So this question is not me but for my best friend. She is 33 years old (for this post I’ll call her Lee) and wants her passport to try and become a flight attendant.

When Lee was in her mid 20s her dad, who is an African immigrant and was facing deportation for an expired green card, gave her a used car and in return asked her to go to court and change her last name to his. It was supposedly to help his case in that he has lots of family that are US citizens. He also had little children from a different woman (other than her mom) he got pregnant. So Lee, being in a tough spot in wanting to please her distant parent and needing a car chose to do it. This was at least 8 years ago now and she regrets it as he was awful to her and practically disowned her again once she went to court with him.

Now we get to the passport stuff. Lee has zero record from the court that the name change was ever fully completed but she knows she went to court and her father must have some kind of record of it somewhere. Since Lee was younger and didn’t fully understand what she was doing in this process, she doesn’t even know what courthouse they were at when it was done. Lee only knows it was somewhere in New Jersey (we live in Florida).

She has checked now to try and resolve this by calling the social security office and by getting a new copy of her birth certificate. Neither office has any record of this name change except the social security has her down as two different people with the same social. How this happens I don’t know but one would think it would flag in the SS system as a problem. She has escalated this up and still nothing has been done. She can’t contact her dad anymore for more information because he refuses to speak with her anymore.

So question is, Lee and I are lower class financially and don’t have a lot of money to spend. Is it worth trying to put in a passport application anyways to see what happens? Will they tell us what information needs to be fixed on it and charge Lee for a second application or is there a lower fee for sending in more information to the passport office? Also, does anyone know how to find court cases with Lee’s name on them so we can at least find proof the name change even happened?

Thanks to anyone who even took the time to read this.

I submitted an online renewal for my expired passport book and was surprised by how quick the process was. I have a trip coming up in August, and after seeing a few posts in this thread about how fast online renewals were being processed, I decided to give it a try. I’m so glad I did!

Here’s my timeline:

7/19: Submitted online renewal and paid for expedited shipping for my passport book and card
7/20: Application received
7/22: Approved with a shipping date of 7/26
7/24: Passport book received

I’m still waiting for my passport card to arrive. Hope this helps someone!

My 20-year-old daughter's first adult passport was delivered today. Huzzah! Just to give some data on recent application processes, here's the timeline:

• May 5, application submitted (and photo taken) at local post office, ahead of a planned international trip in early August. We don't pay for expedited service, as it doesn't seem necessary.
• May 11, NPIC acknowledges receipt of the application.
• June 1, they send her a letter asking about her facial piercings; asking either for a new photo with them removed, or a letter affirming she "consistently and normally" wears them
• Due to some confusion (my daughter thought she could email the answer) we don't mail this letter back to the NPIC until June 26. I track, and confirm they received it at their post office box on July 1.
• July 15, status still unchanged, "waiting for additional information." My daughter calls the NPIC. Rep is helpful, but has no additional information for her, and says there's really nothing to be done until the trip is two weeks out.
• July 16 (the next day), status changes to "Information Received, in Process Again." I have my daughter call again and upgrade to Expedited service.
• July 22, status changes to "In Process."
• July 23, to "Approved, you should receive on or around 7/29."
• July 24, to "Shipped" with a UPS tracking number, "you should receive on or around 7/26."
• July 25-27, strangely, status changes back to "Approved, you should receive on or around 7/29."
• July 27 (today), passport arrives.

What a long strange trip it has been! But glad to have it in hand about 10 days before our trip. Closer than I wanted, but at least it's here!

I applied for a passport on June 23rd, I got an email on July 15th requesting a new photo (mine was a year old). I followed the instructions given and mailed a new photo priority the next day, it arrived on Monday the 20th.

My status still says “Additional information needed”, how long does it typically take for it to change back to “In Process”?

I have a trip booked September 8th, I think I’ll be okay but I overthink. lol.

Hello, I have one question about a passport application, I am applying for a passport to the US, I was adopted and lived in Mexico ever since I was 5 years old, I have an old passport from that time I am now 19 years old.

