If you have applied for a passport and find yourself anxiously
checking the mailbox, now you can relax; finding out the status of your
passport is easier than you might imagine.
After you have
submitted the application and required documents, you should receive
your passport in approximately 6 weeks. If your passport is being
expedited, it will take about 2 weeks. If more than the allotted time
has passed, there are 2 ways to make an inquiry.
One way to check
the status of your passport is through an online database. The U.S.
Department of State website has a simple form which you will need to
fill out to complete your search. You will need to enter your last name,
birth date, and last 4 digits of your social security number.
In
addition, if you have trouble checking the status online, there is no
need to worry. The Department of State has an email address where you
can send questions related to your inquiry.
Another way to check
on your passport is to call the National Passport Information Center at
1-877-4-USA-PPT. Automated information is accessible 24 hours a day, 7
days a week. Live agents are on hand from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 pm EST,
with the exception of national holidays.
While you can check your
passport status at any time, it is recommended that you wait at least 5
days before checking it. This will ensure that your application has been
put into the system.
Usually, your passport application will be
handled by a government official within a couple of days. It takes
several weeks for the passport to be issued, so try to be patient, and
be sure to plan in advance.
If you need reassurance that your
passport is en route, put your mind at ease. Just log on or pick up the
phone, and fret no more.
C.L. Hendricks has been a Jill-of-all-trades and become an expert
in some. She has also traveled extensively and now writes about travel
destinations around the world for How to Get a Passport
[http://www.how-to-get-a-passport.com] and other travel sites as Web Content Provider.
