Passport applications and Passport Renewal

[MeirS]

My son is over 16 but never had a 10 year passport can I renew it online or does it need to be both a 10 year passport and over 16?

I believe it still needs to be in person.

[Freddie]

I believe it still needs to be in person.

And how does one do that?

[MeirS]

And how does one do that?

I was answering @Meirbresh

I wish I knew the answer to your question so I can help those who have helped me but alas, I'm not familiar with the latest options and time-frames.

[moko]

I applied for an infant passport 5 weeks ago at USPS acceptance facility.
The check cleared 4 weeks ago but the passport is still not showing in the system.
We're traveling in 7+ weeks.
Should I be concerned?
If I needed to get another one at a Passport facility, I would first need to get a new birth certificate so we they have the original.

[AsherO]

I have a business flight on July 26. What is the most up to date advice on how to get an expired passport renewed in time without any aggravation. I am willing to pay to avoid aggravation.

Welcome back to DDF, Freddie!

The cheap non-aggrevation way that will cost you time:
Call at exactly 7:58am to book a passport appointment in Stamford CT, tell them your travel is within 14 days, book a refundable ticket within 14 days and bring that as proof to your appointment (they don’t verify it on the phone), fill out the passport application in advance and have passport pics and money order with you when you arrive. Will cost you two trips to/from Stamford (likely closer than Manhattan from where you live, p.s. time to update your DDF bio ) plus whatever the actual renewal/expedite costs are. Perhaps they’ll mail you the passport using their express option, but I don’t think they would.

Option 2, pay an expediter/service to handle this for you. Not sure which one to recommend but I imagine if they’re charging $500 for the service and have good reviews online, they’re delivering on their promises.

Personally I’m flying before you and applied online using the newly launched (in beta testing) online renewal option. But that was adventurous on my part (they ask you to state you don’t plan on travelling within 5 weeks), and might result in aggravation for me. We’ll see what happens.

[cgr]

Personally I’m flying before you and applied online using the newly launched (in beta testing) online renewal option. But that was adventurous on my part (they ask you to state you don’t plan on travelling within 5 weeks), and might result in aggravation for me. We’ll see what happens.

Just quoting this as a quick reminder.

At the 5 week mark the expedited (5-7 week processing) option becomes free. I added it to my order on Wednesday, and my passport shipped today!

[AsherO]

Just quoting this as a quick reminder.

Only works if you have the time, Freddie and I are traveling within 5 weeks

[cgr]

Only works if you have the time, Freddie and I are traveling within 5 weeks

It didn't take 5 weeks. Once I selected that option it shipped within 2 days (won't work for Freddie but could still work for you depending on how long ago you applied. Possibly also ships in 2 days if you add it now as a paid option if you're not within the free time frame yet, but didn't see any DPs on that).

[Freddie]

Welcome back to DDF, Freddie!

The cheap non-aggrevation way that will cost you time:
Call at exactly 7:58am to book a passport appointment in Stamford CT, tell them your travel is within 14 days, book a refundable ticket within 14 days and bring that as proof to your appointment (they don’t verify it on the phone), fill out the passport application in advance and have passport pics and money order with you when you arrive. Will cost you two trips to/from Stamford (likely closer than Manhattan from where you live, p.s. time to update your DDF bio ) plus whatever the actual renewal/expedite costs are. Perhaps they’ll mail you the passport using their express option, but I don’t think they would.

Option 2, pay an expediter/service to handle this for you. Not sure which one to recommend but I imagine if they’re charging $500 for the service and have good reviews online, they’re delivering on their promises.

Personally I’m flying before you and applied online using the newly launched (in beta testing) online renewal option. But that was adventurous on my part (they ask you to state you don’t plan on travelling within 5 weeks), and might result in aggravation for me. We’ll see what happens.

Thanks for the welcome, @AsherO. Yeah, so some Satmar dude I spoke to on the phone said he could get me an appointment for $400. All he does is give you a time slot. He provides no other service. He says I will receive the passport in hand the day of the appointment. I'd gladly pay extra to avoid having to go in to the passport office. Only requirement is that I must have the passport within 3 weeks.

So, question: 1) Do I really need this guy's "service" or can I get an appointment myself by calling at 7:58 AM? 2) Is there someone who provides the entire service from soup to nuts?

[AsherO]

Thanks for the welcome, @AsherO. Yeah, so some Satmar dude I spoke to on the phone said he could get me an appointment for $400. All he does is give you a time slot. He provides no other service. He says I will receive the passport in hand the day of the appointment. I'd gladly pay extra to avoid having to go in to the passport office. Only requirement is that I must have the passport within 3 weeks.