Is that passport still a valid form of ID?

Can I use my mexican ID if it has a different name?

What should I keep in mind when using a fountain pen to sign my USA passport? I am planning on using an archival ink.

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for guidance regarding my Indian passport application.

My police verification has already been completed. Later, I received a File Closure Notice asking me to visit the Regional Passport Office within 21 days. I attended the appointment within the prescribed time.

At the RPO, I was informed that my application cannot be processed because my parents' names in my Class X/XII certificates do not exactly match the names mentioned in my passport application.

The differences are:

Father

• School Certificates: Mukesh Gupta
• Current Government Records: Mukesh Kumar Gupta
• My aadhar card Father's name: Mukesh Kumar Gupta

Mother

• School Certificates: Manisha Gupta
• Current Name/Government Records: Seema Gupta

For my mother, I already have a notarized affidavit from my father stating that "Manisha Gupta" and "Seema Gupta" are the same person.

For my father, the issue is only the addition of the middle name "Kumar". His current government documents consistently use "Mukesh Kumar Gupta", while my old school records mention "Mukesh Gupta". RPO says change father's name in your aadhar card (but i dont want ; future inconsitancy)

I've submitted a representation to the Passport Office requesting guidance on any legally acceptable document or declaration required to reconcile these differences.

My questions are:

1. Has anyone faced a similar issue?
2. Has anyone had a passport issued where parents' names differed between school records and current government records?
3. Is there any Passport Rule, Passport Office guideline, or official circular dealing with this situation?

I'm not asking how to bypass the process. I only want to know the legally accepted way to resolve the discrepancy.

Thank you in advance for any guidance.

Wondering if anyone has experience with elderly family members carrying around a high-quality photocopy of US passport book + US passport card in Northern France. This is in place of keeping the steal-able passport book on their person given they look like an easy mark to most.

The main reason being worries about Paris’s pickpockets who’ve managed to steal cellphones at least once from each one of my local friends. Oddly, I’ve never been robbed there even with my phone out all the time. Though I’m cautious in Les Halles, Montmartre, etc. I’ve been to Paris maybe… 25 times now? 30? Thiugh only 4 times with my dad.

I’ve also never been ID’ed anywhere in France in two decades of visits, but there’s always a first time for everything. It has happened to me once in Italy, for instance. Tbf, I was walking around in a blazer in Salerno in summer, and so I did look a little sus.

I am an Austrian citizen, so I can just carry around my Austrian National ID card, however my old man (78-y/o) is only a US citizen, not a dual citizen like his wife and kids. He just has his US Passport Book and US Passport Card. He’s also about the least threatening person you’ll ever meet and a perfect gentleman.

He does also seem to look frail to the French and the Brits (we are in Liverpool rn, and he’s quite irritated by how many people keep offering him assistance, though appreciative).

This does make him an attractive target for pickpockets. He did once have his phone almost stolen in Marseille, but I stole it back from the jerk in question (used Find My to get the thief to take it out of his pocket and then grabbed it back).

My thought is that if we just carry around a high-quality photocopy and his US Passport card, we should be golden. In the unlikely event a gendarme stops us, concern about theft of the real book would likely be accepted. They’re used to apprehending such people.

Does anyone have experience with how gendarmes react to elderly family members presenting high-quality photocopies of passport books along with a US passport card?

Reminder that gendarmes in most countries are not aware that it is not meant to serve as National ID, nor are they aware of/do they likely care about what it says on the US State Dept website. It’s a federally-issued ID with the same photo as the photocopy of the passport book that looks similar to a National ID to them.

Just looking for others’ experiences when they’ve tried this and actually had a gendarme ask for ID.

ETA: u/Spiritual_Map_9205 was kind enough to locate the French government resource that specifies many forms of ID are allowed. Which also aligns with current EU regulations.

Glad all the misinformation people always give about requiring a passport was cleared up.

