Important passport question, any help????

phillyjam

So I'm an idiot, a real idiot. I'll get that out of the way before people can say it about me. I have an important question and hope someone has advice or maybe has gone through a similar situation. I've checked all the government websites and read their info but here is my problem. I've been to Canada many times in the past and I guess before you only needed your birth certificate and drivers lis. I should have checked but beginning June 2009 you need a passport, and I don't have one. We're leaving from Philly on Thursday to drive up to Niagra then to Toronto. Does anyone have any advice for how I can get either a passport or passport card by then. If you are from Philly and have dealt with getting a passport from the Philadelphia Passport agency can you tell me if you can get the actual passport there on the same day you go in. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

Crazy Marcus

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_831.html
Google is your friend.

Unfortunatey it says:

As of (Sunday August 16, 2009 ), we are processing requests for expedited service, that include overnight delivery to and from the Passport Agency, about 2-3 weeks door-to-door*.

I believe you're screwed unfortunately.

SVRDhand13

Crazy Marcus wrote:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_831.html
Google is your friend.

That says 2-3 weeks, which would be useless for the OP. Which you just mentioned...lol.

I hate to see it but I don't think it is possible to get a passport that fast.

phillyjam

Yeah I checked those sites and saw the same thing. I was prepared to pay the 250-300 it would cost. I'm still holding out hope. There has to be some idiots a.k.a. me that have been in the same situation and somehow had it work out.

tvismyfriend

Have you thought about walking across the border somewhere where there isn't a fence?

OhSeeTheWorld

My husband works for the Passport Agency in Seattle. He says that you might be able to make an appointment with the Philadelphia Passport Agency to go in person and get an expedited passport. If they have an appointment available, you will probably be able to get your passport either that day or the next. There is a $60 expedite fee on top of the $100 fee for the passport. You will probably need to show some proof that you are actually going to be in Canada when you say, such as airline tickets or hotel confirmation.

Here is the phone number to call, taken from the page on the State Dept.'s website linked below:

Make an appointment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week using our Automated Appointment System at 1-877-487-2778.

http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/fri/schedule/schedule_852.html

Here is information on getting an expedited passport through the mail, though you probably don't have enough time for this:

http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/fri/schedule/schedule_852.html

mauichick

Don't lose hope yet, go to the passport office and see what they say (might want to use a better excuse then a concert though (wedding?, sick relative?, work emergency, maybe if you have yr "boss" write a letter?)

Good luck, hope it works out for you..

phillyjam

Thank you to everyone for the help. I think that's what I'm going to do. Call the Philadelphia Passport Agency and try to make an appointment to get it this week. Wish me luck. Thanks again

mookieblalock

you only need an enhanced licensed; not necessarily a passport per se (I assume PA has these). These usually can be ascertained in a much more timely manner; but with that being said, you have put yourself in a bind unfortunately.

Good luck. I certainly hope you get to go.

mensane

i think the enhanced drivers licenses are only available in states that border an international border. that said, i applied for an enhanced DL here in washington 2 weeks ago and it still hasnt been sent to me. those take 3-4 weeks as well.

from what i hear, it isnt too hard to get into canada...it's getting back into the US that is the problem. you could just chance it and go anyway....and just be prepared for a bunch of hassle when you try to come back.

boxorbag

I have read that they are giving warnings to people crossing since it is a new law. You will probably get a little problem coming back but you are a us citizen after all. As long as they have not warned you before you should be ok. Bring your licence and birth certificate and have fun. What's the worst that can happen? They banish you to canada.

Hollerman

Applied for my passport right after I got tickets and still no passport. I have called the passport office several times and no return phone call. Now I have my representative on the case. Please Todd Platts.

The question: How do you walk into Canada? :roll:

mookieblalock

Hollerman wrote:

The question: How do you walk into Canada? :roll:

With your feet






Thank you. I'll be here all week. You guys have been great!

chromiam

phillyjam wrote:

So I'm an idiot, a real idiot. I'll get that out of the way before people can say it about me. I have an important question and hope someone has advice or maybe has gone through a similar situation. I've checked all the government websites and read their info but here is my problem. I've been to Canada many times in the past and I guess before you only needed your birth certificate and drivers lis. I should have checked but beginning June 2009 you need a passport, and I don't have one. We're leaving from Philly on Thursday to drive up to Niagra then to Toronto. Does anyone have any advice for how I can get either a passport or passport card by then. If you are from Philly and have dealt with getting a passport from the Philadelphia Passport agency can you tell me if you can get the actual passport there on the same day you go in. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

