Zfunky:



Covid has made things slower. My LO’s SSN came in a month after I gave birth even though I applied at the hospital ( it never used to take that long), not to mention that I kept calling them because their office has been closed since last year March, PreCovid all you needed to do was walk-in to one of their offices but now, you have to call and ask for an appointment and justify the reason why the appointment is a dire need ( they give appointments on dire need basis).

For us passport, it currently takes about 12 weeks to expedite and 18 weeks for routine. Am guessing this is due to high volumes of application during this summer period plus they were closed for many months last year due to covid.
It is almost impossible to expedite at a passport agency or center cause there is always no available appointment online when you check and the customer care number is always engaged. The most available ones are passport acceptance agents at libraries and post offices and you get it back in 12 or 18 weeks depending on which option you choose.

I have also tried exploring the option of getting a Nigerian passport (cause every individual even a baby must travel by air with a passport, the only exception was during the covid period when they had to get people home last year) and getting a US passport at the embassy in Lagos but getting a Nigerian passport isn’t that easy and straightforward too.

siwon96885:
What is everyone’s take on the best PoE? There seems to be so many opinions on this issue almost to the point of legendary mythology. Consensus seems to be that JFK is the best, while ATL and ORD are terrible, with LAX and IAH in between.

What are people’s current opinion on ATL? The daily Delta flight makes ATL the most convenient at the moment. Any informed opinions out there? Would really appreciate it… Is there was a poll option feature here so we can all vote on the best PoE?

Thank you for your time taken to answer my question.

siwon96885:
What is everyone’s take on the best PoE? There seems to be so many opinions on this issue almost to the point of legendary mythology. Consensus seems to be that JFK is the best, while ATL and ORD are terrible, with LAX and IAH in between.

What are people’s current opinion on ATL? The daily Delta flight makes ATL the most convenient at the moment. Any informed opinions out there? Would really appreciate it… Is there was a poll option feature here so we can all vote on the best PoE?

Thank you for your time taken to answer my question.

pointednose:
Thanks a lot for this robust feedback. This is a big challenge that people are not talking about which can affect one's travel plan.

Which state are you please?

So you are saying one can process the US passport in Lagos right? So can one just come home to process the US passport in lagos and travel with LO with ETC?

Is the SSN now compulsory for the processing of US
Passport? The last time I used multiple zeros in lieu of SSN. I'm thinking one can ask that SSN be sent to a trusted person who can then send it to one when its ready.

What is the timeline for birth certificate please?

Please will like to know your thoughts on these.


And looking forward to hearing from other Mamas/Papas.

Thank you.

Zfunky:
[/quote] [quote author=pointednose post=103402156]Thanks a lot.

I also don't know if one can get a fresh passport but someone posted here about the requirements to get a new passport in Lagos which include a picture of the mother pregnant in the US, mother and child in the US among others. Hopefully, it will be clear soon.

I actually know someone who travelled back to Nigeria from the US with just ETC without a passport.

I was surprised to see that the timeline for the US passports have extended again from the last time I asked about it . It is well.

Thanks again.

quote author=Zfunky post=103397404]


Kentucky.
I am not categorically stating that you can get a new passport at the us embassy in Lagos. I checked their website and it say renewals for minors, nothing about a fresh passport, I know they are making exceptions for people who travelled during Covid. I have no information about this cause I don’t know anyone who have used this route. I dropped this option because I am not sure if FIRST timers are given a us passport in Lagos.

And, no you can not travel with ETC alone, ( I may be wrong though but I highly doubt you can) but I know this exception (ETC alone) was made for people during the covid lockdown period. Every individual including babies must travel with a valid passport.

Having SSN is not compulsory if you do not have one, however if you already applied in the hospital and you are expecting it, given that the processing time for a us passport is now lengthy, there is no guarantee that when they get to your application and try to verify if truly the LO doesn’t have an SSN, what if by then it has been issued? It states on their website that if you do not declare your SSN and it was later discovered that you have one, your application can be delayed or denied and you even pay a penalty fee.
But i think the lengthy processing time for a us passport is a temporary issue, I believe that by September/October when this rush period is over the processing times will reduce again, maybe not to the Pre-pandemic period, because before mid June, expedited used to be 4 to 6weeks and routine 10 to 12 weeks, summer period made it sky rocket to 12 weeks for expedited and 18 weeks for routine.

For birth certificate, I think it depends on your state. I did a walk-in for this and collected it immediately,

Omosholape80:
For Chicago, the birth certificateis out within a week while you get the SSN within 2 weeks if applied from the hospital.
My applicationtracking is stillsaying within 6weeks for expedited service which does not include 6weeks of mailing. So possibly you get it even before the 6weeks but as at now back logs plenty

Majemitee:
Hello everyone! I had my son in Emory in 2018. With all the stories of getting rejected because of low Bills and filling B1/B2 instead of B2 when filling forms, I was so worried about my interview. I'm pleased to say we had a successful application in Abuja. Here is the transcript.

VO: Good morning, may I have your passports please.
(I hand them over)
VO: Have you two ever travelled together before?
DH: Yes
VO: Where?
DH: Houston
...
.
...
Now I can ask. Please I need accommodation in Atlanta, any ideas?

pointednose:
Quick question.

Good day all,

Please whats your experience with booking flights with a travel agent versus booking directly through the airline? As per cost, ease of changing flight dates, general help and support etc.

I want to go through a travel agent but mu husband is trying to book directly through the airline company.

Thanks

pointednose:
Quick question.

Good day all,

Please whats your experience with booking flights with a travel agent versus booking directly through the airline? As per cost, ease of changing flight dates, general help and support etc.

I want to go through a travel agent but mu husband is trying to book directly through the airline company.

Thanks

ibukunpops:
Travel agents save you some stress of searching and searching and they communicate all the rules of the ticket to you. Also help with date change and when any issues arises, sometimes you call and call the airline without any response when its not the official hours, but a reliable Travel agent should be reachable anytime.

You should consider using one.

Cheers

justwise:


Booking directly from the airlines will save you a lot of troubles if anything goes wrong. Airlines will deal with any issue directly and issue a refund if needed but you hardly get that from agents..

Agents are just after their commission, customer service is zero

penitential:
Thanks so much bro.

Enyi2020:
Please, what is the status with people previously refused on the reason of discounted birth bill? Has anybody under this category lucky to renew recently? Was the issue raised on your interview OR you had to offset the discount before presenting for the interview? Kind response will be highly appreciated. Thank you all.

ADEX0123:
HIi,

pls am having issue with appointment date kindly help me oo.. having been trying to secure date for the past 1 month now but i couldnt get any the ones am seeing is june 2022 and i need it dis year pls anyone date can help let me know biko.... am begging ooo cos i really need it ASAP.

Thank you

adycatus:


Hello, pls i sent you a mail. Kindly accept.


Do u mind October date and Abuja? Then my contact can help you