Cross post : passport trials and tribulations

GRRRRR I am so pissed

I got home tonight and ripped open the envelope thinking great my passport
only took 2 weeks to get here:  only to see a form letter

unable to process due to insufficient information   WTF????

I sent in my original stamped birth certificate and they did not send it back

So I just searched the internet :  It will take a couple days and $45.00  but I ordered
2 copies that are guarenteed good enough for passport information.

Talk about going from elation to the dephs of hell in twenty seconds  !!!!

Just needed to vent

Hi  Darla, It was great to meet you last night. Sorry about the passport stumble.  What was the problem with the information you provided? What else did they want? I'm applying for a passport so that I can attend my brother's wedding in August and I would like the process to go as smoothly as possible.  Thanks -Antoinette

Good meeting you too. I think Mary is right and I had a notice of registration not an actual birth certificate. My advise would be to make sure you have an actual birth certificate and too apply for the passport as soon as possible.  Just in case something goes wrong.  You would not want too miss your brothers wedding. Darla

Having worked for an airline for 20 years I can tell you the most likely problem is that you held a Notice of Birth Registration  - which is not the same as a Birth Certificate. This was typically done in Maryland - I don't know why. But now that you have actually ordered your Birth Certificate there should be no problem.  Good luck! Mary

Mary; I think that may have been the problem :  I always considered it my birth certificate: and dummy me didn't even make a photo copy of it so I really cann't be sure. Isn't that something they would have caught when I went to the post office to apply? Anyway I ordered what I need ( at least I hope it is)  along with an additional copy I can keep.  I was so excited when I saw the return address on the envelope I thought it was my actual passport:  and that would have made the whole trip seem more real you know what I mean? I am so excited about the cruise I cann't stand it. Kathy has promised to take pictures of me parasailing :  hmmm wonder if I can use the computer onboard to send pictures and post to the board  LOL  Don't think I could make it a week without my OH Maryland Board friends LOL  It was nice spending time with everyone last night:  given the opportunity I think we would have sat there and talked another hour or so LOL Take care and thanks for the insight. Darla

Oh sweetie I am sorry!  I am sure it will go smoothly from here and on out. hugs

I applied for our passports through the Post Office, and received them in the mail back to us in eight calendar days.  I was totally amazed that it too so little time.  We did NOT use expedited service....just the regular delivery mode. We came back last month from a 20-day cruise.  Totally amazing.  We're already planning our next cruise to the Panama Canal. I hope you get your passport issue resolved quickly, and you have a magnificent time on your trip.

Darla, I am actually surprised the P. O. DIDN'T catch it!  I just took my kid in on Good Friday to get theirs (I am taking them on a cruise this summer - whoooo hoooo, just them and their new Mom!)  And I had the passports and birthcirtificates back in less than 2 weeks. But the man at the post office really went into great detail about the birth certificate having to have a raised seal and legal document...not a copy blah blah blah. Thankfully I had all of the legal documents together in a lock box from when they were born.   I hope you get it all straightened out quickly!! Caryn

   UPDATE UPDATE;  GOT AN EMAIL THAT I SHOULD RECEIVE THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE TOMORROW OR MONDAY:   COME ON UPS LITTLE BROWN VAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Frustrating! I have an expired passport. Which, since I don't have to fly out of the country, is good enough according to everything I've read on the internet. I'm going to send for an update anyhow, if I get my birth cert. in time. I have a notice of birth registration, which of course won't cut it. Ohio takes 6 weeks for birth certs, IF there is no alteration. But, because I am adopted, mine is altered, so it might take even longer.  OT: Funny how when it suits them, they say that our amended birth certificates are just like everyone elses, and we should be satisfied to have them.  I am an adoptee who supports open access to our original birth certificates. Which most states won't give because they are sealed.  I was going to get one of the passport cards. But, you can't fly out of the country with it and it costs almost the same thing. So, I would be stuck with that for the next 10 years, and then if I wanted to fly somewhere, I'd have to pay for another passport book. I know the reason for the increased security measures, and I have no problem with it. But, all this new stuff seems overly complicated to me.