My boyfriend and I have planned a trip to Costa Rica with us leaving on dec 16. We applied 6 weeks in advance. To my surprise my passport came immediately, but my boyfriends was denied. Apparently he owed Child Support Services a bit of money that he was unaware wasn't paid. He paid off the balance immediately, and had his name removed from the black list that support office had to keep him from getting the passport. They assured us nothing should be keeping the passport from processing. Figuring the passport would not arrive by mail in time, we tried to will call the passport in Philadelphia (because they still have his birth certificate, and application held in philly) We have been on the phone with the generic passport number (1877) for what seems like a week and a half straight and still can't get cooperation from the passport office. They continue to tell us that it isn't processing and his name is still on this mysterious list. We contacted the Child Support office (who is very helpful, unlike the passport office) who again assured us that his name was removed days ago and there should be no problems, just to be sure the lady faxed a copy of the paper work to the passport offices. (this process usually takes longer but we were given special permission and contacted many people to have the process rushed through the state and federal Child Support offices)
We called the Passport office again and we were only met with more frustration. The customer service is horrible and trying to talk to someone in Michigan about your passport issues at the Philly office is useless. We are leaving in four days and still the passport office says they can't help us. We plan to go to the Philadelphia office on Monday and hope to solve the problem there. I do not understand why you cannot just call the Philadelphia office directly, I feel like that would move the process along and solve the problem. If anyone knows the number to the Philadelphia Passport Agency office I would really like to have it. The 877 number told me there is no phone number (which I realize is a lie, they just don't give it out). It will be really upsetting if we lose all the money we put in to this trip even after we spent the last 2+ weeks taking care of everything we could to get the passport in order. My problem lies with the customer service and dis-organization of the U.S. passport system.
I feel like they keep sending us in circles, with no real end in sight.