Well, I'm writing this to 1.Warn folks who are waiting for PASSPORTS. 2. Express fustration.

[usaf-vet]

Issue 1.
The wife and I went to the local Post Office to get photos and applications for renewing our passports.

The office in the post office is where you go to submit an application for a new or renewal of an expired passport.

In our case, it was a renewal. We both wear glasses, and our initial passports had us wearing glasses. WE ASKED if we need to remove them. And were told NO.

So, on 5/5/2023, our applications were submitted to the U.S. passport office. Today, 8/23/2023, we both received a letter. 104 days later. Informing us we needed to resubmit new photos WITHOUT glasses.

Ignoring the extra time and money, we won't see our passports within 2023. Warning if your photo had you wearing glasses. How long will you have to wait for the letter that we received?

Issue 2.
Remember Louis DeJoy, appointed by Trump. Is the Postmaster General. Who destroyed untold amounts of mail-sorting equipment. Which likely had the effect of slowing down mail-in ballots

Now, the Expressed Frustration. I have to ask: Is this yet another GQP attempt to slow down our government to possibly prevent us from getting one of the sanctioned government-issued pictured IDs to vote? Senior citizens who no longer have a driver's license may not have any other government-issued ID to vote.

I live in Wisconsin, one of the swing states where the republicans have done everything they can to SUPRESS access to the polls.
My concealed carry permit (issued by the state) was issued WITHOUT a picture. Why?

I got the CC thinking when I no longer drive. I would still have a state-issued photo ID.

I'll end with a note of optimism. We now have a new State Supreme Court no longer controlled by a majority of conservative RW justices. Maybe the pendulum is finally starting to swing away from a red-swinging state.

[marybourg]

1. Many years ago when I got my original passport, the instructions

called for not wearing glasses for your photos.

[Ms. Toad]

57. The change was made in 2016.

Prior to that time, glasses were fine.

The US State Department has now confirmed that starting on November 1, 2016, passport applicants can not wear glasses in their passport photos.

https://passportinfo.com/blog/passport-photos-are-without-glasses-now/#:~:text=If%20your%20valid%20passport%20has,in%20your%20photo%20or%20not.

[NCDem47]

2. Passports fall under State Department

And a Sec. of State which is Biden appointee. Sec. Blinken. There’s nothing political at play here. Just good old fashion bureaucracy and a FLOOD of people coming out of COVID who want to travel. In fact, here in Fla, Senator Rubio (R) is pouncing HARD on the State Department to answer for long passport delays. I feel your frustration.

[getagrip_already]

6. Actually, it is politically fucked up.. by trump

Back in covid, there was a yuuge falloff in demand for new passports. Big surprise.

So the trump admin directed state to cancel contracts with third parties that processes applications. This was a cost savings step. They wanted to use the money to build some stupid wall.

Well, new contracts take a long time to put in place. Vendors need to be vetted, contracts need to be put out to bid. The equipment that prints passports is unique and has to be custom built. Implementation times can be 18 to 24 months.

It takes time. All while an avalanche of new and renewal applications are hitting.

So mismanagement has impacts long after it occurs.

[NCDem47]

32. Good to know!

I wasn't aware of any of this. One more thing dumpsterfire and his minions have fouled up.

[MichMan]

40. Why wouldn't they go back to the previous vendors that had already been vetted & had the equipment?

[getagrip_already]

43. They need new contracts, have to go out to bid.....

The way the feds work procurement on certain items, they don't sole source. So for something like passports, there will be at least two vendors under different contracts. Each will be for a period of x years plus y 1 year extentions.

What likely happened is one of the vendors didn't get a renewal after the x years was up but before they were awarded an extention.

The company then shut down their factory, sold the printers and other production equipment, and dispersed personel.

They can't just turn the lights back on.

New rfps will have to be issued, with new specs, responses sorted through, etc. Then there would be implementation times.

That's just the printing component. If there is a front end issuance process, that might be a different contract.

[former9thward]

41. It doesn't take 2 years.

Where is your evidence? Vendors do not "need to be vetted". Use the same vendors as before -- there are not that many anyway/ Two years to put out to bid? No, that is not reality.

[getagrip_already]

45. I'm trying to be obtuse....

But yes, it can take 2 years from rfp issuance to first article acceptance.

Government contracts are all public record. Just check with the gsa.

