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CroatianBride
Our Angel Ivanka Rose <3
Member since 7/07 2031 total posts
Name:
Tat
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Passport people suck
My bf and I are flying to Europe next week and he is still waiting for his passport! He applied for it in May, and has been calling on a daily basis to check the status. I am getting worried he won't get it in time!
Did anyone ever hear of someone not getting their passport in time to travel?
We tried to make an appointment in the city but the next available is August 5th and we're leaving the 1st!
Anyone have any suggestions???
Message edited 7/26/2007 11:38:58 AM.
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Posted 7/26/07 11:32 AM  |
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mka06
LIF Adult
Member since 8/06 1079 total posts
Name:
Melis
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Re: Passport people suck
i work right next to the national passport office in dc. they have been crazy lines outside for the last month. there have been a number of articles in the washington post about it.
unfortunately - they changed the passport rules (requiring them for cariibean travel, etc..) and from what I know, didn't adjust for increased workload... got backed up and are about 6 - 8 weeks behind.
I don't mean to scare you - but depending on when he put in for it - and what type of return service (expedited, etc..), he asked/paid for, you should be worried. what are they telling him when he calls about he status??
call your congressman! not being dumb - there is a line for ppl that have letters from their congressman on this. it may help.
if there is anything i can do to help - let me know. i don't know anyone who works there, but i am happy to walk next door and ask a question if it would help you out.
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| Posted 7/26/07 5:13 PM |
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Karen
Just chillin'!!
Member since 1/06 9690 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Passport people suck
Did you expedite it? Honestly, even if you did - you guys are cutting it really close.
You can try calling your local representative, sometimes they can help out.
Message edited 7/26/2007 5:14:50 PM.
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| Posted 7/26/07 5:14 PM |
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mka06
LIF Adult
Member since 8/06 1079 total posts
Name:
Melis
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Re: Passport people suck
Posted by Karen
Did you expedite it? Honestly, even if you did - you guys are cutting it really close.
You can try calling your local representative, sometimes they can help out.
honestly - he may not have cut it close. they did all sorts of profiles of people waiting on the lines here in DC. Lots of them sent the paperwork well in advance of their trips and should have had it back - but didn't bc of this backlog. see article from ny times below....
PASSPORTS ARE BEING DELAYED BY A BACKLOG OF APPLICATIONS
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SPECIAL TO THE NEW YORK TIMES
Published: June 20, 1982
Passport applications piling up at a record rate have created unusual delays in processing this spring. In some areas, would-be travelers have reported waiting more than two months for new passports. Lines at some regional branches of the United States Passport Office have been so long in recent weeks that some applicants have reported waits of up to eight hours.
Although the Passport Office says that only a few travelers will be forced to delay or cancel summer trips because of the application backlog, the agency has recommended that people apply early for passports.
''It's been exceptionally bad,'' said Mila Salazar, a travel agent in the downtown San Francisco office of the American Express Company. ''We are telling our clients that if they don't have a passport now, it's going to be at least a month and a half before they get one.''
Miss Salazar said her customers had faced passport delays ''at least 50 percent longer'' than usual. Different Waiting Periods
The average wait for a passport varies in different parts of the country. While the processing of an application in Honolulu reportedly takes only three days, the New York office of the Passport Office told travelers Friday that they would have to wait four weeks for new passports.
A strengthened American dollar prompted a surge in travel outside the United States this year and produced what the Passport Office said was an unexpected flood of applications. That, coupled with computer troubles, caused delays in processing applications, according to Cindy Fox of the State Department, which oversees the Passport Office.
''But we think the worst of it is over,'' Miss Fox said. The Passport Office, which has hired additional workers and had them as well as regular staff members working overtime, says it will spend nearly $2 million this year to deal with the backlog.
The Passport Office predicts this will be a record year for passport applications. The previous record was set in the 12-monthperiod ended Sept. 30. 1978, when 3.23 million passports were issued. With nearly 2.28 million passports issued since last October, the Passport Office says it is now running about 8 percent ahead of the pace set in the record year and 13 percent above the same period a year ago.
In the first week of June, the office issued 105,000 passports, as against 84,000 for the same week in 1981. Cites a Few Cancelations
Despite the backlog, the Passport Office says that in certain cases it will immediately process applications for travelers who must go abroad quickly. Miss Fox said the agency ''knows of only 10 or 12 cases where people had to cancel'' their travel plans because of passport delays.
Travel agencies are concerned by the delays. Some agents fear that unless the application backlog is quickly reduced, many travelers will decide against foreign trips this summer.
''I just talked with a client who applied for a passport on April 19 and hasn't gotten it yet,'' said Devra Eisen, an agent at the Apollo Travel Agency in Chicago. ''The customer leaves next week. He has called his Congressmen to see if Washington can do anything about this.''
Until recently, Mrs. Eisen said, applicants have found themselves waiting in line for up to eight hours at the Chicago Passport Office. A Kansas City travel agent, J. Mike Schulze, said he spent $13,500 for a half-page advertisement in The Washington Post on Wednesday to protest the situation. The advertisement, citing ''unconscionable'' delays for new passports, called on the Government to ''release'' the passports of his clients.
