Has anyone applied for a passport recently?

[aggie94]

I'm just wondering how long it's taking these days. When I called my local PO to make an appointment for the application, they said 5-6 weeks, but I want to make sure that's accurate, as I had been hearing much longer than that. I'm trying to figure out whether I want/need to pay the extra fees to expedite the application. I'm not traveling until August, so 5-6 weeks is definitely safe, but double that and I'd be getting a little nervous.

[Peggy]

My DH and DD renewed theirs last year and it only took about 3 weeks, though a new one may take longer. If you aren't traveling until August I'm sure you will have no problem at all if you send it in now.

Peggy

[lisas3575]

It hasn't been that recent for me (2003) but I was told that same wait and it came much quicker. FWIW.

[swquilts]

We got them last year and it didn't take too very long. 5-6 weekds sounds about right. You can print out the forms on the web and fill them out before you go to the PO. Unfortunately that's the only place you can go now...unless there's a consulate nearby. :(

Caveat...be SURE to be VERY careful filling out the forms. One small booboo and the whole thing needs to be redone. :rolleyes: I know this from experience! :o

Where ya goin?
:)

[Jazzmatazz49]

I applied a couple of weeks ago. The Post Office clerk said it usually takes about 3 weeks, but that things are getting busier this time of year and it might take up to 5 weeks. We're going to Mexico, and until next year we can go with just a birth certificate, but decided to do the passport anyway. We're planning a trip to the UK next year.

[aggie94]

Thanks, guys. I am headed to Belize in August for our 5-year anniversary. I was hoping I could renew, but my passport expired too many years ago. :rolleyes:

Looks like I will just save the $ on the expedited fees - I think I have plenty of time. I have all the forms and docs ready to go, just need to get my pics before my appointment next Friday.

[Lauren]

We got passports a few months ago. My boys are going to Africa with my in-laws and DH and I got new ones (just in case we win a trip :D) also. The process is shorter if you're renewing. Unfortunately when mine expired in '89, I tossed it. :o

It did take about 6 weeks. We went to our town hall in MA. LOL - the passports were processed and mailed from North Carolina.

[Cookin4Love]

I got mine last year and got it in exactly two weeks. DH applied for his three weeks ago, and we don't have it yet. We're leaving next Sunday for a cruise, but since it's just to Mexico, we can do birth certificate only. Of course, we sent his birth certificate off with the passport...

So, I need to go get another copy of the birth certificate. I'm sure that it will guarantee coming home to a passport in the mailbox if I drive downtime and stand in line forever. Grrr.

[vbak]

We got ours in 16 days which included the Christmas holidays. I was extremely surprised. Check with the post office about times and locations before going in because there were only certain hours that you could apply for a passport. Our local post office didn't take applications so we had to go to a different location.

[Escher]

By the way, interesting trivia about passport applications.

The form will ask you for your ssn#

However, it is not necessary to actually include that on the form.

The reasons are complicated (and I encourage you to review) but basically, the law states that the IRS (not the state dept) needs your taxpayer ID number when you apply for a passport.

The law also says that passports shall not be refused to those who fail to provide SSN's.

So, how to resolve these seemingly conflicting laws?

Simple: Notify the IRS in the presence of the postal employee....
Here is a sample form:



[No address provided because none required.
See citation below.]

District Director of Internal Revenue

Dear Mr. Director:

The United States Department of State Application for a Passport [form DSP-11 (12-87)] requests that an applicant provide their Social Security Number (SSN) under color of "Federal Tax Law". This request is unlawful.

It is unlawful because it is not supported by a statement required by the Privacy Act of 1974 [PL93-579§7b]. In particular, the required Privacy Act Statement thereon does not mention any authority for the Passport Office's request for the SSN. Fortunately, it does not cite 26USC6039E which provides no such authority to the Passport Office, itself.

It is unlawful because The "Federal Tax Law" section misquotes Section 6039E of the 1986 Internal Revenue Code, claiming that this section requires name, mailing address, date of birth, and Social Security Number. In fact, this section only requires the TIN: that is, only the last of these four items.

Whereas,


IRS law requires that a taxpayer applying for a passport include a statement of her TIN [26USC6039E.al];

The statement is required under Title 26 (Internal Revenue Service) rather than under Title 22 (Department of State);

Therefore, disclosure to the IRS is mandatory, but disclosure to the Department of State is not;

Senate Report 99-313 states that the requirement under this section is "an Internal Revenue Service information return [italics added; to] be completed in conjunction with the processing of passports in the case of citizens…" This is clear intent that the information is to be returned to the Internal Revenue Service rather that to the Passport Office.

