<p>The electronic device in your passport is a radio-frequency ID chip: RFID. This web site tells you how to disable the chip.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/15.01/start.html?pg=9[/url]”>http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/15.01/start.html?pg=9</a></p>
<p>bing, it’s not just “some countries” that scan them, the U.S. does, too! 
Big Brother is definitely watching.</p>
<p>Fed-ex delivered it to the wrong house. We live at 28 South Main Street and they delivered it to 23 (have no idea why) NORTH Main Street, there is no 28 North Main.</p>
<p>Received a phone call from the lady at 8:30 Sunday night that she had a Fed Ex packet for me…</p>
<p>To laserbrother - my congressman’s office was a big help. I emailed them first, and received a response the following day. They made phone calls to the Philadelphia Passport Agency on my behalf and was able to expedite the process.</p>
<p>So, glad that is over…for a few years!! :)</p>
<p>Good luck to those still waiting. Be persistent, and call the 800 number and be prepared to hold. I held for 37 mins before a live operator answered…</p>
<p>Thank you ^^. </p>
<p>I will make sure DW keep calling the congressman’s office then.</p>
<p>Applied 5/15, my trip to England is 9/1. Non-expedited.</p>
<p>Please, someone tell me…</p>
<p>No one has actually heard of a real person who applied 3 months in advance and did NOT get their passport in time???</p>
<p>And what if you are not going to be HOME the week before you actually leave the US for Europe?</p>
<p>Applied the first week of April to renew our passports, no trips planned, just renewing. No sign of them yet, a full three months later. The status on the site says “processing”</p>
<p>Sorry!</p>
<p>I’m not sure of the exact date that I applied for my S and younger D, but the checks were cashed on March 29, and there is NO sign of their passports. My older D applied 1 week before they did, and got hers 6 weeks ago.</p>
<p>So, almost 14 weeks…and counting…</p>
<p>somemom,
I have a friend with an identical story to yours. She’s thinking (and I’m hoping) that it’s because she left the date open-ended, so they’re pushing it out in favor of those who <em>need</em> their passports. </p>
<p>Have you or anyone else heard of a person who gave a drop-dead date, which was more than 10-12 weeks away, and DID NOT get it in time?</p>
<p>DD applied on March 29th, so a full three months ago. The online status is still - in processing. Travel date July 15th, to Spain. </p>
<p>We called the processing center and they said they will look into it. We called the senator’s office and they said they will help 5 days before departure. We also made an appointment with the nearest processing center (5 hours away) on July 13th. </p>
<p>Hopefully the senator will get us the passport. If not, we will be at the front door of this processing center 5 AM in the morning. </p>
<p>BTW, if we have already an appointment time, do we still need to stand in line to wait for our turn?</p>
<p>…"No one has actually heard of a real person who applied 3 months in advance and did NOT get their passport in time???</p>
<p>And what if you are not going to be HOME the week before you actually leave the US for Europe?"</p>
<p>Mine was almost identical. I applied March 15th and it was Fed-ex’ed to me on Saturday, June 23rd (to the wrong house). I was leaving for a business trip to Miami on the 25th and wouldn’t be home until after my cruise.</p>
<p>It has all turned out ok, but it’s NOT my idea of how to spend a few weeks before “vacation”. Too much stress…(the night before we leave, the airline cancelled my DH’s flight to Miami…luckily he was able to get out the next morning at 6:00 am to meet me at the dock…)</p>
<p>doubleplay: the article in the LA Times indicated that processing time is now 14-16 weeks…</p>
<p>laserbrother:</p>
<p>a few years ago, when I was hustling a pport in the LA office, an appt meant that you did not have to wait in line.</p>
<p>Darn…I just came across this discussion one day too late!
We went to renew my daughter’s passport yesterday (what timing, eh?).
Hers was due to expire in January, so knowing they were taking a long time (but not knowing how long), we assumed we had a full 6 months. Since there were no trips planned in the next 6 months (except perhaps to Mexico), we thought she’d be fine.<br>
Learned too late:<br>
-We didn’t put down any trip dates. Should have just to prevent it from falling to the bottom of the pile?
-They said she could not “renew” oher passport, because she was under 16 when her first was issued.
<p>Makes me feel better I paid the $60 to expedite ours - took 2 weeks for mine and a little less for my kids (got them last week). I didn’t pay extra for overnight postage (or whatever they wanted) because I figured I had enough time. They sent it overnight? FedEx anyway… Definitely worth the extra $ to expedite when you consider the consequences of getting it late. I think it helps to have a travel date in the near future or else I suspect it keeps falling lower in the pile…</p>
<p>Well, it will be interesting to see what happens. I did not notice or read this thread til now. My son just applied for a new passport (old one was going to expire and he was under 16 when it was issued). I did pay to expedite since I was told it takes 4 weeks when paying extra, and 10 weeks when not expedited (the current average according to the civil employee). We did not list a travel date, b/c he does not have any plans to travel. It will be interesting to see if we are put to the bottom of the pile anyway, or whether the extra $$ made things go a bit more quickly.</p>
<p>Does anyone know the answer. S #2 will have a passport that will exprire in the near future. He can apply under age 16, or he will be able to wait until he turns 16. Which is way is better and why? Thanks.</p>
<p>Wait until he turns 16; that we he won’t have to renew for ten years–and he won’t have to renew in person.</p>
<p><a href=“U.S. Passports”>U.S. Passports;
<p>Thanks, dmd.</p>
<p>We expediated son’s on 6/02 and don’t have it yet. My friends husband expediated around the same time and it took 2 weeks.
When her husband went to the county recorder to renew his passport the clerk sold him the fed express envelope and told him to send it in himself and it would be quicker then doing it through the court recorder. He had his in 2 weeks so I don’t know if that is why but might be worth a try. I don’t think it can be done for teens since they can’t be done by mail.</p>
<p>update for those who care to read.</p>
<p>Applied 3/29 - regular for DD’s trip to Spain on 7/15 (this Sunday). Called Senator and congressman for help. Got notified by Senator’s office this AM that passport has been processed and they sent it by… … USPS priority mail to arrive on or around 7/15th which is a Sunday!!!</p>
<p>Senator’s office was very kind and ask us to call them if we don’t get it by Thursday. They will request another one sent by FedEx next day.</p>
<p>We also have an appointment 9:00 AM on Friday (7/13) at Chicago office (5 hours away). </p>
<p>SW says if we don’t get it by Thursday we should call and wait for FedEx, I say we go even if they promise FedEx on Thursday.</p>
<p>Anyone has experience to share?</p>
<p>Son’s arrived yesterday!
Applied 6/2 expediated at post office. Son is under 18. Arrived 7/10 by Express Mail. Postmarked 7/9.
Good luck Laserbrother.</p>