[former9thward]

46. I am familiar with government contracts.

I also see no evidence that whatever Trump supposedly did at State has anything to do with the OP's issues.

[getagrip_already]

52. I agree.....

I was referring to the incredibly long times people are experiencing waiting for passports.

But I suppose if the system was snapping they would have been notified much sooner. Or if the process was more efficient, the photos would have been rejected up front.

No matter, the system needs to be fixed and we are in charge of it.

[Sympthsical]

3. "Is this yet another GQP attempt . . ."

No. Getting a passport has always sucked. One little screw up can set you back weeks.

I recommend to everyone what I did. Completely forget to renew it until like the week before your trip, freak out at everyone. Get a picture from, like, Walgreens. Then go to the passport office on the day of your flight while pretending to be borderline impaired to the point they sigh and say, "Fine, whatever, just sit in the waiting room playing games on your phone and we'll do it this morning."

Worked a peach.

[MineralMan]

5. I don't recommend that approach. Nope.

Unless your airline ticket is refundable. You might have gotten away with that, but only through incredible luck.

I know exactly when my current passport expired. I burned it into my memory when I received it. I will make sure to renew it with plenty of time to spare.

Why would I do otherwise?

[Sympthsical]

12. It's safe to say it's tongue in cheek

I thought my passport didn't expire until the next year, because there was a smudge on the last number. Didn't notice until I was looking at it closely while filling out visa stuff.

That's how it became a mad dash scramble right up until the day of travel.

I am glad that you will proceed awesomely in all your bureaucratic adventures.

[MineralMan]

19. Well, then...carry on...

[obamanut2012]

10. Yeah, folks should never ever do this

Ever.

[Sympthsical]

13. In hindsight

It was a really, really funny though. I felt the sense of superhuman accomplishment only the very stupid and very lucky can do in situations like that.

[Kali]

26. LOL!!!

[piddyprints]

4. We renewed ours in the spring.

We both wear glasses and the lady told us to remove them. Also, my husband checked “brown” for hair color. It’s actually so gray that it’s almost white, but she called him on it and told him to change it. She was very strict. No glasses, no smiling, etc.

I don’t remember exactly how long it took, but it was a week or so longer than she said it would take. Also, the new ones came before the old ones were returned. I didn’t really care, as the old ones are useless now. I just somehow thought they’d come together.

We are in Tennessee, so color me surprised that it all went well.

There is a place you can check online to see the status of your passport application/renewal. I can’t recall it right off, but it was an easy search. I was able to see that ours were being processed, had been accepted, and that they had been mailed. It would save a few days if there’s another problem.

[former9thward]

42. Passports are a function of the U.S. State Department.

It says so right on the passport. Whether you live in Tenn, Wisconsin like the OP or NY makes no difference. The state is not processing them.

[piddyprints]

47. You are correct.

But the paperwork and photos are done at the local post office by local people... at least that’s how we got it done. Lots of room for error.

[jcgoldie]

7. how far in advance of the expiration date can you renew?

Anyone know?

[obamanut2012]

9. Basically whenever

[jcgoldie]

11. i see

From google searching however I also see that in order to apply for a new one you have to send in the old one.

[Talitha]

20. Yes, but they send it back after the new one is issued - with 2 big holes punched in it.

I don't travel much and wasn't concerned about not having it for the (IIRC) month or so it took for processing.

[Tetrachloride]

21. do it a year in advance

judging by this thread

[mitch96]

24. My passport expired in March. I re applied in February. Printed out the form, signed it and sent

it in. Two months later I get a note saying I have to print and sign in BLACK ink..
I filled it out on the computer and just signed it in black ink.
They did not like that. Ok redid it and sent it in the same day in April.

I just got it yesterday... So 6 mos with a screw up.
I then went to renew my Global entry/trusted trav info. That had expired also but I could not renew b/c the passport expired. I filled out the renewal and sent it in .
They ok'ed it in one day even though the web site said I had to go get an interview.

All good now till 2033...pheww..
Now the problem is where do I want to go?
m

[CrispyQ]

29. We just signed some legal papers & the attorney made us use blue ink.

That way they know they are the originals, he told us. First time I'd heard that.

[A HERETIC I AM]

50. New Zealand.

You want to go to the South Island of New Zealand.





OK...that's where I want to go....BUT STILL!