Passport information is available to any government agency merely upon request [22CFR§51.33c], without restrictions on its security thereafter;

Information returned to the IRS is far more secure [26USC6103] and routine security usually extends beyond the IRS to other government agencies that may obtain it;

A passport cannot be denied upon one's refusal of non-mandatory disclosure of her SSN [PL93-579§7al];

The IRS has not promulgated regulations implementing either Subsections (b4) or (e) of 26USC6039E;

The IRS has not issued a form for citizens to report this information, similar to its Form 2063 for aliens;

Form 2063 has a stub devoid of numbers for disclosure to other branches of government, indicating that an alien has satisfied tax code obligations;
Now, therefore, do I assert that


This statement is required from me [26USC6039.b1]; that I am herewith applying for a passport and that my TIN is xxx-xx-xxxx;

It suffices for me to submit this statement as an "information return" to the IRS under its law rather than to the Department of State under its;

This statement is offered with my Passport Application to the "Person Administering Oath" (a postal employee) in a sealed envelope addressed to the District Director of Internal Revenue, with US postage attached for Certified Mail-Return Receipt Requested.
Respectfully yours,




[Name withheld, as permitted]

[bellringr]

Well, yeah, if you want to be an ultra-paranoid militant type. :rolleyes:

We got ours in late 2003 before we went to St. Lucia. Mine was a renewal and took 2 weeks while hubby's new passport (his expired one was too old) took 3. These went through the Chicago office.

[newtricks]

I just went on Monday and paid for the expedited passport because I'm travelling on June 22. Procrastinate much?:rolleyes:

Escher, do you worry that doing the above would draw more scrutiny and investigation to yourself than merely giving your SSN? And I'm thinking it might get you kicked onto a wierd list that would delay you every time you fly.

[Ralph]

When DW & I applied for ours in February, it only took about 2 weeks! We'd seen the same thing about 4-6 weeks, but since we weren't travelling until April, we weren't worried.

If you go to the main government site for passports (http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html), you can get all the information you need.

IMPORTANT: It also links you to this page (http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/) which allows you to search for where to apply. The post office isn't necessarily the only place. We went to the nearby township offices (yes, we had to make an appointment), but the process was much smoother. She also mentioned that she's been told the person at the post office is pretty nasty!

Aggie, where in Belize are you headed? We were just at Robert's Grove in Placencia.

[Escher]

Originally posted by newtricks
And I'm thinking it might get you kicked onto a wierd list that would delay you every time you fly.

You assume I'm not already on the weird list.
Yes, I recognize that I am more paranoid than most, but can you tell me a reason why the State Department would need your SSN?

In a related note, personally, I think people should be able to fly domestically w/o having to show any id, but that's just me and my wild and crazy privacy ideas.

[linsleyd]

Eva, I expediated mine from the post office and I received it in about a week and a half.
Talk about procrastination, I leave for Bermuda on June 1st and I just received mine in the mail on Saturday!

[NewMrsG]

We just got passports 3 months ago and had them in about 4 weeks or so, so you're likely safe!

[aggie94]

Originally posted by Ralph
Aggie, where in Belize are you headed? We were just at Robert's Grove in Placencia.

Hi Ralph! How did you guys like Belize? I've heard great things about Robert's Grove. Hope you enjoyed your trip! We are headed to Ambergris Caye. We're not huge beach people (but we're using a timeshare exchange, and all of the resorts are on Ambergris), so we are planning lots of day excursions/activities back on the mainland. If you guys did anything particularly cool or fun, please PM me!

Originally posted by newtricks
And I'm thinking it might get you kicked onto a wierd list that would delay you every time you fly.

Speaking of that "weird list," DH recently flew to Austin for his brother's wedding. Since he had a meeting right before his departure, we tried to check him in online early that morning so he could arrive at the airport a little later than usual. The airline wouldn't let him check in online, and several phone calls later, we determined that he is on the TSA Watchlist. :eek: :mad: Now THAT'S been fun to deal with. :rolleyes:

[MrsReber]

OK, so how long is "too long" to renew? I know mine expired, maybe in 2003?

[aggie94]

Originally posted by MrsReber
OK, so how long is "too long" to renew? I know mine expired, maybe in 2003?

Susan, you're fine. I believe it's 15 years. Mine expired when I was, oh, like 13. :o

[Escher]

Originally posted by aggie94
The airline wouldn't let him check in online, and several phone calls later, we determined that he is on the TSA Watchlist. :eek: :mad: Now THAT'S been fun to deal with. :rolleyes:

So, tell me how it feels to know that you are being watched...

Welcome to Amerika.

[newtricks]

Originally posted by Escher


You assume I'm not already on the weird list.
Yes, I recognize that I am more paranoid than most, but can you tell me a reason why the State Department would need your SSN?

In a related note, personally, I think people should be able to fly domestically w/o having to show any id, but that's just me and my wild and crazy privacy ideas.

