Passport Question

[jlp651]

OK I finally did it! I went and got my passport...they said it should be here in 6 weeks...Not a bad turn around...I got my picture done at Eckerd's ...$6.00 (usually $8.00-on sale don't know until when though)and they did them right there. I went to Ritz photo to compare prices they wanted $16.00-isn't that nuts???

Well, here is my question(s)
1. Are they pretty true to getting them back to you in 6 weeks?
2. They took my Birth Certificate!!! No one mentioned that!!! Are they good about getting that back to you too? Hve they lost anyones? Have they ever mixed someones up with someone elses??? Its the only one I have and if my mother knew I sent it away to be processed she would kill me!!! Needless to say I am very worried about this...please tell me it will be back in my hands in 6 weeks when I get my passport....

I don't mean to sound like I'm so scared of what my mother thinks at the age of 25 but its one of the documents I really don't want to loose...

Thank you.

 

[hydster]

They are very good with all of your documentation and I think you will PROBABLY have it back before the 6 week deadline they said. We applied for ours on the last day before the prices went up and the passport office here was really busy but we had them in a little more than 4 weeks with our birth certificates intact and even my old passport I had as a teen with them as well. They came in a white envelope in regular mail which kind of surprised me but you will be fine. It wouldnt surprise me if you had it in 2-3 weeks...but it should be there by the 6th week without any problems!! It is so nice to have when you travel!!

Heidi

 

[webray]

Ours came back in less that three weeks, even though they said six weeks. I guess it just depends on how busy they are. Our birth certs came back with the passports, no problem.

Cruise was excellent.

Enjoy!

 

[sandiedvc]

We just applied for our passports at the end of August. We received them in less than three weeks!!! I don't know if they send them to a national center or regional center to be processed so your mileage may vary!

All three of our birth certificates returned to us safe and sound, although they now have staple marks in them where they were stapled to our applications!!!

BTW, in Texas it is very simple to get copies of birth certificates. You just go to the city hall and you can get a copy of a birth certificate from anywhere in the state. Your home state may have a similar thing. That being said, as a Mom I can understand the sentimental value of the *original*!

Now that we have the passports, I need to get a stamp in it!!!

 

[jlp651]

Thank you...I know I must sound so silly...but when he said he was taking my birth cert and stapling it to the application I looked at him like he had 3 heads!
*laugh*
Thanks

 

[jgalecpa]

I worked with the State Dept for 8 years, (not in Passport, but with money).

I do know they take passports very seriously.

The norm is that you get the passport in far less time than they say, and I have never heard of them losing a birth cert.


The only time I saw a problem was when a clerk at the post office forgot to have my daughter sign her application. It came back as rejected with only two weeks to spare.

It was signed, overnighted down and came back, all within five days.

Have no fear. I do think they are one of the most efficient office of the federal government.

Jim

 

[carole88]

I wouldn't worry about it if I were you! I got my daughter's and my passports in only 6 business days. I don't think that right now it is an especially busy time of year. And yes, my daughter's birth certificate, my old passport and my marriage license were all returned.

 

[jlp651]

Thank you for keeping me sane...When I saw him staple this piece of paper that I have kept absolutely in perfect condition since it was in my possession....get a staple put thru it....thru me for a loop-I guess I didnt read that far into the paperwork...

Its good to know its the most efficient office!
Thanks everyone!

 

[mmouse37]

Don't expect your passport to get stamped by DCL....they just look at it but do not stamp them. In fact, I have had my passport for about 8 years and travelled many places and the only place they stamped it was in Paris.

MJ

 

[jlp651]

yeah I heard that I wont get stamps...thats ok....I got the passport b/c I am the type that would loose me birth cert...and then they took it away from me *laugh* its kind of ironic if you ask me-its the one piece of paper that I have held on to and havent put thru the wash!!!!