I went to the Customs House in Philly (passport agency) years ago when I was going to Finland for business and needed my passport that day. My company made the appointment and I needed my flight interary as well as two passport photos, my application, and a check for the amount for an expedited passport. No problems and had my passport by the end of the day (had to hang around and pick it up). But I know alot of the regulations have changed since then so you should contact the agency first. They may not let you get an expedited passport without an official interary.

phillyjam

Thanks again to everyone. I'm going down there tomorrow. I got my pictures taken and have everything I need and filled it out. I'm going to go down an hour before it opens and wait in line. The post office workers as well as the woman behind me in line said that there is a walk up line and if you get in early, you can get it that day so I'm hoping. I'm going to bring my two booked hotel reservations, as well as the rental car reservation. Here's hoping

Crazy Marcus

phillyjam wrote:

Thanks again to everyone. I'm going down there tomorrow. I got my pictures taken and have everything I need and filled it out. I'm going to go down an hour before it opens and wait in line. The post office workers as well as the woman behind me in line said that there is a walk up line and if you get in early, you can get it that day so I'm hoping. I'm going to bring my two booked hotel reservations, as well as the rental car reservation. Here's hoping

Sending good vibes your way. I hope that you're able to get this worked out.

Rossum20

play dumb...theyll let you through because its a new law.

corduroy2121

they will let you into canada without a passport, so at least you will get to see the concert. Getting back into the US is the hard part, but thats after the concert so who cares what happens then!

Get_Right

dude
there are services that can get you a passport ASAP.
But get ready to pay
http://www.passportplus.net/passports/r ... noname.htm

call these guys if you have $500 lying around
my office has used them, they are very good

Veddernarian

I recently renewed my expired USA passport. I used the post office. I used the "expedite" process. I sent all of the required materials with overnight delivery. In addition to paying extra for the expedite handling, I paid extra for the passport office to use overnight delivery back to me. I sent the overnight package on a Thursday, and received my new passport the following Thursday. Yes! One week. Thus occurred in July of this year. And I got the passport book, not the card.

Another question: How is your rap sheet? Do you have any arrests or DUI convictions or anything like that? There is a thread less than a month old where Mrs. Vedder78 describes a hassle with that issue in which her significant other had a very old DUI and they (at the border) almost didn't let them in. She was pregnant and they paid a fee for a temporary pass. She observed others who were not given the opportunity to get a pass. She thought the pregnancy may have led this officer to have some compassion. Beware of that, though.

RoughMix

I believe if you have your receipt which proves you have been to the passport office and applied,they will let you through.Although I am Canadian,this worked for me entering the U.S. a month ago, without a passport.

phillyjam

Thank you for all of your help and suggestions in this matter. I know must people don't care but just to let you know what happened for those of you who get caught in a similar situation. I took care of all my paperwork yesterday at home and got my photos taken. I went down to the Philadelphia Passport Agency really early like at 7 even though they don't open till 8 in the morning. I was about eigth in line. I didn't haven an appointment because the automated appointment phone number said the next available appt was the 25th which wouldn't have worked for obvious reasons. At around 7:50 they let us in, we went through metal detectors (the officers couldn't have been nicer) and I went up to the lady who has the appointment sheet expecting her to turn me away. I told her I didn't have an appointment and she asked when I was leaving which is this Thursday. She wrote my name down and gave me a number. When my number was called (about ten minutes) I went up to the teller gave her my paperwork, paid her, and she gave me a slip to come back and pick my passport up at 11:30. I spent the day in beautiful center city, had some breakfast at a diner, watched the beautiful women of Philly near Penns Landing, drank about ten cups of coffee. When I went back at 11:30 it took about thirty minutes till I had passport in hand. I've got to hand it to the Agency, they have their shit together. My advice if in this situation get there early, have everyhthing in order, be nice, and things will work out. See you all in Canada.

benjs

phillyjam wrote:

Thank you for all of your help and suggestions in this matter. I know must people don't care but just to let you know what happened for those of you who get caught in a similar situation. I took care of all my paperwork yesterday at home and got my photos taken. I went down to the Philadelphia Passport Agency really early like at 7 even though they don't open till 8 in the morning. I was about eigth in line. I didn't haven an appointment because the automated appointment phone number said the next available appt was the 25th which wouldn't have worked for obvious reasons. At around 7:50 they let us in, we went through metal detectors (the officers couldn't have been nicer) and I went up to the lady who has the appointment sheet expecting her to turn me away. I told her I didn't have an appointment and she asked when I was leaving which is this Thursday. She wrote my name down and gave me a number. When my number was called (about ten minutes) I went up to the teller gave her my paperwork, paid her, and she gave me a slip to come back and pick my passport up at 11:30. I spent the day in beautiful center city, had some breakfast at a diner, watched the beautiful women of Philly near Penns Landing, drank about ten cups of coffee. When I went back at 11:30 it took about thirty minutes till I had passport in hand. I've got to hand it to the Agency, they have their shit together. My advice if in this situation get there early, have everyhthing in order, be nice, and things will work out. See you all in Canada.