Oh, I'm in agreement with you on the privacy stuff. makes me crazy that you get asked for your SSN every 5 minutes and often refuse to give it. I was just pointing out that in this day and age I think anyone doing anything out of the ordinary on a passport application is going to raise a red flag.

And as for not showing id when flying domestically are you saying that people should be able to fly under an assumed name? Because that's the only reason I can see for not showing your id to the skycap/ security personnel. Your name is already on the passenger manifest and that's where the government is looking.

Sorry to hijack this thread (oh that's bad wording for this topic!)

[newtricks]

Originally posted by aggie94
The airline wouldn't let him check in online, and several phone calls later, we determined that he is on the TSA Watchlist. :eek: :mad: Now THAT'S been fun to deal with. :rolleyes:

Yep, dh's name is on that too. It's not him but we have a very common surname. And he travels *all* the time so it's a big drag.

[Lauren]

You’ll need to apply in person if you are applying for a U.S. passport for the first time; if your expired U.S. passport is not in your possession; if your previous U.S. passport has expired and was issued more than 15 years ago; or if your previous U.S. passport was issued when you are under 16 your currently valid U.S. passport has been lost of stolen.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

[Beth H]

BTW - starting sometime next year, passports will be required for US citizens to enter Canada. So if you live near that border and travel to Canada, you might want to renew/order a passport while you have some time.

[bellringr]

Let's see...you're in public, on equipment belonging to another company who is responsible for the safety of everyone on board. It isn't a privacy issue, it's a common sense and liability issue. If you're so paranoid and want to be anonymous, then walk everywhere. :p Of course I realize that logic and common sense rarely go hand-in-hand with self-centered paranoia. :D

[Valerie226]

I just renewed my passport in January and my husband applied for the first time in February. Both took about 3 weeks so you should be fine. We travel to canada often & decided this was the best route after wrestling with the birth certificate thing. That was not convenient & you worry about it getting stolen or lost and what trouble that might cause.
we applied before the announcement that a passport would be required for travel to mexico & canada. A lot of people will hold off spending the $$ in hopes that this will fall through but it's easier and faster than dealing with the birth certificate anyway.

[Escher]

Originally posted by bellringr
Let's see...you're in public, on equipment belonging to another company who is responsible for the safety of everyone on board. It isn't a privacy issue, it's a common sense and liability issue. If you're so paranoid and want to be anonymous, then walk everywhere. :p Of course I realize that logic and common sense rarely go hand-in-hand with self-centered paranoia. :D

Let's see...

You are not in public, you are on a privately owned airplane....
That company is indeed responsible for the safety of it's passengers. I never said otherwise. However, it isn't the company who is demanding the identity of it's passengers, it is the government. Do you REALLY think Delta is maintaining the "persons of interest" list? Furthermore, requiring ID does little to help airline safety, and is very prone to abuse.

Oh, and very nice sentiment...if you want to protect your privacy, then walk :rolleyes:. I'm sure the founding fathers would really respect that. Heck, why stop at airlines, why not make busses, cabs, and ferries govt checkpoints as well? Why not require all citizens to carry ID at all times, to be produced upon demand by any govt agent?

Of course, I realize that sheep like yourself rarely will bleat until something affects them directly, but really, pretend you rec'd a nominal education and look at the big picture... your rights are being washed away by the straw man of public safety.




What we all should learn from Nazi Germany is not that man can be so cruel...indeed history has proven that time and again. Rather, the greatest lesson to be gleaned is that men can be so complacent.

[mbrogier]

Showing ID to fly and Nazi Germany is a little bit of a leap, isn't it Escher??
As is protecting passenger safety onboard airplanes that can be and have been used as bombs and having a militia state. :rolleyes:

Even the founding fathers checked papers and didn't allow the redcoats to come waltzing through the countryside in the name of "freedom". I'm sure they had a watchlist, too. ID has been around for millenia.

Back on topic. I have a valid passport in my maiden name. Can I use that and show my 5 year old marriage certificate, or do I need to renew my passport? My legal middle name is my maiden name.

[Beth H]

Back on topic. I have a valid passport in my maiden name. Can I use that and show my 5 year old marriage certificate, or do I need to renew my passport? My legal middle name is my maiden name.

I think you are supposed to change your passport to reflect your legal name, especially if you are flying internationally and the tickets are booked in your married name. My sister ran into that situation a few years back (pre-September 11) - right after she was married, she and her DH went to London. Since it was just a month or two later, she carried her marriage certificate, and that was fine, but I have a feeling now they would be pretty unforgiving.

A person I work with was telling me that her driver's license has her name mis-spelled "Tanya" instead of "Tonya," and when she flew last week, they almost would not let her through security.

