Passport help!!

[Jennasis]

I applied for a new passport 3 weeks ago (3 weeks to the day actually). There is a number to call (and a website) where they can tell you the status of your application. It says right on the gov't website that you should be in the system about 1 week after applying and that if you aren't in the system 9 days after applying, to call the 800 number for help. Well NATURALLY I'm not in the system! I checked with the bank and of the two checks I wrote for the passport (one for the State Dep for $67 and one for the clerks office for processing for $30) only the clerks check has been cashed.

The ladies at the State Deptarment in customer service keep telling me to just check back every day and that because of the new passport laws there may be some delays. SOME delays? SOME??? It's been 3 weeks and it hasn't even arrived yet????? That's ludicrous. So I keep asking the nice lady when should I start worrying and when will we DO something about this. And she just keeps telling me to try check tomorrow!

Thank God my trip isn't until OCtober, but I need my passport ID numbers very soon to complete my paperwork for travel. Has anyone else experienced such a long delay in passport processing?

 

[Toby'sFriend]

relax. Standard processing is around 6 weeks and with the new passport laws going into effect -- the number of people currently applying has gone way up.
it is the government, it will be slow and inefficient, but most likely it will get done.



btw, when i applied for one of my sons he didn't show up in that online system until 2 days after we had received the passport in the mail.

 

[caitycaity]

it is normal for passports to take 6-8 weeks to process. i wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Jennasis]

The lady at cust service said to forget the online system as it is unreliable and "wacky" and that I should call them directly. but I'm concerned that the check hasn't even been cashed! The lady I spoke to on Monday and the other one today both sounded somewhat stunned when I said it's been 3 weeks since I applied and wasn't in the system, and then they started stammering about the new laws and such...like the brush off. I don't mind waiting 6-8 weeks, but I don't want to wait 8 weeks to be told, OOps, we lost yours, please try again (and wait another 6-8 weeks).

 

[nuke]

Last year when we applied for our son's passport he never showed up in the system. At the 6 week point I called and they were able to tell me the exact date we would receive it. The check didn't clear until after we received it in the mail.