing? With what I read here on VJ I am worried that perhaps it got lost or stolen in the mail system and don't want to leave it too long in case there's a chance to track it down.

Don't worry you will receive your certificate in separate mailing. give it another week or 2. got mine 3 weeks after I received my US passport. hope this will lessen your anxiety. lol, have a good one.

[Highyella72 11]

When I received my US passport last June 2011, my certificate of citizenship came in the same envelope with my passport. I am not sure it was because I used a service company that expedited my passport or not.

[nwctzn 55]

Hi Everyone,

I received my US passport back 2 weeks ago on Thursday, but I am still waiting to receive my Naturalization certificate back. Is this kind of wait time normal? I will be calling the department of state tomorrow to enquire if they still have and/or recently mailed my certificate. But am I worrying over nothing? With what I read here on VJ I am worried that perhaps it got lost or stolen in the mail system and don't want to leave it too long in case there's a chance to track it down.

It took 2 to 3 weeks in my case to get the certificate back. I would wait for one more week and then call them if you do not receive it by then.

[pandawars 7]

I got my passport stuff in this order

1. Passport

2. Cert of Naturalization - received 2 days after I got my passport

3. Passport Card - received 4 days after I got my passport

[HuffyTheSlayer 22]

Don't worry you will receive your certificate in separate mailing. give it another week or 2. got mine 3 weeks after I received my US passport. hope this will lessen your anxiety. lol, have a good one.

Thanks, Lawren. I appreciate it. It does make me feel a little better about things.

When I received my US passport last June 2011, my certificate of citizenship came in the same envelope with my passport. I am not sure it was because I used a service company that expedited my passport or not.

If you expedited, then maybe. I am guessing things are probably different/quicker that way.

It took 2 to 3 weeks in my case to get the certificate back. I would wait for one more week and then call them if you do not receive it by then.

Thanks, nwctzn. It is reassuring to hear the same kind of wait time from 2 other people.

I got my passport stuff in this order

1. Passport

2. Cert of Naturalization - received 2 days after I got my passport

3. Passport Card - received 4 days after I got my passport

Wow, that was quick, Pandawars. I wonder if they're punishing me for not spending the little extra for a PP card.

[randye80 24]

My wife submitted her passport application on April 18th. No expedited service, no priority mail.

The passport book arrived in the mail on May 5. The passport card and CoN both arrived on May 9 (separate envelopes).

2 weeks is enough to make you worry, but realistically it's not a big deal yet.

[jb_vj 5]

Applied May 4th expedited service

Passport book arrived May 12th

Passport card arrived May 14th

CON received May 16th

[Mountain Climber 186]

It took 3 weeks to get the wife's CoN back after receiving her passport. I know it is a bit stressful waiting but it will come. Hang in there!

Edited May 17, 2012 by Mountain Climber

[Caroline and Phil 14]

I'm sorry to ask a dumb question but do they keep the certificate of naturalization when you apply for passport?

[jb_vj 5]

Yes, you have to mail it in with your passport application. After they verify the information, they process your application and after that they will mail the cert. of naturalization back

I'm sorry to ask a dumb question but do they keep the certificate of naturalization when you apply for passport?

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

I received my passport and CoN both today in the same envelope. I did, however, go to a passport agency which I'm sure has something to do with it

[NickD 202]

Wouldn't be a big deal if you could walk in your field office, supply your alien number, and pay them five bucks for new copy. But the way it is, have to fill out a form, send in copies of your original certificate, pay 400 bucks and wait nearly a year. Since they are now including your photo with those few bytes of personal information, really doubt if this computer file is much over 10KB in size, a very low res photo of you. Could charge us a dime more and use photographic quality paper, but using the cheapest paper they can buy.

And why can't the DOS put your certificate in the same envelop you received your passport in? Comes in from the same address, can even question why they want your certificate in the first place, since now delays are being cause as they want to check the SS database first if the USCIS ever gets around to hitting a key on their computer to transmit that small amount of data.

We paid extra for my wife's passport, in Wisconsin, they sent it down to New Orleans right after Katrina hit, but was stress in getting that plain brown letter back, first class postage, not traceable, about four days later. But maybe we don't need that anyway, since your passport will suffice for just about everything. Wasn't in a rush for my stepdaughter, didn't pay extra, but the turnaround time was much faster because it was sent to the Chicago office and her certificate came in the day after since we are one day from Chicago. Still in a plain brown envelop, still in that same envelop stacked in a fire proof safe. Haven't looked at it since.

Typically, if you deal with any commercial outfit and pay extra for shipping, get that much faster service. But not with the government that in theory at least, is there to serve us.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Just thinking about a passport this morning since hubby got his certificate yesterday. There it is... all shiny new in the folder they gave him to keep it in.

So the question: Did it get all folded into an envelope either in the sending or receiving back? Just kinda curious why the special embossed folder for something that's going to be folded and mailed around?

[NickD 202]

We did get back that folder from New Orleans back, but someone at Chicago decided to swipe it. But both were not folded and both in a large brown envelop. Had the option to install a larger mail box in front of my home, so our postman didn't have to fold it either.

Never said DO NOT BEND on the envelop like they put on a lot of junk mail that also comes in.