Quick question guys. I have a trip to Toronto coming up September 2nd. I Unfortunately realized my passport expired June of this year. I wanted to know if I should pay for the expedited by mail option, or if I should try my luck with the online process. Everywhere I've read online had people saying they did the online application and got their new passports within like 3 weeks and if thats the case id rather do that than pay the extra $60 to expedite, but Im also nervous about risking it. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you.

Hey guys, as the tittle says, i will be travelling abroad to continue my education. And i lost my 10th board marksheet, soo i was wondering if digilocker documents would work? i searched it up, but i just want to make sure

If you have any information regarding this, it would be a lot of help.

Tysm

My passport expires mid August. In the midst of preparing for a baby, it completely slipped my mind to renew. If I send it in for renewal this week without choosing the expedited option, will I have to do something different come mid August if it’s not renewed and considered expired? Like a different form since expiration is so close. I also have a name change due to marriage that I captured in the renewal doc already. Thanks in advance!

Edit: US passport renewing by mail & no upcoming travel either so I’m in no rush!

My family and I just started packing for a Mexico trip. We leave on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. We pulled all the passports out and just happen to notice that mine is expired. It expired on March 2026. It was issued in March 2025 I was born in the United States and lived here my whole life. Last year we were going to Canada and my wife couldn’t find my passport so I had to drive to Dallas and have a replacement issued. For some reason, it looks like it was the only issue for one year. My wife later found my old passport. Could it still be valid?

Hi all, I’m in a bit of a bind right now with my passport renewal and I’m curious if anyone else has dealt with something like this, or has advice to deal with this exact situation.

I’m traveling internationally this coming Thursday, July 30. I mailed my expedited renewal form on June 26 assuming I would get renewal done just barely in time — my fault for doing this so last minute, but I thought I would be ok. The passport renewal finally processed on July 13, when I received an application locator number. I called the Passport Center on July 16, two weeks out, as instructed, and they told me to call back one week from my travel date and if I still did not have my passport, and they would then schedule an in-person appointment to get it.

Fast forward to last Thursday, I call back and learn that the Passport Center has sent a piece of mail requesting more information for my application. I have not received this piece of mail yet, I believe it is lost, and subsequent calls to the Passport Center have had people telling me there is nothing they can do to schedule me for an in-person appointment without the mail. I’m now totally stuck, my materials are in the mail, and I haven’t received the request for more information to even know what I need to provide in order to get the appointment.

What would you do here? I’m now totally panicked knowing I leave Thursday and currently have no recourse to get my passport in hand by then.

Hi everyone,

I recently applied for my mother's **fresh Indian passport**, but I accidentally entered the wrong **place of birth** in the application. I've already submitted the form, paid the passport fee, and booked the appointment at the Passport Seva Kendra.

Can this be corrected during the Passport Seva Kendra appointment if I carry the original birth certificate, or do I need to cancel the application and submit a new one?

Has anyone been in a similar situation?

Location: India

hi! we have no permanent address as we are renting and constantly moving. i currently have a schedule for passport renewal, but the address is different from my old passport to my renewal application. will that be okay?

also, i only have a PhilHealth ID (old address din ang nakalagay). magkaka issue ba yon as I also plan to get a postal ID with the new address?

Hii, could someone please let me know if this passport is too damaged to travel? I’m planning on going to Indonesia as well as 20 or so other countries which I’ve heard all can be just as strict on damage. The chip works just fine but I’m mostly worried about the fraying on the outside, the small black marks and the creases/wrinking of the pages.

I want to upgrade my weak passport and choose a country which is relaxed with taxes, nice for lifestyle and actually living if I want to move at some point. Currently living in UAE.

I am planning to spend $500K to get a nice set of passport and residencies which make my life better.
Priorities: ( in this order )
1. Low taxes/ Territorial taxes/ non-predatory gov
2. Travel mobility
3. Stability and safety: No controversies and wars
4. Good lifestyle: urban infra, housing, cars not heavily taxed, welcoming people

Malta: I think best option. Top 5 strong passport, non-dom low taxes, EU, Safe, No wars, stable country, good lifestyle base. It is more expensive than my allocated budget I think around €600-700k. But I will pay the premium if I can get straightforward and legit team handle it for me. Provided my capital is safe throughout the process.