So, question: 1) Do I really need this guy's "service" or can I get an appointment myself by calling at 7:58 AM? 2) Is there someone who provides the entire service from soup to nuts?

1. I’m confident you could get the appointment yourself based on my own experience, especially if you go to Stamford CT (but probably if not).
2. Pre-COVID there were derives that did soup-to-nuts, I’m not sure if that’s a thing anymore. $400 for an appointment sounds high, but if that’s what an appointment cost then the soup-to-nuts might be much higher.

[Freddie]

1. I’m confident you could get the appointment yourself based on my own experience, especially if you go to Stamford CT (but probably if not).
2. Pre-COVID there were derives that did soup-to-nuts, I’m not sure if that’s a thing anymore. $400 for an appointment sounds high, but if that’s what an appointment cost then the soup-to-nuts might be much higher.

The question is, if I have to call Stamford at 7:58AM, should I stay up all night or try to get up early? And do I have to daven first before calling? And if so, maybe we can learn chasidus that morning together.

[AsherO]

The question is, if I have to call Stamford at 7:58AM, should I stay up all night or try to get up early? And do I have to daven first before calling? And if so, maybe we can learn chasidus that morning together.

Whoa, now that’s an offer I can’t refuse

For best results you should say tikkun Chatzos at midnight, learn zohar all night, and recite tikkun klali before you call at 7:58am.

[ilherman]

Thanks for the welcome, @AsherO. Yeah, so some Satmar dude I spoke to on the phone said he could get me an appointment for $400. All he does is give you a time slot. He provides no other service. He says I will receive the passport in hand the day of the appointment. I'd gladly pay extra to avoid having to go in to the passport office. Only requirement is that I must have the passport within 3 weeks.

So, question: 1) Do I really need this guy's "service" or can I get an appointment myself by calling at 7:58 AM? 2) Is there someone who provides the entire service from soup to nuts?

Hello!

If you can get an appointment in CT by calling and the appointment works with your time frame then that is your best / cheapest option.

If you can't give yourself an Aitzeh, I believe $400 is considered a good price these days. I believe they charge $1000 to get same or next day appointments!

[chff]

Thanks for the welcome, @AsherO. Yeah, so some Satmar dude I spoke to on the phone said he could get me an appointment for $400. All he does is give you a time slot. He provides no other service. He says I will receive the passport in hand the day of the appointment. I'd gladly pay extra to avoid having to go in to the passport office. Only requirement is that I must have the passport within 3 weeks.

So, question: 1) Do I really need this guy's "service" or can I get an appointment myself by calling at 7:58 AM? 2) Is there someone who provides the entire service from soup to nuts?

Are you sure he was Satmar?

Calling in the morning 2 weeks out you should be able to get Manhattan as well

[Abebee]

The question is, if I have to call Stamford at 7:58AM, should I stay up all night or try to get up early? And do I have to daven first before calling? And if so, maybe we can learn chasidus that morning together.

I called 7:59 2 weeks before my flight and got an appointment in Manhattan office. (Imho i don't think its worth anywere near $400 to secure the appointment)

[AsherO]

Are you sure he was Satmar?

Calling in the morning 2 weeks out you should be able to get Manhattan as well

The reason I suggested Stamford is because I think Freddie will have more appointment options there and getting to/from that office and getting processed there might be less of a hassle than Manhattan for him. I might be mistaken.

[Jack out of the box]

Some hagahos:

For best results you should say get up for tikkun Chatzos at midnight, learn zohar all night, daven vasikin, and recite tikkun klali before you call at 7:58am.

[Dave321]

I applied for a passport first time for my kid and got regular service. I now would like to get it expedited. What's the process? so far 2 plus hour hold time to call.
how fast can i get it if i do get through to someone?

[AsherO]

I applied for a passport first time for my kid and got regular service. I now would like to get it expedited. What's the process? so far 2 plus hour hold time to call.
how fast can i get it if i do get through to someone?

Officially the expedite gets you to 5-7 weeks from the time of application, but it seems you can call to expedite from 3 weeks after and reportedly it soon switches to a processing queue when people get it quickly, hard to say for sure though.

Call at 7:58am and get through to the queue at exactly 8am, you’ll skip the hold times.

[njmacman]

Officially the expedite gets you to 5-7 weeks from the time of application, but it seems you can call to expedite from 3 weeks after and reportedly it soon switches to a processing queue when people get it quickly, hard to say for sure though.

Call at 7:58am and get through to the queue at exactly 8am, you’ll skip the hold times.

What is the phone number?