Let me start this USA passport thread tracker with my amazing processing speeds at US-Department of state , specially CHICAGO-DOS. passport office.
I applied our passports(me,souse & kid) the sameday we got our oath. Incidentally, we cancelled the chicago DOS appt on the day of oath as we saw the regular processing speed and dont want to waste another 200 bucks. Luckily for us our expectation was correct.
7/21/08- got oath at 9 am
7/21/08- 3 pm --applied for usa passports for all 3 members inclusing kid by REGULAR PROCESSING.
7/30/08- recieved all 3 passports by priority mail
7/31/08- APPLIED kids PIO and our visas.
Some good passport & visa info for people:
1) passport for kid: Initially passport agent at USPS said that they can only allow to apply for me and spouse passport and NOT kids. I convinced them to call US-DOS office and they directed the USPS people to club all 3 applications and mention the same. Also I have put a cover letter in each application requesting DOS to process all 3 applications of our family together as my kid will not have USCIS naturalization letter( he qualifies for US passport as per 2000 child citizenship act). in that cover letter i mentioned all 3 applicants names and date of births etc. Also I didnt submit my KIDS GC to have that as a proof instead of N600 in future for my kid. I dont want to waste another $600. INstead my kids GC, I attached his Indian passport with I551 stamp as proof that he qualifies for 2000 child citizenship act. they sent the same back.
This way all USPS personal learnt about this rule inmmy place and they were surprised that they dont know this rule. INfact the DOS 1800 CS people also says that only spouses can apply initially and then kids.
SO folks quote my example boldly and ask them to call their local DOS office in case of any issues;
total passport processing time for REGULAR processing end to end is 9 days. Lukily for us all 3 our applications came to chicago DOS for processing.
A bried about passport processing>
1) USPS will send all application to PHILADELPHIA LOCK BOX centre.
2) they sort the same and send to respective DOS office whichever is free or near the applicant
3) DOS local office will process and send the passport to applicant.
2) Applied for KIDS PIO on 7/31. then applied our visas. Lot of issues here. I applied for entry visa thru travisa. they accepted the packet and assured to give me visa by EOD. Now Guess.... got a call at 3 pm today from travisa , that entry visa for india incraesed by 100$ to $150 and they cant process the same . so converted that to tourist visa for time being . can you imagine, even till date travisa website says only $ 60,they said that since india time is aug 1st, 12.01am at 1.30 US CST, they chicago consulate will not accept applications with old fee. They accepted with old fee today morning.......Ridiculous Beurocracy...........
Anyhow thats it for time being...
C u folks.......Sri-il
I applied our passports(me,souse & kid) the sameday we got our oath. Incidentally, we cancelled the chicago DOS appt on the day of oath as we saw the regular processing speed and dont want to waste another 200 bucks. Luckily for us our expectation was correct.
7/21/08- got oath at 9 am
7/21/08- 3 pm --applied for usa passports for all 3 members inclusing kid by REGULAR PROCESSING.
7/30/08- recieved all 3 passports by priority mail
7/31/08- APPLIED kids PIO and our visas.
Some good passport & visa info for people:
1) passport for kid: Initially passport agent at USPS said that they can only allow to apply for me and spouse passport and NOT kids. I convinced them to call US-DOS office and they directed the USPS people to club all 3 applications and mention the same. Also I have put a cover letter in each application requesting DOS to process all 3 applications of our family together as my kid will not have USCIS naturalization letter( he qualifies for US passport as per 2000 child citizenship act). in that cover letter i mentioned all 3 applicants names and date of births etc. Also I didnt submit my KIDS GC to have that as a proof instead of N600 in future for my kid. I dont want to waste another $600. INstead my kids GC, I attached his Indian passport with I551 stamp as proof that he qualifies for 2000 child citizenship act. they sent the same back.
This way all USPS personal learnt about this rule inmmy place and they were surprised that they dont know this rule. INfact the DOS 1800 CS people also says that only spouses can apply initially and then kids.
SO folks quote my example boldly and ask them to call their local DOS office in case of any issues;
total passport processing time for REGULAR processing end to end is 9 days. Lukily for us all 3 our applications came to chicago DOS for processing.
A bried about passport processing>
1) USPS will send all application to PHILADELPHIA LOCK BOX centre.
2) they sort the same and send to respective DOS office whichever is free or near the applicant
3) DOS local office will process and send the passport to applicant.
2) Applied for KIDS PIO on 7/31. then applied our visas. Lot of issues here. I applied for entry visa thru travisa. they accepted the packet and assured to give me visa by EOD. Now Guess.... got a call at 3 pm today from travisa , that entry visa for india incraesed by 100$ to $150 and they cant process the same . so converted that to tourist visa for time being . can you imagine, even till date travisa website says only $ 60,they said that since india time is aug 1st, 12.01am at 1.30 US CST, they chicago consulate will not accept applications with old fee. They accepted with old fee today morning.......Ridiculous Beurocracy...........
Anyhow thats it for time being...
C u folks.......Sri-il
Last edited by a moderator:
