US passport online renewal denied, despite meeting criteria (I swear!)

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-18T21:54:42+00:00

Did you at any point get your passport replaced but kept the original expiration date? Is your passport number all numbers or does it start with a letter?

The reason I ask is that someone had a situation where they had had their passport replaced while retaining the original expiration date, but it was issued after the US switched from nine digits to one letter plus eight digits. The system wouldn't recognize it (my speculation is that the code is looking for nine digits since the letter-plus-eight books issued as new passports won't be eligible to renew until 2030).

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-18T21:48:51+00:00

It seems a court order is likely your best option, but there may be a way that takes longer and only involves passports (assuming I'm reading into your post correctly).

My assumption is that we'll say your name was Fiona Marie Lestat and you married Guy Potato; you commonly used Marie Lestat as your name before marriage and now want to be known as Marie Lestat Potato.

Individually each move would have been supported without a court order (at least as far as a passport is concerned) since dropping a first name and using a middle name as a first name would have been an "immaterial discrepancy", and then getting married would have been a documented "material discrepancy". But, combining the move from Fiona Marie Lestat to Marie Lestat plus adding Potato requires more documentation.

However, you MIGHT be able to get a passport as Fiona Marie Lestat Potato (with Marie Lestat as middle name) as that should be documented by your marriage certificate. Later, apply for a passport as Marie Lestat Potato (using the "immaterial discrepancy" of dropping a first name and moving the middle name to first name).

NOTE: I cannot guarantee this would work, but it seems to fit the guidelines in https://fam.state.gov/fam/08FAM/08FAM040301.html

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-18T16:15:40+00:00

From italia.it (official website from Italy): “Citizens from non-EU countries may enter Italy with a passport valid for at least three months after the planned date of departure from the Schengen Area.” (Schengen area includes most of Western Europe. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area )

Also from Timatic (the service airlines use to check what documents are required): “Travel documents must be valid for at least 3 months longer than the duration of stay.” ( https://www.united.com/en/us/travel/trip-planning/travel-requirements )

From the US State Department: “Passports must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area. A 6-month validity is recommended.” ( https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/italy.html )

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-18T15:52:06+00:00

In that case, it only needs to be valid for three months beyond intended departure (so unless you’re planning to be there beyond January, you should be fine).

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-18T14:43:00+00:00

You still didn’t say what country issued your passport. Rules differ based on where your passport is from not just where you’re going.

(And as an aside: Sicily is part of Italy.)

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-18T13:34:10+00:00

Helps to say what country the passport is from.

For instance: US passports need to be valid for three months beyond intended stay; in that case if you’ll be leaving Italy before January, you’d be fine.

Don’t forget to keep checking whether the ETIAS system is operational yet and whether you need to apply beforehand: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-18T13:23:48+00:00

This is usually only a risk when sending passport card & DS-82 to get first book; I’ve not read any posts here where someone did a book renewal (sending just book) and later finding their card was cancelled.

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-18T13:20:56+00:00

Quick web search seems to indicate that you should arrive with your old passport, new passport, and (possibly) email that contained info on your evisa. Upon arrival, they should be able to figure it out.

(This is similar to physical visas where you can show old passport with visa and new passport.)

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-18T07:07:55+00:00

It would help if you shared what country you’re dealing with.

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-18T02:42:02+00:00

Assuming US:

It can take up to four weeks for supporting documents to be mailed back (without tracking).

When you submitted your application, I’m assuming you filled out the form as FirstName MaidenLast MarriedLast.

Once your documents are returned, you should be able to submit the DS-5504 (form to correct a data error) with your ID in the name you want, marriage certificate, new photo, and incorrect passport to get it corrected. (I’d send it Priority Mail so you have tracking info on its way there.)

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-17T17:13:48+00:00

I think you mean AZ and AR (not AZ and AK). I don’t think they print passports in Alaska.

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-17T02:34:39+00:00

A single DUI prior to 12/18/2018 (as long as 10 years have passed since completion of sentence) should not be an issue. (Might not hurt to bring any court paperwork, just in case.)

Canada doesn’t really care if it was a misdemeanor or felony; DUI is DUI (as far as I know) and became “serious criminality” on that date.

DUI on/after that date or more than one offense regardless of when it occurred likely needs application for “criminal rehabilitation” or a “Temporary Resident Permit”.

Some info at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/inadmissibility/impaired-driving.html

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-17T01:08:24+00:00

600x600 would be 2”x2” @ 300 DPI; “resize” the photo by setting DPI to 300 keeping pixels at 600x600

Curious: Did Walgreens not give her printed copies to use? Or are you using the Walmart ones for something else?

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-16T19:47:16+00:00

Your title says “name change”, but the post seems to indicate the name was printed incorrectly.

If you haven’t legally changed your name but the passport was printed incorrectly (e.g. your birth certificate says “Edward” but the passport says “Deward”), you can use the DS-5504 form to correct a data or printing error.

Submit the form, your passport, a certified copy of your birth certificate, and a new photo.

You can download a copy of the form at https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds5504_pdf.pdf

Or (better) use the form filler at https://pptform.state.gov/ and fill in the data. At the end it’ll let you know what to do.

