US Passport Timeline

gopackgo

Registered Users (C)
Hi,

Does anyone have an idea about current/recent US passport application timelines. I applied for mine in the Houston area on March 20 and it is still does not even show up in the online system.:(

The State dept did cash my checks fairly quickly though :mad:
 
Hi,

Does anyone have an idea about current/recent US passport application timelines. I applied for mine in the Houston area on March 20 and it is still does not even show up in the online system.:(

The State dept did cash my checks fairly quickly though :mad:
I applied mine (routine process) in Philadelphia area on March 19. No status online and my check got cashed in 2 days.

Looks like it takes 4-6 weeks for routine process and 2-3 weeks for expedited process.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The State Dept switched contractors. The new contractor has decided to move processing from NH to AZ causing issues with processing calls, updating status etc.

Ref:

http://whirledview.typepad.com/whirledview/2009/03/us-passport-application-problems-not-again.html

http://web.bu.edu/washjocenter/newswire_pg/spring2009/stories/jorgensen/Passport.htm


Thanks for those links, they're very interesting. Finally some logic behind the crazy delays, though I see nothing logical in "fixing" what isn't broken right before the busiest travel season.
 
Passport timeline

I applied in DC 1111 19th St NW on Saturday and got the passport by overnight today (Tuesday). There was some confusion about expedite fees, which were supposed to be waived on Sat (Passport day - March 28). However, apparently its only waived if you don't really need it expedited (or something as confusing as that). Anyway, I paid $60 extra and got it in the mail today.

3/28/09 Applied
3/31/09 Received passport
 
Digging around that link that brewerFan provided earlier (thanks again!), I found some valuable information. Please see here for some very valuable tips regarding US passports and any delays. They have direct numbers to every single passport agency where you can call to check your application status bypassing the rather useless State Department hot-line (which reminds me of the USCIS hot-line...)

I'll post those numbers here, just in case somebody doesn't have the patience to go through that rather lengthy post on the link:

August 1, 2007 Note: when matching your locator number with the location of the passport agency where it is being processed count the number of digits. If it is 8, rather than 9 digits long, put a 0 at the beginning. Therefore, an 8 digit number that begins with 18. . . means the passport agency is Washington, DC (01 . . .)

01 – Washington, DC Passport Agency 1111 19th Street, NW, first floor, sidewalk level Washington, DC 20524 Fax: 202/955-0108 Status Checks: 202/955-0351 Public Phone: 202/647-0518

02 – Chicago Passport Agency Kluczynski Federal Building 230 S. Dearborn Street, 18th floor Chicago, IL 60604-1564 Fax: 312/341-8875 Status Checks: 312/341-6060 Public Phone: 312/341-6020

03 & 50 – Los Angeles Passport Agency Federal Building 11000 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1000 Los Angeles, CA 90024-3615 Fax: 310/575-5729 Status Checks: 310/575-5741 Public Phone: 310/575-5700

04 – Miami Passport Agency Claude Pepper Federal Office Building 51 SW First Avenue, 3rd Floor Miami, FL 33130-1680 Fax: 305/539-3660 Status Checks: 305/539-3674 Public Phone: 305/539-3600

05 – San Francisco Passport Agency 95 Hawthorne Street, 5th Floor San Francisco, CA 94105-3901 Fax: 415/538-2715 Public Phone: 415/538-2700

06 & 11 – New York Passport Agency 376 Hudson Street New York, NY 10014 Fax: 212/206-3029 Status Checks: 212/206-3041 Public Phone: 212/206-3500

07 – Seattle, Washington Passport Agency Henry Jackson Federal Building 915 Second Avenue, Suite 992 Seattle, WA 98174-1091 Fax: 206/808-5718 Status Checks: 206/808-5739 Public Phone: 206/808-5700

08 & 40 – New Orleans Passport Agency One Canal Place 365 Canal Street, Suite 1300 New Orleans, LA 70130-6508 Fax: 504/412-2622 Status Checks: 504/412-2699 Public Phone: 504/412-2600 (or try 504-412-2699- although reports are that the response is erratic)

09 – Philadelphia Passport Agency U.S. Custom House 200 Chestnut Street, Room 103 Philadelphia, PA 19106-2970 Fax: 215/597-5970 Status Checks: 215/597-8024 Public Phone: 215/418-5937

10 – Boston Passport Agency Thomas P. O’Neill Federal Building 10 Causeway Street, Suite 247 Boston, MA 02222-1094 Fax: 617/565-7197 Status Checks: 617/565-7195 Public Phone: 617/878-0900

12 – Honolulu Passport Agency Prince Kuhio Federal Building 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 1-330 Honolulu, HI 96850 Fax: 808/522-8243 Status Checks: 808/529-6565 Public Phone: 808/522-8283

13 – Houston Passport Agency Mickey Leland Federal Building 1919 Smith Street, fourth floor Houston, TX 77002-8049 Fax: 713/655-2120 Status Checks: 713/655-2112 Public Phone: 713/751-0294

14 – Connecticut Passport Agency 50 Washington St. Norwalk, CT 06854 Automated Appointment Number: (203) 299-5443

17 – Colorado Passport Agency Cherry Creek III 3151 South Vaughn Way, Suite 600 Aurora, CO 80014

15, 20, 21 & 22 – National Passport Center (New Hampshire) (no in person emergency appointments) 31 Rochester Avenue Portsmouth, NH 03801-2900 Fax: 603/334-0596 Status Checks: 603/334-0525 Public Phone: 603/334-0500 (Brief recorded information. No public counter.)