Mr. Schulze, whose agency specializes in European tours for American farmers, said his customers have had to wait eight weeks to get their new passports. ''And when I call the Passport Office to complain,'' he said, ''all I get is a busy signal.''
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| Posted 7/26/07 5:19 PM |
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mka06
LIF Adult
Member since 8/06 1079 total posts
Name:
Melis
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Re: Passport people suck
Maybe he shoudl make an appt at the regional passport office in NY!
The New York Passport Agency only serves customers who are traveling, or submitting their passports for foreign visas, within 14 days. To apply at the Agency, you must schedule an appointment by calling toll-free at 1-877-487-2778, 24 hours/day. If you are not traveling, or needing to submit your passport for foreign visas within 14 days, you must apply at a Passport Application Acceptance Facility
THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR AN APPOINTMENT AT A PASSPORT AGENCY. CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOT PAY ANYONE OR ANY BUSINESS MAKING SUCH A CHARGE.
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Public Hours of Operation By Appointment Only
7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays)
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Public Telephone Number (Automated appointment line and general recorded information available 24 hours/7 days)
1 (877) 487-2778
Where can I apply if I''m traveling in more than 14 days?
How do I check on a pending application?
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Address Greater New York Federal Building
376 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014-3621
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Region Served New York City and Long Island
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| Posted 7/26/07 5:22 PM |
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Karen
Just chillin'!!
Member since 1/06 9690 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Passport people suck
Definitely bring a copy of your itinerary with you to the NY Passport Agency.
Posted by mka06
Posted by Karen
Did you expedite it? Honestly, even if you did - you guys are cutting it really close.
You can try calling your local representative, sometimes they can help out.
honestly - he may not have cut it close. they did all sorts of profiles of people waiting on the lines here in DC. Lots of them sent the paperwork well in advance of their trips and should have had it back - but didn't bc of this backlog. see article from ny times below....
this is JMO, but applying in May for an August trip isn't planning "well in advance" given the well-publicized passport situation.
I don't know the OP, so this trip may have been last minute and the timing was totally out of her hands. Plus, I'm a crazy-anal planner  .
ETA: I just checked the Passport website. It says they are doing everything in their power to ensure that no one misses a trip, so I'm sure it will all work out.
Message edited 7/26/2007 5:35:01 PM.
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| Posted 7/26/07 5:25 PM |
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jewels
Stop and smell the flowers
Member since 7/06 1538 total posts
Name:
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Re: Passport people suck
have him call his local congressman immediately. the congressman's office will contact the passport office directly for you.
we got our passports 3 days before leaving for europe. the only reason we got them is because a friend of a friend had a connection in the passport office where our applications were. the contact actually told our friend that we were NOT going to get our passports in time had we not had inside help. do not assume that he will get it in time. and they will offer no reimbursement for your missed trip.
btw - when we finally received our passports it was 14 weeks after our application. and that was with help. who knows how long it would have been if we hadn't had help.
good luck! try not to freak out. i spent the last week before our trip in a panic but we made it and had a great time.
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| Posted 7/26/07 6:29 PM |
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CroatianBride
Our Angel Ivanka Rose <3
Member since 7/07 2031 total posts
Name:
Tat
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Re: Passport people suck
I have never even thought of contacting the congressman for such an issue, does anyone have a contact #?
He did try to make an appointment at the passport office in NY, however their next available appointment was after our flight.
   
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| Posted 7/27/07 9:11 AM |
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Karen
Just chillin'!!
Member since 1/06 9690 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Passport people suck
I would keep calling until you get an appointment. Tell them you are traveling on August 1st and have to be seen before then.
I don't know how to reach a congressman - maybe look up your town's website? I bet the info is on there somewhere.
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| Posted 7/27/07 9:34 AM |
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mka06
LIF Adult
Member since 8/06 1079 total posts
Name:
Melis
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Re: Passport people suck
yes - he needs to make sure he GETS an appointment. if he doesn't they need to tell him over the phone what they are doing to fix it.
call your congressmen ASAP. tell them the situation and tell them that you have tried getting an appt at the ny regional office and you aren't being offered one until after your trip. they will help you no matter what - but if you explain the urgency and that you have tried on your own to take care of this - it will help.
if you put in your zip code on the following website
http://www.growthevote.com/lookup.asp?g=afpa
it will tell you who your Rep in the US House is as well as your Senators (schumer and clinton). It will also tell you your state reps. once it pulls up the list - you can click on the individual ones and it will provide the contact info. their offices will all have someone who deals specifically with constiuent relations. they deal with this type of stuff all the time!
don't wait - call ASAP!!!
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| Posted 7/27/07 10:19 AM |
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cazhley
I ♥ cheesiness.
Member since 1/07 1429 total posts
Name:
Cassie
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Re: Passport people suck
Posted by meprecious99
I have never even thought of contacting the congressman for such an issue, does anyone have a contact #?
