How To Check Your Passport Status

People who are planning to travel usually buy their tickets in advance. Once they receive their tickets, they become motivated to start on preparing for their upcoming trip up to the time that their bags and luggage are also ready and fully packed.

But the only problem that they're currently facing with regards to their travel is the passport that they've applied for hasn't arrived yet. This has happened to some travelers. If you're also facing this kind of situation, there are simple steps that you can do if you haven't received your passport that has already been issued and mailed to you. Actually, checking your passport status is easy. Just read the following suggestions in this article.

You should receive your passport six weeks after the date of your application if you have applied for a new passport or renewed your current one. If you have requested an expedited passport processing, then you should receive your passport two weeks after the date of application. This is the usual "application processing time" for people who applied for a renewal or new passports including those who have requested for expedited passports.

You can directly check the status of your passport application online by visiting the US Department of State's reliable and secure website. Checking your passport status online is easy.

Make sure that you are ready to provide the following information such as your last name, date of birth and the last four digits of your social security number. If you want to check your passport application status without visiting their official website online, you can check it over the phone by calling the National Passport Application Center.

Dial the telephone number: 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778) so that you can request the information that you need. To those people who are hearing impaired, they can use the following number: TDD - 1-888-874-7793. Once you dial one of these numbers, you may hear a Customer Service Representative who will confirm the date your passport that was mailed to you, the address to which it was mailed and, if needed, he or she will also help you to report the non-receipt of your passport.

Generally, you have ninety (90) days from the date your passport that was issued to report that you haven't received it yet through the mail. Take note that you will be required to reapply and submit the full passport fee if you don't report the non-receipt of your passport within ninety (90) days of the issued date.

Passport processing time could delay your trip so make sure to think about it in advance before your scheduled travel. Advance preparation can lessen any stress that you might encounter for your upcoming travel.

Make sure to check this site for more information prior to your scheduled travel (Travel.state.gov). If you're leaving the country within the next day or two because of a life or death emergency involving a serious injury, illness or death in your immediate family then the government could also help you for your urgent need. You must appear in person at a passport agency for an emergency service then a documentation of the emergency may be requested. You can also call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 (TTY/TDD 1-888-874-7793) to schedule an immediate appointment at the nearest Passport Agency. Their automated appointment system is accessible every day, twenty-four (24) hours a day.

You can stay on the line and follow instructions to speak to a Customer Service Representative (CSR) if an appointment that could have met your needs is not available and you're calling from 6:00 a.m. to 12 midnight, ET, Monday up to Friday (except federal holidays). The Customer Service Representative (CSR) will guide you on what to do because they are available during the weekends for certain hours to assist customers traveling within seven (7) days.

If you're in a situation where an appointment is badly needed but is not currently available and you are calling on a federal holiday or during hours where the CSRs are not available, try to call the number 202-647-4000 and explain your situation to the phone operator so that he or she may still be able to assist you. If you are an applicant who is behind in child support payments, you may not be able to get a passport due to certain reasons.

Travel.state.gov strongly encourages applicants to mail their passport application and any personal documents using a secure means of packaging in order to protect the contents of their mailing from the elements throughout the whole delivery process.

If you're recently married or divorced, you can change your name on your passport by completing a form called "DS-5504". This is an application form for a U.S. passport holder where you can change your name, correct some data in your passport as well as provide a limited passport book replacement within one year of the issuance date of your current valid passport. You also need to submit along with your application form the following: same data visually displayed on the data page of the passport; the passport to be replaced; certified documentation of your name change (ex. divorce decree with your new name, marriage certificate); and two recent passport photos.

You can also research for reliable and independent passport expediting services offline or online. You can pay for this kind of service if you really want to get your passport the earliest time possible for your upcoming travel since they could process it within a few days.