(NOTE: WV Commenters suggest trying: 603-334-0520, 603-334-0522, 603-334-0523 and/or e-mailing littlefieldME@state.gov to reach the National Passport Center. 603-334-0518 is now on Voice Mail and not always being checked as of July 4.

30 & 31 – Charleston, South Carolina Passport Center 1269 Holland Street Charleston, SC 29405 Fax: 843/746-1747 Status Checks: 843/746-1681 Public Phone: 843/746-1681 (Brief recorded information. No public counter.) Other numbers to try: 1-843-746-1690, 1691, 1692; fax: 843-746-1747; check status: 843-746-1701; passport expedited: 843-746-1690

NOTE: from commenter re Charleston, “I phoned the number listed and played around with the last 4 digits – 1690, 1691, 1692 (I think, the one that finally was answered on a Saturday was 1692).”

There were problems in July 2007 with passports being sent Priority Mail from the new printing facility in Arkansas. A new printing facility is being opened in Tucson, Arizona in 2008 - there could be glitches as with any new facility.

Driving directions to the passport agencies can be found by clicking on the name of the specific agency in question. http://travel.state.gov/passport/about/agencies/agencies_913.html
 
I applied for my passport through the Post Office with expedited service and overnight delivery on 3/23 and received it on 1/4. I've not received the passport card or my naturalization certificate back yet.
 
I applied for my passport through the Post Office with expedited service and overnight delivery on 3/23 and received it on 1/4. I've not received the passport card or my naturalization certificate back yet.

Hm, that's pretty quick. Yesterday I upgraded my application to "expedited" and we'll see what happens. My trip is in 1 week.
 
It's all a matter of luck at this point. I have this feeling that I'll get it a day or two after I miss my trip... just when I thought I was done with mediocre service. Thanks for the words of encouragement cregan.
 
It's all a matter of luck at this point. I have this feeling that I'll get it a day or two after I miss my trip... just when I thought I was done with mediocre service. Thanks for the words of encouragement cregan.
Did they give you any updated time line to expect through expedited process, since you have already waited?

Good Luck to get it soon so that you can make the trip.
 
Did they give you any updated time line to expect through expedited process, since you have already waited?

Good Luck to get it soon so that you can make the trip.

Nope, nothing. Wouldn't even go as far as to say that it'll be here on time. Just "we'll try our best..."

Thanks a lot.
 
Different links to check passport status

This link does not work
travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html

This link DOES work
passportstatus.state.gov/opss/OPSS_Status_ip.asp

Looks like its taking 6 weeks minimum to get it. Of course for us veterans of many years of waiting before INS/CIS, 6 weeks is merely a drop in the ocean :)
 
This link does not work
travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html

This link DOES work
passportstatus.state.gov/opss/OPSS_Status_ip.asp

Looks like its taking 6 weeks minimum to get it. Of course for us veterans of many years of waiting before INS/CIS, 6 weeks is merely a drop in the ocean :)

This is very interesting. The link worked for me as well once I made sure to use https://

I tried to type in my information, since I applied for a passport card on 2/19 and could never track the status (nor did I ever receive any status update e-mails). I did receive my card on 3/12.

Here is the fun part. The system came up with the following response:

Thank you for submitting your application for a U.S. passport card!
Please Note: The U.S. Passport Card is not valid for international air travel.
Your passport application is in the final processing stages.
Your passport application locator number is ***.
When you applied, you requested Routine Service.
This means you should receive your passport on or about 04/11/2009.
 
Hey, thanks for that link!

Here's what it says for me:

If you applied for both a U.S. Passport Book and a U.S. Passport Card on the same application, the newly issued documents, as well as your returned citizenship evidence, may be mailed to you in separate packages at different times. Therefore, it is possible to receive 3 separate mailings; one with your returned citizenship evidence, one with your newly issued passport book, and one with your newly issued passport card. It is currently being processed.

Your passport application locator number is 1********

When you applied, you requested Routine Service.

This means your passport should delivered on or about 04/01/2009.


It's 04/02/2009 and no sign of it yet.
 
Hey, thanks for that link!

Here's what it says for me:




It's 04/02/2009 and no sign of it yet.

I get the same message, but with a date of 4/5. However I got my passport yesterday, so I wouldn't put too much faith in the online status.
 
I get the same message, but with a date of 4/5. However I got my passport yesterday, so I wouldn't put too much faith in the online status.

Oh yeah, it seems pretty useless. I called today and after a 30 minute wait got to talk to a live person. I was basically told what I've been told for around 2 weeks now: "It's processing." I have an appointment of April 6th at my local passport agency and hopefully they'll issue me one of those one day passports.
 
Thanks for the link and updates.

I get the same message, but with the date of 4/8.

In an afternoon call today, CSR told me to wait 4 to 6 weeks. Did not give any other update.
 
I applied for my passport through the Post Office with expedited service and overnight delivery on 3/23 and received it on 1/4. I've not received the passport card or my naturalization certificate back yet.
I received the passport card and naturalization certificate today in two separate mailing. Both were sent normal first class. I guess they only apply the overnight option to the passport itself since that is the one that you really need.
 
Top