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ptarmigan
Joined: 01 Mar 2007
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 Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 5:03 pm Post subject: Passport processing bogged down, State Dept. admits |
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Want a U.S. passport in two weeks?
Don't hold your breath.
This according to an AP story in the Washington Post:
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U.S. Warns of Long Delays For Passports
By Matthew Lee
Associated Press
Friday, March 16, 2007; Page A03
Overwhelmed by unprecedented demand, the State Department is warning would-be travelers to brace for lengthy delays in getting U.S. passports, even when they pay a hefty fee to speed their applications.
The department has hired hundreds of employees to process passport requests over the past two years as tougher immigration rules have taken effect. Even so, the department says a crush of new applicants -- more than 1 million a month -- has inundated its staff and caused delays of up to 1 1/2 months amid the peak January-to-April season when many people are preparing to travel over the spring and summer .... |
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/15/AR2007031501827.html
And if you want to talk to someone at the State Department to check on the status of your passport, good luck! Even State has finally admitted it has a problem.
http://travel.state.gov/passport/about/npic/npic_898.html
The best time to call appears to be about 5 minutes before midnight. Then stay on hold for about a half hour and you may get through. I did this, and when I got through, nearly three weeks after submitting my application, I was told they had just logged my application in that day.
Who knows.
Finally got an email confirmation of my application a few days after that.
Anyone have better luck? |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm just thankful they are good for 10 years and mine doesn't expire until 2010. Saves me from this mess. |
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Gopher
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| ...a crush of new applicants. |
Wonder why. And why now? |
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wannago
Joined: 16 Apr 2004
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Gopher wrote: |
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| ...a crush of new applicants. |
Wonder why. And why now? |
...waiting for the inevitable post about the eeeeevil Bushie. |
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supernick
Joined: 24 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| ..waiting for the inevitable post about the eeeeevil Bushie |
Why do you keep saying Bush is evil.
But then again, you're just trolling, the troll that you are. |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:56 am Post subject: |
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Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Collier County Clerk of Courts� Recording Department is hustling to keep up with an increase in passport applications, due in part to a new law effective today.
The new law requires all people, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air from places such as Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean Islands and Bermuda to have a passport to enter the U.S. In addition, as soon as Jan. 1, 2008, all persons entering the U.S. � by whatever mode � will need a passport.
The U.S. Department of State, from where the Clerk�s Office receives direction, predicts that this demand for passport application services will continue to increase dramatically in the future. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Adventurer wrote: |
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Collier County Clerk of Courts� Recording Department is hustling to keep up with an increase in passport applications, due in part to a new law effective today.
(1) The new law requires all people, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air from places such as Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean Islands and Bermuda to have a passport to enter the U.S.
(2) In addition, as soon as Jan. 1, 2008, all persons entering the U.S. � by whatever mode � will need a passport.
The U.S. Department of State, from where the Clerk�s Office receives direction, predicts that this demand for passport application services will continue to increase dramatically in the future. |
(numbers are mine)
But 1 and 2 have nothing to do with this surge. Let's look at this situation logically.
1. If these were U.S. citizens traveling aboard...they would have have to obtained a passport ALREADY. Can't leave without it...so nothing to do with them. Unless of course they have stayed abroad for nine or more years and need to renew it...but how many people do that?
2. Again these other people have nothing to do with that. This is only about U.S. passports. Only U.S citizens can get U.S passports. |
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Gopher
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
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| Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:28 pm Post subject: |
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My understanding, Urban Myth, is that many Americans have vacationed or resided in or around Canada, Mexico, and parts of the Caribbean without needing U.S. passports to come and go for years.
Now, probably post-9/11 and post-renewed emphasis on border security in the context of our present immigration/border control crisis, this is ending. So that must explain the current surge. (Did not occur to me until Adventuer posted his story; should have been obvious, I imagine.)
Also, I suspect that a whole lot of Europeans and Canadians who tout their "worldliness" vis-a-vis the supposed very small percentage of Americans who travel abroad will have one less pretext at their fingertips. Looks to me like several million Americans are suddenly acquiring passports... |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 11:03 am Post subject: |
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| Yeah, basically americans could go to a whole bunch of neighboring countries w/out a passport prior to this year. Now they can't, hence all the passport applications. |
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Drew345
Joined: 24 May 2005
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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I went to the Seoul US Embassy 10 days ago and filled out my request for a new passport. 3 days ago my new passport was delivered to my office. I couldn't believe how fast it was: one week!
True, this doesn't explain the delays for new passports in America that the OP is about. Just wanted to let you know that if you want a new passport, here in Seoul, the service is really good.
Only recommendation is to get the the Embassy about 15 minutes before the doors open and you could save yourself about 45 minutes in the queue length. |
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