[Escher]

Originally posted by mbrogier
Showing ID to fly and Nazi Germany is a little bit of a leap, isn't it Escher??
As is protecting passenger safety onboard airplanes that can be and have been used as bombs and having a militia state. :rolleyes:

yes, that is a bit of a leap, I considered leaving it out, but it's one of my favorite points. The lesson isn't about evil, it's about complacency. One doesn't need to reach the final destination to realize you are on the wrong path.

And showing ID didn't exactly do jack squat to help on 9/11, now did it? How could it?

I'd prefer real security like armed air marshalls, inaccessible cockpits and restricted gate areas than the tracking the movements of innocent civilians.

so I see your :rolleyes: and raise you :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[HUNGRY!]

If your passport is in your maiden name you can get a rider (sp?) that says your name has changed without having to pay $65 to get a new one. There's information on the passport website.

[bellringr]

You seem to be confusing the gathering of information with someone actually caring what you are doing.

My liberties are intact, thank you. I can go where I want, wear what I want, work where I want, read any book I want, worship where I want, drive my car any time of the night or day wherever I choose....and I seriously doubt anyone in Washington is bored enough to be tracking my movements. If they are then I feel sorry for them because they're going to be greatly disappointed. :D

If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. If something does happen, like people being on a no-fly list for having the same name, that isn't because of the laws or your so-called loss of freedom, it's because of someone screwing up. At that point it needs to be fixed. People are going to make mistakes, and there will be people with ill-intent in every walk of life. Nothing you can do about that.

So it takes a little longer to get through an airport. Big deal. People like you make mountains out of the small stuff and don't take action on things that truly matter, like books being banned because they have the N word in them (even though they were written 60 years ago) or school systems in Illinois taking Social Studies out of the standardized testing. Heaven forbid little Johnny learns about anything outside of his little politically-correct bubble. It's ignorance of the world that leads to all the crap going on today.

[mbrogier]

Originally posted by Escher


yes, that is a bit of a leap, I considered leaving it out, but it's one of my favorite points. The lesson isn't about evil, it's about complacency. One doesn't need to reach the final destination to realize you are on the wrong path.

And showing ID didn't exactly do jack squat to help on 9/11, now did it? How could it?

I'd prefer real security like armed air marshalls, inaccessible cockpits and restricted gate areas than the tracking the movements of innocent civilians.

so I see your :rolleyes: and raise you :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

When/where have you flown last, because you're not going to the same airports I am. The air marshalls ARE armed, the cockpits ARE inaccessible, and how exactly are the bad guys supposed to be stopped if they can't figure out who they are? Again, checking who people are isn't a new concept. It has been around for centuries. So. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: And yea Bellrngr!

Beth and Hungry, thanks so much. I don't dread getting my passport updated now!

[Escher]

Originally posted by bellringr
People like you make mountains out of the small stuff and don't take action on things that truly matter, like books being banned because they have the N word in them (even though they were written 60 years ago) or school systems in Illinois taking Social Studies out of the standardized testing.

Oh, newbie, how little you know.
"People like you"... :p :p :p

What makes you think I don't rail against those things, as well?

[Escher]

Originally posted by mbrogier
When/where have you flown last, because you're not going to the same airports I am. The air marshalls ARE armed, the cockpits ARE inaccessible...

Don't be dense. I support those type of actions.

And while your generic statement "checking who people are isn't a new concept. It has been around for centuries" is on the surface true, it doesn't really add anything to the conversation. Just because something has been done in the past doesn't make it right, and I'm talking about a very specific action... checking the id's of airline passengers.

[Schmee]

Originally posted by Beth H
BTW - starting sometime next year, passports will be required for US citizens to enter Canada. So if you live near that border and travel to Canada, you might want to renew/order a passport while you have some time.

I heard that this was shot down recently.

On another note,
If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. The kindest thing I can say about this ignorant way of thinking is short-sighted at best. While I think Escher is being a little extreme, he makes very good points about the errosion of our rights in today's good old U-S-of-A.

[Chefzhat]

Eva, we applied for our renewals and our son's originals in August, received them all within 3 weeks.

Enjoy your trip!

[Beth]

I let mine expire -- I need to go check it and see if I can still renew it. I think I can, but if I let it slide until I might need it, I might have to start over. Thanks for the info.

[sneezles]

Originally posted by Beth
I let mine expire -- I need to go check it and see if I can still renew it. I think I can, but if I let it slide until I might need it, I might have to start over. Thanks for the info.

Ours expired last year and we need the new ones for our trip to Scotland in July. All the info is on the website. You print out the renewal form, get new pictures, mail in the form, pic, old passport and your check by registered mail and you receive your new passport in a few weeks.

[Beth]

Originally posted by sneezles

You print out the renewal form, get new pictures, mail in the form, pic, old passport and your check by registered mail and you receive your new passport in a few weeks.

I have to get new pictures? On drat! I'd much rather be young forever! :p