[mitch96]

51. OH MAN I would LOVE to go to NZ. I like to ride motorcycles and that place just screams

BUCKET LIST ROAD TRIP.
I could go to Hawaii as it's the only state I have not ridden motorcycles in..
But New Zealand!!! man o man that would be great.
and And AND they kinda sorta speak english 😉
m

[A HERETIC I AM]

54. I've had the good fortune to have driven a vehicle in all 50 states!

I've driven a tractor trailer in 47 of the lower 48 - just never drove a truck into Vermont, but I have driven my car into it.

Drove a car on 2 Hawaiian Islands (Maui and Oahu) and have driven both a car and truck in Alaska.

My "I won the Powerball" dream trip would include starting way up north of the North Island At Cape Reinga and driving all the way down to Wellington, meandering as I go, take the ferry to Picton and end up in Invercargill.

I'm absolutely FASCINATED by the South Island.

Another place that intrigues me is the Faroe Islands.

How cool would it be to ship a car to Iceland, and from there you could get ferries to the Faroes, then to the Shetlands, Scotland, Ferry over to Sweden, drive down through Europe and just fuck around for months?

It can be done. You just need the right permits, a Carnet and the right drivers license.


NEVER. STOP. TRAVELING!

Never.

[mitch96]

55. "and just fuck around for months? " now THATS my kind of vacation.. just mess around

and if you find something interesting just hang out for a while.. No schedule.
Iceland would be neat and if I could see the northern lights that would be icing on the cake!!
m

[A HERETIC I AM]

56. I was working in Fairbanks last November

Running night time trips south to a relay point halfway down to Anchorage.

Miles and miles of pitch blackness, well away from city lights.

During the trips I never saw the lights.

But when I got back to town one night, there they were!

I seemed to be right under them, so I didn't get much of the curtain effect so often seen in pictures, but it was still really cool;
vimeo.com/857340199

Another one where I narrated some info on our truck garage. Taken with my iPhone 14 Pro Max;

vimeo.com/857342151

[mitch96]

58. Way cool pic's. Stuff us "civilians" don't get to see about the workings of trucks. I was in

Fairbanks on my way to Prudhoe Bay but did not get to see the lights up there. It was summer so not a good time to see them I guess..
m

[obamanut2012]

8. I'm in my 50s, and you could never wear glasses in passport photos

They are even touchy about certain hairstyles.

[Ms. Toad]

61. I'm wearing glasses in my current one, as is my spouse.

I actually resesarched this when a friend of mine commented on it about a year ago - because I knew my spouse has never had a passport without glasses. I wasn't sure about mine (since I got it in the era when I didn't always wear glasses) - but I checked and I'm wearing glasses in mine as well. The policy changed in 2016.

Ironically, this change matches her glasses wearing. Prior to cataract surgery, she was blind as a bat without them - and no one would have recognized her without them. She even lost her glasses in the ocean just before her college graduation and had her doctor ship her frames without lenses so her graduation pictures would look like her. Now - no glasses, so the next passport renewal will still match what she actually looks like.

[Earth-shine]

14. My wife and I recently applied for passports ...

It clearly says in the instructions for both form DS-11 (new passport) and DS-82 (renew passport) that glasses and head coverings must be removed for the picture.

We made our own photos.

I read reviews on Google maps of Post Offices in my area offering passport services. They suck! They f*cked people left and right in various ways.

I went to the county courthouse instead. The appointment had to be set one month in advance, and that was three weeks ago.

Two weeks before my appointment, another friend just walked into one of these Post Offices without an appointment and got it done without any problems.

Another friend just received hers. It came four months after applying.

I don't think this is DeJoy's doing. I think the government bureaucracy is in flux trying to adjust to the increased demand for passports after a pandemic that had a lot of people working from home.

[Chakaconcarne]

15. The requirement is listed on the Dept of State website

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html

There is also a backlog even when you have everything perfectly in order... Current processing time for passports is 10-13 weeks, expedited is 7-9, also on the DOS website.

What I have learned lately is that I need to double check, triple check that I have everything perfectly filled out... especially for the more important, time sensitive things.

[peacebuzzard]

16. I have been very lucky.

Every time I need to renew I just go straight to the processing regional office, it only takes a day (once I was in DC and went directly to the main Passport center; this was decades ago).
I turn it in directly to the clerk at the US passport office in the AM and pick it up in the PM. It requires advanced planning and a trip but its worth it.
I just couldn't be sane otherwise.