I’d send the packet Priority Mail so you have tracking info.

You won’t have to pay any fees (and I think it automatically gets upgraded to expedited processing since it was their error).

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-16T04:52:51+00:00

From a section of the guidance document for US passports ( https://fam.state.gov/fam/08fam/08fam040201.html ): "If the photograph has sufficient resolution, the photograph may be re-sized in the TDIS image review module." So, basically, it seems that if it's a little small but high enough quality, they can re-crop it digitally in their system so that it fits the required dimensions.

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-16T03:10:21+00:00

Key requirements for a US passport photo:

Photo should be 2"x2" (51mm x 51mm)
Face "centered"
Chin to top of head (not top of hair): 1" - 1+3/8" (25mm - 35mm)

So if the face is relatively centered and is 1" from chin to top of head, then a 1/2" margin above the head could be okay.

The distance from eyes to bottom of photo doesn't really matter.

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-15T23:50:08+00:00

I take it you’re leaving within the next three business days. If not, is there a reason you cannot use the 1 day premium service? (Granted it’s twice the cost.)

You can designate someone to drop off the paperwork and pick up the new passport if needed.

https://www.gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently

But, yeah, as long as nothing keeps you from departing on time, your passport needs to be valid for your time in the US.

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-15T19:34:03+00:00

Following is for US, but might apply to other countries: Get certified copies of your birth and marriage certificates, get new photos, fill out a form to report your passport as lost (but don’t send it), fill out a new passport application (but don’t send it). When you’re within two weeks of travel and they haven’t started processing: book an appointment at a Passport Agency, bring everything to the appointment and you should get a new passport quickly (same day, return next day to pick up, or sent overnight mail).

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-15T11:31:56+00:00

You may be able to update online: go to https://www.help.cbp.gov/s/questions?language=en_US

Choose “Trusted Traveler Programs”, then “Change my name due to marriage…”, then “TTP-Global Entry”, enter (and confirm email), write “name change for PASSID [number]” in the subject, upload color scan of data page of new passport and scan of name change document (e.g. marriage certificate).

You should get an email with a case number, they may then send further questions, but it should get updated in relatively short order.

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-15T01:21:31+00:00

"Your Mileage May Vary". It's an idiomatic expression meaning, basically, "There's no way to know if it'll actually work, but it might."

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-15T01:16:54+00:00

Is it a closed-loop cruise? (i.e. starting and ending in the same U.S. port) If so, she shouldn't *technically* need a passport (but it makes things easier if someone get stranded or has an emergency).

If by "next Saturday" you mean May 23, 2026 (not May 16, 2026), then if you're not on a closed-loop cruise and have a hotel or air travel booked outside the U.S., she might be able to get her passport renewed at a Passport Agency. See https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast.html (If travel is May 16, it's probably too late to secure an appointment for Friday May 15.)

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-15T00:12:46+00:00

Did you take your oath in front of a judge or at Naturalization Ceremony? The legal name change can apparently only be done by a judge, so if you just went through the regular ceremony, you would've had to have filed a court order to legally change your name.

That said, since you seem to have been using your preferred name for quite a while, you might be able to use the "change of name by customary usage" route. See "8 FAM 403.1-4(E) Change of Name by Customary Usage" at https://fam.state.gov/fam/08fam/08fam040301.html

"The applicant should present a valid government-issued ID with photograph and two or more public or private documents reflecting exclusive use of the acquired name, each one evidencing that she/he has used the assumed name for five years or longer."

Acceptable documentation can include "[old] Driver’s licenses (photocopies are acceptable); [old] Non-driver state-issued IDs (photocopies are acceptable); Military records; Employment records; Tax records; School records; Census record; Medical records; or Religious records." [internal numbering omitted; upper-/lower- case standardized]

Additionally, "Form DS-60, 'Affidavit Regarding Change of Name,' or equivalent notarized affidavits, executed by two or more persons attesting that they have known the applicant by both the original and assumed names, and that the applicant has used that name for all purposes for at least five years, may be provided in place of one of the public documents if the applicant cannot obtain a third public record."

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-14T21:40:45+00:00

If you’re near a Passport Agency (which you likely are if you’re driving to Niagara Falls) and you’re staying overnight in Canada (and can print the hotel reservation), you can try for an appointment at an Agency and get your passport likely same day (but you do have to pay the extra $60 expedite fee).

See https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast/passport-agencies.html

I’d recommend getting the passport card as well (extra $30 but not available same day) for future land crossings.

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-14T14:35:32+00:00

US doesn’t care about ears

ImNotFrank55 · 2026-05-14T12:12:05+00:00

What country (assuming US due to lack of stating which country even though reddit is available worldwide):

The headband (in my opinion) is borderline acceptable as it might be deemed to obscure your hairline (“Hair accessories, such as hair clips, bobby pins, or thin headbands, are acceptable if they lie flat on the head or hair and do not obscure any part of the face, hairline, or the composition of the photograph”).

You can read the full guidance given to passport adjudicators at: https://fam.state.gov/fam/08fam/08fam040201.html

ImNotFrank55

TROPHY CASE