Passports

Heir

So I went to the Post Office yesterday to get a passport, as my wife and I plan on going on a cruise sometime this summer.

I came with everything that is listed here

Anyways, after standing in line for over an hour, I sit down with the guy. He immediately looks at my Birth Certificate and says he can't take it. He said that he could do the application, but that they would most likely reject it in the coming weeks.

I have the original hospital birth certificate, but he said I would need a BC that originates from the city, county, or state. However, I live in TX but was born in WI, so that will be a pain. He provided me with information on how to fax a request to the state office, but it will take a couple of weeks.

My question is if I really need to do this? My mom got her passport (first time for her) in CO a month ago. She gave them her hospital birth Cert. and there wasn't a problem.

I'm just curious if this guy was being overly anal retentive and I should just try another post office, or if some rule changed, as the website gives no indication about what kind of birth cert. is needed.

GrimmyTOA

Well, it says on the website you linked that they require a "Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state." So you may be out of luck with that hospital one.

That said, at least you have a lot of lead-time. In my (limited) experience with bureaucracies, it tends to be easier just to get the form that they want than it is to try and reason with them.

Heir

GrimmyTOA wrote:

Well, it says on the website you linked that they require a "Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state." So you may be out of luck with that hospital one.

That said, at least you have a lot of lead-time. In my (limited) experience with bureaucracies, it tends to be easier just to get the form that they want than it is to try and reason with them.

Good point. And I missed that part about it having to be a city/county/state Birth Certificate on the website.

Thanks.

Uncle Long

Heir wrote:

GrimmyTOA wrote:

Well, it says on the website you linked that they require a "Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state." So you may be out of luck with that hospital one.

That said, at least you have a lot of lead-time. In my (limited) experience with bureaucracies, it tends to be easier just to get the form that they want than it is to try and reason with them.

Good point. And I missed that part about it having to be a city/county/state Birth Certificate on the website.

Thanks.

I had the same problem last year around this time when I was trying to get my passport. Was told the same thing and had to order a passport, which really wasn't too difficult. It's more of a nuisance than anything. Oh, and another little sum.

EggyToast

Call or fax the order in. Many cities are making this more high tech and it's usually pretty painless. And you should order 3-4 of them, so you don't have to worry about it in the future (in case you end up in situations where they don't return your BC).

I moved across country, and picked up 4 before I left.

Heir

Yeah, I faxed a request today. Unfortunately they have to mail it, so I paid an extra 10 bucks for expidited service. Should have them by mid-nextweek.

It's gonna be funny if I go through all this trouble, then never actually get off the boat at any of the ports while on the cruise.

You know, because I'll be sexin' my wife the whole time....even though my parents are coming with us...ok maybe it was a good idea.