[Zeitghost]

60. I did the same for an unexpected trip

You have to have travel booked within a few weeks to get an in-person appt.

I got an appt. in Los Angeles, so 3:30 trip down there, three hours in line and... come back tomorrow to pick it up. 3:30 trip home, rinse and repeat the next day and after 14 hours in the car and 6 hours in lines in a 36 hour timeframe, I had a had a passport in hand.

That's the last time I'll let mine expire. I'll be renewing, well ahead of time, via the mail, even if I never plan of traveling abroad again.

[peacebuzzard]

63. I simply stood in the drop off line and picked up at the designated time.

It was a different line, but I did not have an appointment with a person. Its been a few years since last time but I may have scheduled a blocked time online. When I got there I just went to the drop off line. I was verified and checked in by an agent and they told me what time to pick it up. I travel multiple times a month using my passport so I would not have had an itinerary. They did however check IDs and security checked belongings through x-rays like they do in any government building or airport. I will do the same anytime I need to renew; the thought of sending a passport in the mail does not work for me.

[Zeitghost]

65. I believe the changes are post COVID

But you can't just show up anymore and they will not make appointments without proof of upcoming international travel in the next two weeks. All other renewals and applications have to go through the mail.

[peacebuzzard]

66. Could be indeed covid has changed quite a few things;

My sister is experiencing issues with getting an international document processed at a consulate. I advised her against sending critical documents (passports) in the mail. I just feel that way about critical documents, but yes, I think Covid has certainly changed quite a few things about processing documents.

[Zeitghost]

67. I understand

I'd prefer to do things like that in person as well.

[Hekate]

17. GOP mantra for decades: federal government doesn't work & cannot perform basic functions. ...

GOP solution: elect us and we will prove it to you by making sure the federal government is fubar.

Our passports expired at some point during the shutdown. In the press of other matters, we forgot to get that done. Thanks for the reminder.

[Wednesdays]

18. Three in our family applied for passport cards the first week of March

Our trip to Canada was planned for June 28. Thought we easily applied in time.

Two of us got our cards by late May. The third got hers July 21. We refused to travel without everyone included, so we had to cancel our plans.


Oh, and we did try calling desperately that last week of June. Kept getting a recorded message saying, "Call back at a time that is not so busy." No matter what time of day or day of the week we called. Useless.

[usaf-vet]

23. We have a friend who lost several thousand of dollars in airfare and hotel expenses. Because of late

Passport arrival.

[Talitha]

22. Hi usaf-vet, I'm in Lincoln county WI.

First off, thank you for your service!

Got my first passport Dec 2008 and don't recall if the instructions said anything about my glasses so I left them on and everything went through ok. (The photo was taken in a friend's studio.) They got my middle name wrong though, so I had to send it back. Luckily it was received about a month before my trip to England.

When I renewed it in June 2018, the photo was taken at the PO and I was told to remove my glasses. I hadn't worn eye make-up that day - figured I'd hide behind the glasses. Oh well, a mug shot is a mug shot.

But even back in 2018 there were online warnings to get your passport renewed in plenty of time so it wouldn't expire. So although mine wouldn't expire till Dec 2018, I gave plenty of time and the renewal was issued in June 2018.

As a side note - a friend let her WI drivers' license expire and said she had to go through a LOT of stuff (including a trip down to Madison!) before they'd issue a new one.

[Wonder Why]

25. Ask Donnie and his friends. I'm sure they won't be needing theirs!

[CrispyQ]

27. I had to remove my glasses for my DL photo last year.

Never had to do that before.

And...I can't believe DeJoy is still in charge. I've lost track of what's up with that story, but it doesn't help our side that we can't seem to get rid of him.

Great job changing the trajectory in your state. CO is purple trending blue, too.

[edbermac]

28. I went to renew mine

Was told specifically about not wearing glasses in my picture. They said it could take as long is 13 weeks to get the passport.

[Jerry2144]

30. Interesting. I renewed last winter online

Did it fully online and it only took 60 days as a routine priority. Just filled the paperwork out electronically, submitted a photo, and signed up for that ID.ME thing.

