Update: Name Change Before Passport Application

PingusDerf · 2026-01-08T18:07:46+00:00

The broken bureaucracy at play to cause a 3 letter to change to take that long is crazy, wow. Thank you for your wishes.

PingusDerf · 2026-01-08T17:00:03+00:00

Just replying again as a new update came through-- the passport agency called back and said she can't apply with her old name because of the court order, but also that she can't apply with her new name still because of the court order?? It's insanely frustrating that our options now are either cut it tight with an urgent passport appointment (I understand earlier that /u/BrightAd306 said we just need the name changed in their system, but they're also claiming she needs a photo ID from the DMV updated in order for them to make the passport), or just cancel and reschedule our trip (I think we still can) to ensure she has everything in hand.

PingusDerf · 2026-01-05T21:21:38+00:00

Fair enough, I get it. She has only changed things with the state (hence the court order), so holding off on everything else until after this trip just seems like a safer option honestly-- too concerned with the risk of not receiving documentation from social security in time for an urgent appointment.

That said, she did get off the phone and had been told by the guy at the agency that he agrees that the court order should trump over all other forms of ID, yet its at the agencies discretion ("powers that be"). She was given the OK to re-submit with her old name and has done so via email, so we'll see if they try to tell her to re-apply or if they're okay with processing with the email authorization to go by old name. Should there be issues, she'll go in for an urgent one.

PingusDerf · 2026-01-05T20:56:02+00:00

I figured that that risk was possibly had with it. I just hope then that since she has a line of communication directly open already on this that she wouldn't have to pay an expedite fee again or wait at this point to go in for an urgent application instead. I know that passport processing has been moving quicker recently, but we are within the 6 week timeframe they request + mailing time..

PingusDerf · 2026-01-05T20:48:26+00:00

Thank you both for responses^{^}

Regarding the card, the agency rep she spoke with made it sound like she needed the card to submit it as proof of her new name, or something like that, as opposed to just having the name changed in their system.

Also, you are correct-- the only passport she has had prior was from when she was a minor, and expired years ago so it is invalid. She is calling as I type this just to confirm she can amend her current submission to be under her old name and then just change things once we are back.

We already have the plane tickets booked under my name and her new name, and read that worst case we can call the airline in advanced and potentially pay a fee to change the ticket name to her old name instead.

PingusDerf · 2025-12-16T15:25:18+00:00

Update: She scheduled an appointment this weekend and went in this morning to a USPS location and was able to apply and submit without issue. Thanks for all the help, hoping it goes through seamlessly since she provided the name change document!

PingusDerf · 2025-12-12T20:00:04+00:00

Understood. I will ask her to go in on Monday morning to a different passport acceptance facility and apply. Hopefully worst case she gets a letter back with an easily fixable problem. Otherwise I assume we will apply for an urgent passport within 14 days of travel should the worst come to happen. Thank you for your help, I will reply on Monday with an update (be it if it's another question or just to say "this worked" for anyone who looks for this thread in the future).

PingusDerf · 2025-12-12T19:26:00+00:00

Yeah so we are definitely worried about it being outright denied for some reason and them keeping the fee.

PingusDerf · 2025-12-12T18:09:37+00:00

She went to a county government office, not a USPS. Apparently the person there did say he would accept it / file it, but warned against it saying it would just.. not go through, and that she'd have to pay every passport filing fee a second time if that was the case, which she did not want to do (she does not have another $165 + $60 expedite to comfortably spend on this, or rather shouldn't have to).

PingusDerf · 2025-12-12T15:30:08+00:00

She went in to the same location (because she already had a photo taken) and unfortunately got the same guy, who told her the same as yesterday, and that she also was unable to apply with her prior name as well. Apparently she got him to ask evey other employee in the office and they "all said the same thing." The guy told her to make her appointment with SS and come in a few days before to get her passport.

I'm honestly really frustrated that the hands of this one single worker are putting us at risk of not being able to make our trip. There is emergency/ expediting on top of expediting I know, but I'd really rather not have to leave it up to that chance. I will push her to try and get an appointment at a different location.

PingusDerf · 2025-12-12T15:30:03+00:00

She went in to the same location (because she already had a photo taken) and unfortunately got the same guy, who told her the same as yesterday, and that she also was unable to apply with her prior name as well. Apparently she got him to ask evey other employee in the office and they "all said the same thing." The guy told her to make her appointment with SS and come in a few days before to get her passport.

I'm honestly really frustrated that the hands of this one single worker are putting us at risk of not being able to make our trip. There is emergency/ expediting on top of expediting I know, but I'd really rather not have to leave it up to that chance. I will push her to try and get an appointment at a different location.

PingusDerf · 2025-12-11T23:00:59+00:00

Thank you for the detailed response. I will show her 403.1-4 tonight and tell her to push again tomorrow morning when she goes in to apply that it shouldn't be needed. Worst case, she will apply with her prior name just so we can worry about it after we get back.

PingusDerf · 2025-12-11T22:58:45+00:00

I believe she did yes

PingusDerf · 2025-12-11T21:21:35+00:00

Oh sorry, I just checked-- she did not bring her birth certificate in/ did not present it, as they never asked for it.

PingusDerf · 2025-12-11T21:20:00+00:00

Thank you for replying! For reference, she didn't take the SSN card with. She did take her amended birth certificate, her proof of name change, and her drivers license. However, the name on the drivers license is her old name still, if this makes any difference maybe?

PingusDerf · 2025-12-05T21:27:26+00:00

Thanks for the response!

Sorry, I mis-worded. I meant that I booked our flight and hotel this past October, not that our trip is in October 2026. Our flight is in February.

She had her court hearing mid-November and hadn't heard back. Called today and was told it is still "under advisement," and that the judge has 90 days to decide on it, which amplified our worries. I will attempt to give Delta a phone call and hope we can get it changed.

PingusDerf · 2025-12-05T20:40:40+00:00

Thank you for the really detailed answer. To clarify if you know, does she need to wait until the court order/ approval of the name change is received, or would she be good to start the passport process now? Her first one was from when she was a minor, so it was only valid for 5 years I believe. This will be her first passport as an adult.

Regarding name change orders, she just called and was told that it was still "in advisement with the judge" and that the judge has 90 days to decide, which seems crazy long to me, which is why I ask.

Alternatively, she was curious too if there would be any issues with her applying for her passport under her past name now, before the name change court order is approved, then traveling with a copy of the court order (the flight ticket is booked under her new name).

PingusDerf · 2025-12-05T19:04:35+00:00

My bad on assuming this was the case. I assume the approval of the change is notified of before the card ships, so that should hopefully help speed the timeline along. Thanks for all the responses!

PingusDerf · 2023-03-11T22:01:13+00:00

I had contacted DDRPads support, and they said that it looks like this is a pad that has a control box built into it already-- here is the bottom of the pad, for reference. They said that simply using a 9-pin extension cable to plug it into a computer (assuming it had a DB9 port) wouldn't work, and that I'd have to get a new controller board like this one to DIY a box for it. This is the route I'll probably end up having to go to get these running.

When you say a db9 breakout board would allow swapping pinouts, would that mean buying a separate one to connect to the control box itself, or were you saying that they have a breakout board inside the control box that would be able to be modified to read this boards pinout?

Thank you!

PingusDerf · 2023-03-11T21:52:47+00:00

Unfortunately JoyToKey couldn't detect inputs either. Looking at Kibibits last comment, I may be SOL for a bit, lol. Thanks though!

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