Congrats! See you at the show

Guitarhero27

phillyjam wrote:

Thank you for all of your help and suggestions in this matter. I know must people don't care but just to let you know what happened for those of you who get caught in a similar situation. I took care of all my paperwork yesterday at home and got my photos taken. I went down to the Philadelphia Passport Agency really early like at 7 even though they don't open till 8 in the morning. I was about eigth in line. I didn't haven an appointment because the automated appointment phone number said the next available appt was the 25th which wouldn't have worked for obvious reasons. At around 7:50 they let us in, we went through metal detectors (the officers couldn't have been nicer) and I went up to the lady who has the appointment sheet expecting her to turn me away. I told her I didn't have an appointment and she asked when I was leaving which is this Thursday. She wrote my name down and gave me a number. When my number was called (about ten minutes) I went up to the teller gave her my paperwork, paid her, and she gave me a slip to come back and pick my passport up at 11:30. I spent the day in beautiful center city, had some breakfast at a diner, watched the beautiful women of Philly near Penns Landing, drank about ten cups of coffee. When I went back at 11:30 it took about thirty minutes till I had passport in hand. I've got to hand it to the Agency, they have their shit together. My advice if in this situation get there early, have everyhthing in order, be nice, and things will work out. See you all in Canada.

awesome! see u there!

Fifthelement

Congrats to you. Have a great time in Torhana

mookieblalock

phillyjam wrote:

Thank you for all of your help and suggestions in this matter. I know must people don't care but just to let you know what happened for those of you who get caught in a similar situation. I took care of all my paperwork yesterday at home and got my photos taken. I went down to the Philadelphia Passport Agency really early like at 7 even though they don't open till 8 in the morning. I was about eigth in line. I didn't haven an appointment because the automated appointment phone number said the next available appt was the 25th which wouldn't have worked for obvious reasons. At around 7:50 they let us in, we went through metal detectors (the officers couldn't have been nicer) and I went up to the lady who has the appointment sheet expecting her to turn me away. I told her I didn't have an appointment and she asked when I was leaving which is this Thursday. She wrote my name down and gave me a number. When my number was called (about ten minutes) I went up to the teller gave her my paperwork, paid her, and she gave me a slip to come back and pick my passport up at 11:30. I spent the day in beautiful center city, had some breakfast at a diner, watched the beautiful women of Philly near Penns Landing, drank about ten cups of coffee. When I went back at 11:30 it took about thirty minutes till I had passport in hand. I've got to hand it to the Agency, they have their shit together. My advice if in this situation get there early, have everyhthing in order, be nice, and things will work out. See you all in Canada.

Glad everything worked out. You must have been so thrilled and relieved when you finally realized you were gonna have your passport in hand that day. Nice!

oneforeachday

phillyjam wrote:

Thank you for all of your help and suggestions in this matter. I know must people don't care but just to let you know what happened for those of you who get caught in a similar situation. I took care of all my paperwork yesterday at home and got my photos taken. I went down to the Philadelphia Passport Agency really early like at 7 even though they don't open till 8 in the morning. I was about eigth in line. I didn't haven an appointment because the automated appointment phone number said the next available appt was the 25th which wouldn't have worked for obvious reasons. At around 7:50 they let us in, we went through metal detectors (the officers couldn't have been nicer) and I went up to the lady who has the appointment sheet expecting her to turn me away. I told her I didn't have an appointment and she asked when I was leaving which is this Thursday. She wrote my name down and gave me a number. When my number was called (about ten minutes) I went up to the teller gave her my paperwork, paid her, and she gave me a slip to come back and pick my passport up at 11:30. I spent the day in beautiful center city, had some breakfast at a diner, watched the beautiful women of Philly near Penns Landing, drank about ten cups of coffee. When I went back at 11:30 it took about thirty minutes till I had passport in hand. I've got to hand it to the Agency, they have their shit together. My advice if in this situation get there early, have everyhthing in order, be nice, and things will work out. See you all in Canada.

really great man. glad for you. I'm so happy to hear a story where something worked out. Also glad to see the overly positive and helpful responses on the board.

I'm bringing my 2 kids up on Friday. My son's passport is expired (he's 7). I called the state department and they said all i need for kid is a birth certificate to get back into the US. So that's what i have (plus his expired passport). I'm really hoping things work out.

Hope everyone has fun at the show!

OFED

phungi

Thanks for the post... Realized last night that my passport expired two months ago...
Sitting across the street from the Philadelphia Passport Agency waiting to pick up my new passport.