Applying for a US Passport question

S

Sashko

Registered Users (C)
Hello all,

Today, I Become a US Citizen !!! Very nice feeling !!! I just wanted to ask you something about applying for a passport. I applied today for a passport with Routine Service. The lady took my original Nat.Certificate, application,fees and the pictures. She took one of the pictures and she stapled at the application picture place with 4 staples. The other picture she stapled at the top of the application along with Nat.Certificate. Is it legal to staple the pictures and the Nat.Certificate? I am scared now if the pictures are not acceptable for processing just because of the staple. Any suggestions ?

Thanks to all,
 
I just looked under the guidelines for the Passport Photo's and couldn't find anything about not using staples. Did the clerk staple on the white part of did he/she actually on your Photograph.

With the staple on the Natz Certificate ... not sure. Let me check ..

By the way here is the guidelines from USPS .... http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/100004.pdf

Here I found it :
The passport clerk will either staple or paper clip your certificate to your passport application. They will send both along with your photos to the State Department who will examine and validate your Certificate of Naturalization before issuing a passport.

Don’t worry. The State Department is aware of how valuable and important your Certificate of Naturalization is to you. They will return your certificate in the exact same condition you gave it to them. At the most you may get your certificate back with a fold or crease in it and perhaps a few staple holes. Generally they don’t fold the certificate at all but place it in a sturdy cardboard envelope with your passport when they mail them both to you.

If the State Department does damage or lose your Certificate of Naturalization, please complain immediately by calling the National Passport Information Center. They should not charge you for the call. We here at NewCitizen.US would also like to hear about any damaged or unreturned Certificates of Naturalization by the State Department or problems you are having as a naturalized citizen getting a passport. ( contact us )
Click to expand...

Link here .. under #5 http://www.newcitizen.us/passport.html
 
My pictures were stapled too. It's OK.

The picture that appears in your passport is actually narrower than the one you submit so they actually remove a fair amount from each side. I think it's that area that the clerk would staple.

My Nat Cert wasn't stapled though.
 
I have a Passport Fees question

Hi everyone, question about the passport fees. Oath date is coming up and I want to apply for my passport while there using expedited service.

$120 (Passport Book & Card) = Check payable to: U.S. Dept of State
$ 60 (Expedite Fee) = Check payable to: U.S. Dept of State
$ 16.25 x 2 (Postage each way) = Check payable to: USPS

Are the above fees & payable to's accurate?

Thanks!

***************************************
06/25/07 N-400 mailed
07/11/07 Received per online case status
07/06/07 Priority Date
07/16/07 Check Cashed
07/24/07 I-797C Notice Date
07/25/07 FP Notice received
08/14/07 FP Date/Completed
11/22/07 Interview Notice received
01/10/08 Interview Date/Completed
01/31/08 Oath Notice
02/26/08 Oath Date
***************************************
 
SFORAFF said:
Hi everyone, question about the passport fees. Oath date is coming up and I want to apply for my passport while there using expedited service.

$120 (Passport Book & Card) = Check payable to: U.S. Dept of State
$ 60 (Expedite Fee) = Check payable to: U.S. Dept of State
$ 16.25 x 2 (Postage each way) = Check payable to: USPS

Are the above fees & payable to's accurate?

Thanks!

***************************************
06/25/07 N-400 mailed
07/11/07 Received per online case status
07/06/07 Priority Date
07/16/07 Check Cashed
07/24/07 I-797C Notice Date
07/25/07 FP Notice received
08/14/07 FP Date/Completed
11/22/07 Interview Notice received
01/10/08 Interview Date/Completed
01/31/08 Oath Notice
02/26/08 Oath Date
***************************************
Click to expand...


I suggest you check appropriate documents/contact info where you are planning to apply. The reason I say is I applied in Fremont PO. I SF Masonic center oath fees and PO fees are slightly different. If you apply in Masonic center - you have to gove one check to Dept of State. This does not include 16.25*2. It includes only one 16.25 for return. They do not accept ONLINE form from state dept website, so I did not pursue there. for me online form acceptance was a big deal. It has a barcode imprinted on it.

In Fremont PO, they had posted fees clearly and to whom it should be addressed. I had posted that previously in SF thread. $140+ to state dept, $30 check to Postmaster and another 16.25 tgo postmaster. Here you have to pay 16.25 twice, but the checks are separated.

Dont want to confuse more, please check with papers where you are applying and determine the breakdown!
 
NameCheck! said:
SFORAFF are you in Chicago?
Click to expand...

Im in San Francisco


***************************************
06/25/07 N-400 mailed
07/11/07 Received per online case status
07/06/07 Priority Date
07/16/07 Check Cashed
07/24/07 I-797C Notice Date
07/25/07 FP Notice received
08/14/07 FP Date/Completed
11/22/07 Interview Notice received
01/10/08 Interview Date/Completed
01/31/08 Oath Notice
02/26/08 Oath Date - San Francisco Masonic
***************************************
 
desihai said:
I suggest you check appropriate documents/contact info where you are planning to apply. The reason I say is I applied in Fremont PO. I SF Masonic center oath fees and PO fees are slightly different. If you apply in Masonic center - you have to gove one check to Dept of State. This does not include 16.25*2. It includes only one 16.25 for return. They do not accept ONLINE form from state dept website, so I did not pursue there. for me online form acceptance was a big deal. It has a barcode imprinted on it.

In Fremont PO, they had posted fees clearly and to whom it should be addressed. I had posted that previously in SF thread. $140+ to state dept, $30 check to Postmaster and another 16.25 tgo postmaster. Here you have to pay 16.25 twice, but the checks are separated.

Dont want to confuse more, please check with papers where you are applying and determine the breakdown!
Click to expand...


Thanks Disihai,

Thats what I noticed, the prices where different between dept of state and the USPS plus there was a rate increase on Feb 1..

When I passed the interview the case worker gave me a envelope with old prices and the passport application. I will just sit back
and wait for the oath date..write the checks at the Masonic when Im sure.. thanks again !

SFORAFF

***************************************
06/25/07 N-400 mailed
07/11/07 Received per online case status
07/06/07 Priority Date
07/16/07 Check Cashed
07/24/07 I-797C Notice Date
07/25/07 FP Notice received
08/14/07 FP Date/Completed
11/22/07 Interview Notice received
01/10/08 Interview Date/Completed
01/31/08 Oath Notice
02/26/08 Oath Date - San Francisco Masonic
***************************************
 
Stapling the picture

Sashko said:
Hello all,

Today, I Become a US Citizen !!! Very nice feeling !!! I just wanted to ask you something about applying for a passport. I applied today for a passport with Routine Service. The lady took my original Nat.Certificate, application,fees and the pictures. She took one of the pictures and she stapled at the application picture place with 4 staples. The other picture she stapled at the top of the application along with Nat.Certificate. Is it legal to staple the pictures and the Nat.Certificate? I am scared now if the pictures are not acceptable for processing just because of the staple. Any suggestions ?

Thanks to all,
Click to expand...

I am sure she is trained to do what she was doing with your picture, that's why she has been hired to do this, I mean take passport applications & make sure everything is in right order. No need to worry over these useless, minor things.
 
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