U.S Passports & International Travel
reviews and complaints

My application for passport has recently been denied, the reason listed is “the full name of your parent(s) are not listed on my birth certificate” without detailing what the exact reason was. I have made six phone calls inquiring as to the exact reason why my application has been denied, each time calling the number listed in the letter to find someone who knew nothing more than what was listed in my letter, they promised someone would call me back but no one ever did at any time. I need clarification on exactly what is wrong with the new long form birth certificate with raised seal that I submitted with my application.
As I have submitted the new format birth certificate that has the raised seal that contains all of the information available at the time of my birth, there is no reason why my application should not have been approved. It lists the full maiden name of my mother at time of birth with father unknown at time of birth (I believe that is why you ask “the full name of your parent(s) with the (s) added to show one or both parents with me falling into the single parent category at time of birth. The denial letter asks for a new birth certificate showing additional information that the person reviewing my application has requested. I have submitted the most recent birth certificate with a raised seal that I have used for clearance by homeland security with the same exact information that I used to obtain my last passport; aside from that said, what additional information are they you looking for and how am I supposed to make Jersey City add in to the certificate?
Additionally, I find it extremely disturbing that my application was rejected by a creative thinker who has decided to change the birth certificate review process, a person who is choosing to ignore the legitimacy of the new long form certificate with the raised seal while not providing any information on exactly what is needed to approve with no one able to respond to my calls as well as not returning my calls as promised; can somebody please tell me how to rectify this problem? The new sealed long form birth certificate that I sent with this application was provided to homeland security to apply for my transportation worker identification credential (TWIC); they approved and issued the card so the question begs to be asked, what the hell is the National Passport Center doing differently than the security agency tasked with safety and security for this country?
Lastly, the National Passport Center has rejected my application, provided a help deck number where they provide no information other than what is shown on the letter, combined with the promise of a call back that no one ever made; I believe this is a criminally negligent breach in procedure, a change that has delayed my ability to work abroad causing me to suffer financially as well as inhibiting my right to pursue happiness. They have falsely placed a restriction on my ability to obtain a passport and have infringed on my civil right freedom. How do I get these jokers to either provide the passport or provide me with what exactly they require from me to approve my application.

I paid EXPEDITE fee when I applied on March 24th and still do not have my passport. When call the toll free number, the operator just said that she would email the request to the processing center. My biggest question is if they are not able to deliver the product, why will they even have the expedite service? and advertise it? And for some company that have special relation with state department, or some agency, are making lots of money off travelers like me. This is wrong.

My now husband and I applied for our passports March 4 and March 7, respectively. We were married May 26th in Kentucky and were planning on leaving for our honeymoon May 29th for Mexico. At the time we applied, we were told that we would receive our passports within 10 weeks. When we had not received our passports May 11th we emailed explaining our situation and the urgency in which we needed our passports. We were emailed back May 14th with a message that said our passports were being expedited and would be expressed mailed when complete. When we still had not received our passports on May 22nd we again called. We were told that a message would be sent to the office in which our passports were located explaining the urgency and were told that they would be sent over night to arrive either Friday May 25th or Saturday May 26th. All of this leads to the fact that we did NOT receive our passports. We were very lucky that we were able to reschedule our honeymoon and were not out the complete $2800 we paid for our honeymoon trip, but rescheduling cost us over $500.

Thankfully, my passport was expressed mail Wednesday May 30 (yes, a day too late), but my husband has still not received his. We are very frustrated! My husband called today to determine were his passport was in the system and when he could expect it to be delivered. The person whom he talked with told him that it had not been processed any further than when he had called May 22nd. After being told 3 weeks ago his passport would be expedited, we have still not received it.

The whole passport application and processing system is crap!

I applied in march 19th. As of today i still do not have my son's passport. The people answering the phones are more than incompetent. DON'T WAIT FOR YOUR PASSPORT! CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN OR GO TO A PASSPORT OFFICE ASAP. Don't believe them when they say it will be there tomorrow... it never will. In less than two minutes i had my congressman's aide expedite my passport.

I leave on June 10th and they are saying my girlfriend and I might have them on June 9th. MIGHT.

We ordered ours at the beginning of March as well. They told us we'd have them by May 23rd... so we made our travel plan for June 10th - June 21. This is entirely uncalled for. I feel like I was lied to.

Are you sure. I don't mean to doubt your advice I am just really scared of missing my trip. Wish me luck. Thanks!

