So post offices never answer their phone?

[Tommy2000GT]

I called 3 local post offices to make an appointment to apply for a passport. None of them will pick up the phone.

 

[kranky]

Perhaps they have Caller ID?

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Schedule an appt?

I would suggest you show up at the opening time and stand in line. Bring all your paperwork and checkbook.

 

[sdifox]

It's a post office. Send them a letter.

 

[lxskllr]

Try again on Monday.

 

[kranky]

Schedule an appt?

I would suggest you show up at the opening time and stand in line. Bring all your paperwork and checkbook.

Maybe it varies by post office, but the ones here only do passport apps by appointment. Last time I called to get one, the next open appointment was in 4 days. But they do put up a sign that says you need an appointment, so if you just show up and there's no sign, you might win.

I would bring checks, cash and a debit card. Our courthouse that does passport apps (without an appointment!) requires cash for their fee, but a check for the State Dept. fee. They take debit for other fees, but not passport fees. And they require cash for passport fees but WON'T take cash for certain other things. They were so screwed up I can't believe anyone can get a passport app processed on the first try. We got turned away for not bringing our marriage license even though her expired passport was in her married name. I insisted I had followed the directions to the letter and there was no requirement for a marriage license in our situation, but he didn't care.

Then when we went back, there was a different clerk and he had no idea why we were trying to give him our marriage license. Didn't want it.

 

[Tommy2000GT]

Schedule an appt?

I would suggest you show up at the opening time and stand in line. Bring all your paperwork and checkbook.

Yes, when I look them up online, they require an appointment.

 

[jaedaliu]

I think you can just fill out the stuff and mail it in. You can completely bypass the post office.

 

[Tommy2000GT]

I think you can just fill out the stuff and mail it in. You can completely bypass the post office.

I'm applying for a passport for the 1st time and they require it be done in person.

 

[KidNiki1]

i'm sure you have more then one post office in your area, yes? some have very specific times when you can go and make appointments, and some have a passport day. print the paperwork off, fill it out, get your photo and take all the stuff you need to an office that has a no appointment day. just get there early.

or try this site and find another place to get them: http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/

 

[Phanuel]

Why would you need a passport? How do you have any money for travelling?

 

[sixone]

Post offices don't keep enough staff to take care of the customers waiting in line. They don't have anyone available to answer the phone.

 

[BrokenVisage]

I've experienced this too. Wanted to see what POs, if any, had a scanner that enabled Fast Return for Gamefly games. Called 8 POs, NO ONE picked up, it rang and rang and rang..

 

[z1ggy]

Why would you need a passport? How do you have any money for travelling?

For his upcoming honey moon... duh!!!!!!!!

The next T2kGT thread will be, "My girl friend is forcing me to pay for an elaborate honey money and wants to take her best guy friend along, too. What do I do!?"

 

[jaedaliu]

For his upcoming honey moon... duh!!!!!!!!

The next T2kGT thread will be, "My girl friend is forcing me to pay for an elaborate honey money and wants to take her best guy friend along, too. What do I do!?"

No no, I predict: "Does the romantic trip for the proposal count as part of the money spent on the engagement ring?"

 

[Tommy2000GT]

The post office is still not answering. I'm going to just show up tomorrow. If they give me any trouble I'll tell them they need to answer their phone.

 

[SKORPI0]

Did you check if your city hall/civic center provides the same service? Applied there for a passport and got it in 2 weeks.

 

[SlickSnake]

I called 3 local post offices to make an appointment to apply for a passport. None of them will pick up the phone.

They are only a bazillion dollars in debt due to really stupid stuff like marketing their own custom clothing line which is forcing them to close down post offices. And yet you honestly expected them to answer their phone?

http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/02/20/u-s-postal-service-to-launch-clothing-line/

 

[Murloc]

I didn't recognize you at first because of the avatar.
Anyway it's pretty weird that the post does this. You don't have centers that handle documents?
Like do you have to get an identity card at the post office too?

 

[kranky]

I didn't recognize you at first because of the avatar.
Anyway it's pretty weird that the post does this. You don't have centers that handle documents?
Like do you have to get an identity card at the post office too?

It's not only post offices that handle passport applications. Many courthouses do, but for people outside of cities that could mean a very long trip. So being able to do it at a post office is more convenient.

The US doesn't have mandatory identity cards but they are available to people who want one. They are usually issued by the same offices who issue driver's licenses.

 

[Pardus]

I called 3 local post offices to make an appointment to apply for a passport. None of them will pick up the phone.

Go to http://travel.state.gov/ and complete Form DS-11
http://eforms.state.gov/forms//docs/ds0011.pdf

Go down to the post office and get it done, no need to make an appt.

 

[twinrider1]

Go in person and stand in line. Then they'll do nothing but answer phones.

 

[Tommy2000GT]

So I just came back from the post office. The lady in the front says they don't answer phone calls anymore because they are understaffed. But offered to make an appointment for next week. There were only 3 employees, the lady in front and 2 in the back sorting mail & packages.

 

[effowe]

The post office is a joke. Most times I go there is one person working the counter, with a line of 10+ customers. Last time I went I could hear two people in the back shooting the shit, while nothing was getting done up front.