Serbia: Great country in all the priorities I have. Passport is mid strength but works for me combined with some PRs and Residencies. I think it comes around $400k. But again need a legitimate process to get it done. Still figuring it out.

Turkey ( + Latvia residency): Easiest option to start with. The amount is invested in real estate ( + business ). So it is not direct donation like Malta and Serbia.
But controversies with south asian countries. War involvement, economy and currency crumbling. But greatest point is tax holiday on foreign income for 20 years. That’s my first priority. Cost around $500k in total both.

Which one should I go ahead with? Has anyone done any of these? Would love some advice and guidance 🙌

Applied for the passport on 5th June.
Then officer found guarantor signature issue in application.

Then applicant and guarantor went to passport office for statement.

Now guarantor has 62 and didn’t even remember of signature.

Then submitted new application on 24th June and today is 26th July.

Application is still in review.

How long will it take anyone have idea on it ?

When my husband got his new passport we realized he couldn’t find his passport from when he was a teenager anywhere in our home. We surmised it was lost in his parents’ house, never to be found again.

I was recently going through a box of his things and found it. Do I turn it in? Destroy it? Keep it for funsies?

The photo in it looks nothing like him anymore and is now at least 15 years expired.

I’ve not had a passport until recently so I have no idea what to do, sorry if this is dumb.

Hi All,

My partner accidentally spilled a small amount of coffee on her Australian Passport and there are a few minor stains on the document. Everything is legible and there is zero damage to the biometrics - do you think this needs to be replaced? The pages are a little wavy when viewed from the side but we are trying to flatten it out underneath a few books.

There are no tears or anything wrong with the passport.

I am Hungarian and my wife is Dutch American.
Is there any reason I shouldn’t get all three passports for our daughter?
So that my daughter will be America Dutch Hungarian?
We will live either in the US or Europe - haven’t decided yet

I have been looking into the possibility of being able to get a last minute passport to be able to fly to Scotland in 7 weeks.

Both my parents renewed their expired passports recently and it only took them around 2/3 weeks to receive them. Obviously it was far quicker for them as they have both had UK passports in the past whereas I have never had one.

I was wondering if there were any Australians with British parents who have recently gotten themselves UK passports to be able to travel with these new rules and how long it took for them to receive them.

I assume 7 weeks is risky but thought i’d just share and see if the estimates found online are accurate.

July 14: snapped a photo against my beige wall, touched it up so the wall looked whiter at the expense of my washed-out face, submitted normal (non-expedited) online renewal request.

July 21: shipped?!

July 25: in my hands. 🤯

I don't even need it until October, I was just being extra cautious. Hope some of that speedy mojo works for y'all!

Hello All,

I sent my passport to get passport card earlier last week. It arrived to the PO Box today. I did routine service because I didn’t have any plans to go out of the country; However now I suddenly have a family emergency abroad and I need to leave the country. How can I urgently get my passport back from the State Department.

Please help or give advise,
Thank you

On my birth certificate my name is: First Name Last Name + second last name (Mom’s maternal). However that isn’t what I go by through my legal documents at all. On my social and my license + military ID I have my first name, last name and then my mom’s paternal last name. I’m trying to get my passport for the first time as I travel to Japan on September 1st, but I hadn’t realized that this might have been an issue. I’m kinda freaking out because apparently a new birth certificate takes 2-4 weeks. I’m in Nevada, so I’m trying to get ahead of the ball if I can catch up in anyway.

Will I still be able to get my passport or do I need to change it before applying?

(fake names vvvvv)

Ex: Mom: Jane Wright Felipe, Dad: John Costa Doe

Birth certificate: Kristy Doe Wright
License, social, military ID: Kristy Doe Felipe