I just looked to see what I needed to do to renew and I was presented the option to do it all online. It might be a new service they’re trying

[mnhtnbb]

33. Online renewal has been "paused"

as of last March. It was an experimental program, but is without a date to be resumed.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/renew-online.html

[Jerry2144]

35. I right know that

So I actually got lucky with a service. Amazing. I never had luck before

[Grammy23]

31. I have a trip out of the US planned and paid for in April 2024.

Your passport must be good for 6 months beyond your trip, so I had to renew my passport to be valid for the trip and the required 6 months beyond. I filled out the forms online, printed them and got a photo made (without glasses) at Walgreen’s. I had glasses in my last passport but instructions for the new one clearly stated glasses must be removed. I also chose expedited renewal just to buy a little more time. Mailed it all to Philly for the renewal and know it made it because the check cleared. 😜 I’ll go check online soon to see where it is in the process — if it is in process. I am fairly confident I’ll get it back by April, but won’t really be happy until it is in my my hot, little hands! I’ll be expecting my old passport to come back to me in a separate mailing which is what happened at my last renewal.

[mainer]

34. post offices often screw up passport applications

My grandson was supposed to get his first passport, and his mother asked for it to be expedited.

The postal clerk screwed it up, and the application went in the regular passport category.

After some weeks, and a lot of frantic calling around and a long drive to the nearest official passport office, they managed to get my grandson's passport 24 hours before their trip.

[Old Crank]

36. Ours expire next June.

We will be going to the US consulate in Munich, some time in January, with an apointment to turn in the stuff they may require. LAst Novemeber my daughter got a replacement in less than 3 weeks from the apointment date through them. Hopefully we won't have to leave the Schengen zone until we get new ones.

At the consulate you can't bring your phone in so bring some literature to read....

[brooklynite]

37. "Which likely had the effect of slowing down mail-in ballots"

There were no actual reports of mail-in ballots being delayed.

NB: Passports are not generally used as voter ID because they don't include your address.

[GoneOffShore]

38. On my present US passport, which expires in 2025, I'm wearing glasses. However,

On my French ID card and driving licence, I'm not, nor are glasses allowed to be worn for official documents here.

This is the US State department link for passprt pictures - glasses are not allowed.

[EarthFirst]

39. While it may not be the most convenient; many town clerk's offices deal with passports/renewals

My wife is a passport processing agent as part of her role as a deputy clerk. Many times appointments may be scheduled in towns where one does not reside; provided they have availability to meet your schedule.

Sorry this doesn’t help your particular situation; however may be of use to others in the future…

[Maeve]

44. My sympathies. Just renewed ours

Hubby sent his in a week after I did...his arrived at least three weeks before mine did. His old one came the next day. My old one came two weeks after my new one arrived. We ordered them in spring when the ETA was 13 weeks (we're traveling in September).
With government agencies, always allow more time than expected

[Celerity]

48. I just renewed mine by mail with the US Embassy here in Stockholm. Mailed in the old one, and both

came back (old one was punched up with holes) in the mail 4 weeks later. I did not even pay for expedited service.

Was all super easy and fast enough.

[KentuckyWoman]

49. All 50 states issue compliant ID only cards.

Also, yes passports have been taking forever. We need to get the staffing back up at DHS after the Defendant deliberately gutted it. I paid for expedited service in 2019 and it still took 5 months.
Also, glasses were never allowed as far as I know, so you got lucky with the one you have that includes glasses.

[NowISeetheLight]

53. Renewed Mine

I renewed mine a few months back and ordered a passport card this year for the first time. I used expedited service (more $$$). It showed up about eight weeks later and the card a few days after that. I had forgotten about it so when it showed up I was surprised.

When I renewed I did see the photo requirement said no glasses.

[Ms. Toad]

59. It may be too late for you - but I had a similar experience with my last renewal.

I went to the USPS to get my photos - I figured it was their job to process the apps so they should know what they were doing.

I was wrong. They screwed up. The face was too small. By the time the passport folks notified me of the error, it was touch and go as to whether it would get processed in time without expediting it. I complained to the local postmaster and requested they both replace the photo and pay to expedite it. I didn't expect much, but I figured it didn't hurt to ask - and they did both.

[Duppers]

62. TY for the reminder.

Hubs & I need to renew ours.

[chia]

64. I got my passport photos at my local AAA office, submitted the docs at the local post office, and

got my passport in a matter of weeks. I wish I could remember how many weeks, but it was fast, and I was surprised. This was at the beginning of 2023.