He did try to make an appointment at the passport office in NY, however their next available appointment was after our flight.
Here's a recent news article about contacting your congressperson about a passport.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20070716/ap_tr_ge/travel_passport_in_a_hurry
I think you would contact your House of Representatives congressperson. Here's a link to maps of the NY congressional districts. The Long Island districts are 1 through 5. The NYC boroughs are 6 through 16.
http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/congress.html#list
House of Representatives, New York
Bishop, Timothy H.; New York, 1st
Israel, Steve; New York, 2nd
King, Peter T.; New York, 3rd
McCarthy, Carolyn; New York, 4th
Ackerman, Gary L.; New York, 5th
Meeks, Gregory W.; New York, 6th
Crowley, Joseph; New York, 7th
Nadler, Jerrold; New York, 8th
Weiner, Anthony D.; New York, 9th
Towns, Edolphus; New York, 10th
Clarke, Yvette D.; New York, 11th
Velazquez, Nydia M.; New York, 12th
Fossella, Vito; New York, 13th
Maloney, Carolyn B.; New York, 14th
Rangel, Charles B.; New York, 15th
Serrano, Jose E.; New York, 16th
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| Posted 7/27/07 10:26 AM |
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CroatianBride
Our Angel Ivanka Rose <3
Member since 7/07 2031 total posts
Name:
Tat
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Re: Passport people suck
He just called the office of Anthony Weiner (New York Congressional District 9) and they faxed him over a form to fill out and fax back....not sure what that means, but it sounds hopeful!!
Thank you all for your responses, I hope this works!!!
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| Posted 7/27/07 11:02 AM |
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cjb88
Little Brother
Member since 5/05 3540 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: Passport people suck
that is horrible! I applied for mine in May i think, but i expedited it and had it in a week! good luck!
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| Posted 7/27/07 11:13 AM |
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mka06
LIF Adult
Member since 8/06 1079 total posts
Name:
Melis
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Re: Passport people suck
Posted by meprecious99
He just called the office of Anthony Weiner (New York Congressional District 9) and they faxed him over a form to fill out and fax back....not sure what that means, but it sounds hopeful!!
Thank you all for your responses, I hope this works!!!
Awesome - I think it will help you out!! Good luck and keep us posted!
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| Posted 7/27/07 11:21 AM |
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robynfs
12/6/10!!
Member since 9/05 4947 total posts
Name:
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Re: Passport people suck
Mine was expeditied in April and I received it a week after the date I told the passport office I was leaving...that was 2 weeks before my actual trip so I was ok. My point is that I would have missed my trip if the date I gave themw as the actual date.
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| Posted 7/27/07 12:00 PM |
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CroatianBride
Our Angel Ivanka Rose <3
Member since 7/07 2031 total posts
Name:
Tat
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Re: Passport people suck
smmmmmaaaaarrrtttt! I don't think my bf even thought of that....but I like the idea! bc they don't really check any info before they expedite it....I wish I would've thought of that sooner
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| Posted 7/27/07 1:05 PM |
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HillandRon
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 2922 total posts
Name:
Hillary
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Re: Passport people suck
try to make an appointment at the CT. branch.. you might be able to get one there...
The lines are open now, I would just try so you have one, you can always cancel
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| Posted 7/27/07 8:41 PM |
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CroatianBride
Our Angel Ivanka Rose <3
Member since 7/07 2031 total posts
Name:
Tat
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Re: Passport people suck
UPDATE: He contacted the congressman on friday, and they faxed him some form to fill out and fax back. He called this morning to check the status and his passport was shipped on Saturday, already on it's way to his house (they gave him a tracking #)
I can't believe how quick that was!!! I would've never thought to contact the congressman, so I thank everybody for their help!!!
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| Posted 7/30/07 8:43 AM |
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mka06
LIF Adult
Member since 8/06 1079 total posts
Name:
Melis
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Re: Passport people suck
Posted by meprecious99
UPDATE: He contacted the congressman on friday, and they faxed him some form to fill out and fax back. He called this morning to check the status and his passport was shipped on Saturday, already on it's way to his house (they gave him a tracking #)
I can't believe how quick that was!!! I would've never thought to contact the congressman, so I thank everybody for their help!!!
AWESOME - I am so happy that it worked out for you guys!!!!
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| Posted 7/30/07 10:50 AM |
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cazhley
I ♥ cheesiness.
Member since 1/07 1429 total posts
Name:
Cassie
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Re: Passport people suck
Wow! That's great!
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| Posted 7/30/07 10:59 AM |
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Karen
Just chillin'!!
Member since 1/06 9690 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Passport people suck
glad to hear everything worked out!!!
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| Posted 7/30/07 11:28 AM |
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jewels
Stop and smell the flowers
Member since 7/06 1538 total posts
Name:
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Re: Passport people suck
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've been checking your post for an update. We went through it so I sympathized so much with your worry!!!!! Have a great trip!
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| Posted 7/30/07 9:24 PM |
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