[lastpaige]

I was just sharing this information and thought I would bring it public for those just starting the process.

We applied for EXPEDITED passports for our bio-daughters a month ago and are still waiting. Non- expedited take MONTHS.

If you do not already have passports, or are planning on applying for them later in the dossier compiling phase, go do it right away. The passport processing offices have come under much scrutiny lately and are VERY backed up.

Fun fun fun!

[Kama]

We applied on 6/29 and got them ONE WEEK LATER, on 7/6. We also applied for expedited and were told that it would take 5 weeks or so, so we were shocked that they came so fast especially because that was over the 4th of July also (even before the card confirming that they received the applications). We had to submit originals of Certificates of Naturalization, plus original Polish Birth Certificates with translation. It may be that we are lucky or maybe recent applications are processed faster since there has been a lot of public attention to the passport issue as of late. Nonetheless, we had a great experience with this.

Originally Posted by lastpaige

I was just sharing this information and thought I would bring it public for those just starting the process.

We applied for EXPEDITED passports for our bio-daughters a month ago and are still waiting. Non- expedited take MONTHS.

If you do not already have passports, or are planning on applying for them later in the dossier compiling phase, go do it right away. The passport processing offices have come under much scrutiny lately and are VERY backed up.

Fun fun fun!

[momraine]

The problem right now is the new law requiring passports for people going to Canada or Mexico. Many people who live on the border cross back and forth regularly and have never needed them before and are all now having to apply. The other issue is churches regulary send youth groups on mission trips to Mexico and now they all also need passports, not to mention all the people going on vacation to those two places. So right now there is quite a backlog, anyone waiting to travel better get it now.

[LisArno]

I'm not looking forward to this. Our children finally became Americans a few weeks ago (we're staying at my parents in Michigan for 5 weeks this summer, hence my lack of posting). I asked the USCIS worker at O'Hare about passports and he told me expedited would only take a week, but then he said I'd have to surrender the kids' passports and mine. Knowing how the government works and that we needed the passports to return to Germany in early August, I've decided to wait until we return to Germany to deal with that issue.

A couple of days ago I received "Notice of Action" papers from the USCIS regarding the immigrant visas. They came in three separate envelopes, though each paper is exactly the same with just our oldest daughter's name and reference number on each one, and nothing refers to our two younger children. I called the number on the paper and pushed enough different buttons to finally speak to a real person. He will file a "service order" to find out about our other two children and that will take up to 45 days. I've since joked about our two little illegal aliens

[lastpaige]

We spoke with a friend of ours that works closely enough to passport processing that she was able to get some info for us.

Passport processors used to process 20-25 passport applications per hour. Lots of fake birth certificates were getting through and a lot of 'bad guys' were getting into the country. So now with this information out and the pressure on, the passport processors are being cracked down upon.

Enter those of us trying to get two legal, unthreatening, young girls expedited passports so we can pick up our boys.

Anyway - our friend said that their passport applications were in D.C., pretty far along in the process. We should have them sooner rather than later. I was thrilled to hear that they have at least not been lost in the system.

[mschaefer]

Hopefully they will come soon. We just got our bio son's this week -- non-expedited and it took 14 weeks.

[Kama]

Great! Perhaps it has gotten faster. We were truly amazed to get our expedited in a week over the July 4th holiday.

Originally Posted by mschaefer

Hopefully they will come soon. We just got our bio son's this week -- non-expedited and it took 14 weeks.

[lastpaige]

WooHoo - my contact said that the girls' passports have been printed and are on their way through quality control. They should be in the capable hands of FedEx by tomorrow afternoon and here by Wednesday.

She Who Remains Namless (herefor after refered to as 'SWRN') says, "(Attorney's assistant) said we should have all dates by the end of this week."

While I want to remain skeptical, I can't help feeling that this may be it.

I know - rookie mistake!