Michael Hauser ! Thanks for this tricke ! :) Finally I got them! But they didn't tell me nothing about my application status ! :(

I applied March 15 for a passport and still waiting ! My DEPARTURE DATE : 06/10/2007

I too have called the passport office several times. I applied in early March and still have not received my passport. My husband applied at the same time and has already received his. The processing place makes a difference. I wanted to pass along a tip. If you call your Congressman/woman they have people that can tell you where your passport is. They can also request an expedite for you if you are traveling. They can re-check their request in 3-4 days. I also found out that you do not have to have an appointment at the local passport office if you have an itinerary. You can simply show up at the local passport office 3 days prior to departure and stay until they issue your passport. I asked the Congressman why they do no change their message on the phone/web-site, they are pushing to have this done because the messages are misleading, un-helpful, and false. Ask your Congressman to fix this too, for other weary travelers!

Great tip, thank you!

After visit with passport office with my son and got the passport. thanks JESUS

Incompetent. Washington DC office. That is all I want to say to them.

I agreed terrible government office I never saw in my life. Web site, customer service, Agent, email and letters are saying different statement. But nothing is true. I am really wondering how this office are functioning in America.

I agree with each end every one of you and I am soooooo very mad at this point! Why can't ppl help ppl? why can't they do their jobs right? They have ruined my trip with my husband to reunite with his parents whom he hasn;t seen in 9 years. Now I can't live that part of his life with him. I'm so upset. They haven't met me nor our daughter who is now 3 yrs old. I am a citizen and have a right to get my passport! I don't know what to do?!>!? This is seriously depressing me.

I sent in my 7 year old sons paper work to obtain his passport, over a month later I have not received it! I got a letter from the houston passport agency stating that the date of registration was not on the long birth certificate that I sent? Do I make the birth certificate? NO! I have called every week to get ahold of someone and explain that the registration date is not my issue and if so they need to send me my $ back! I would love to sue these thiefs! My son is an american born citizen and its his RIGHT to get a passport!

My daughter is supposed to leave on a hiking trip to Nepal on June 15. It's now June 13 (pm), and we still don't have a passport. THOUSANDS of dollars down the drain. Can't get a human being anywhere, and the automated system (after 3 days of trying), can now only give us an appointment in Houston, 5 hours away, on Monday, June18! Am hoping to see my House Rep. in the morning, June 14. I've heard they can sometimes help. If Pete Sessions can help us, I'll vote Republican in the next election!

I'm thinking there has to be a way to get some help! Why is this mess not all over the media... I'm sick of hearing about Parris Hilton. I am just absolutely disgusted with our Passport Agency. My 3y.o. nieces pp application was submitted Mar 20, 2007. Back then the wait time was 8-10 weeks. She is scheduled to travel June 12 to Jamaica with my two teenage sons to spend the summer with family. Today is June 9... still no passport after many phone calls and promises. The new leniency allowance does not help us because #1, application status search shows 'application not found' after nearly 3 mos, and #2, she is not traveling with a parent/legal guardian. The customer service reps. That I've spoke to are of no help whatsoever... I'm not even sure why they even exist. Just last night (Friday) we were told the only option is to get to Louisiana today (Sat.) (we are in GA, that's a 7 hr drive each way). After expressing my complete dissatisfaction and disgust, I actually agreed to take the appt. in LA. The phone rep asked for all my info to schedule the appt., then she stopped in her tracks and said she could no longer authorize the appt. since the travel date is for Tues June 12 and not Mon June 11... people, the flight leaves Atlanta @ 8:30 am on Tuesday morning... Have you ever heard such rubbish. Does that not make you sick to your stomach? This situation is just crazy. Note: Not once has a representative even apologized for the inconvenience. The Govt. has imposed these new travel laws without the resources to ensure free movement of its law abiding citizens. So much for freedom!

It's been 12 weeks and I am still waiting... my daughter and I applied within 2 days of each other... and she received hers over 4 weeks ago. I did get someone on the phone after 2 days of trying to be told that my passport was in New Orleans... just waiting to be "mailed", but that I could apply in person and that I could only get an appointment with in 3 days of by travel date. I'm in Georgia... I would need to travel to LA. ? Within 3 days of leaving the country? And you are NOT guaranteed that you will get your passport due to long lines.

I am not out of money YET, but there is no rhyme or reason to why my daughter would get her's within 8 weeks and I am still waiting...

My husband won a trip to Cabo. As soon as we found out the dates, I sent in for my passport. I mailed in my renewal the first of March. We are scheduled to leave on June 1, which is 12 weeks after I sent in my application. No one answers at the lines given, no one answers at the state dept, we contacted our senator, no help there either. I cant believe the lack of concern, which is typical of our wonderful government. There is no one to turn to because no one cares or can help. We have just lost the trip of a life time because I couldn't get my passport in a timely manner. And it isn't even a new passport, its a RENEWAL!