Just in case you missed it, Rush Passport was featured on a segment of Help Me Howard on the WPIX-TV Channel 11 News in NYC on June 10, 2010.
The following entry appeared on the Help Me Howard blog:
Brooklyn jazz musician Dwayne Burno plays double bass. And he’s played it all over the world. His career spans the globe..Japan, Brazil, Europe, Scandinavia and Poland. But recently, just as he was getting ready for back-to-back gigs, one of them overseas, he noticed his passport was about to expire.
” I can’t afford to miss something like this,” said Dwayne. “I’m the sole breadwinner of my family. I have pressing bills and health issues.”
We wondered why, if his livelihood depends on his passport, how could he not renew it in time? We know musicians get lost in their music, but Dwayne, what’s up with that?
” I’ve known the expiration had been coming up,” said Dwayne, ” I’ve always had to keep it in circulation. My last trip was less than a month ago, actually last couple of weeks I could never have had it out of my possession to turn it over and wait five weeks even I didn’t have enough time to do that.”
And Dwayne found dealing with the passport people baffling.
” I spoke to six different people through the phone bank which disconnected me twice and I found that everyone had different opinions about the policy. They told me, Yes, I could get it, or No, I wouldn’t be able to get one.”
When he did finally get an appointment, it was scheduled for after his flights would take place.
He thought he’d try in person anyway at the passport office on Hudson St. In the Village. But with no appointment, it was a no go.
” All I am is an American citizen trying to work that can’t afford to turn down a gig. I needed somebody to at least help me,” he said. ” Howard is the only person I could think of. I’ve watched Howard get things done, please Help Me Howard.”
With flights coming up fast, time was of the essence.
We found www.rushpassport.com. They are an expediting service, registered with the State Department.
The President, Roman Yagudaev, personally stepped up to help us.
When Dwayne walked in, Roman took over.
” Yes sir, how are you doing? I’m Roman, what can I help you with today?
” This is going to be a renewal replacement?”
Dwayne nodded.
” Can I look at your passport please?,” continued Roman, “and any supporting documents you have that I would need? An itinerary. I see you have the application already filled out, Form DS 82. That is the correct form for the renewal. Do you have passport photos?”
” Yes I do,” said Dwayne.
” Let me take a look at those. Great you have those taken already. Let’s makes sure they are correct. Yes, these are very good. Let me just make a photocopy.
” Just so you know, we are a registered expediter of the State Department and this will be submitted on your behalf with your consent, for processing. The original passport does have to be submitted to them with your application, which will be cancelled once it is adjudicated and approved by the State Department. Once they issue you a new passport that will be returned to you and the old one will be returned to you with your new passport, OK? In the meantime
I’m going to give you a photocopy of it if you need it for anything while we have possession of anything.
There were a few other forms to fill out.
” Here we have the letter of release and authorization in which you give us consent to submit this on your behalf to the State Department.
” First of all I need you to fill out your full name including your middle name if it appears on your passport. Sign your signature so that it can look exactly like your passport here.
” While you’re filling that out I have a quick question for you. I see you marked off the U.S. Passport Card. Did you want to want to apply for that as well?”
” Yes,” said Dwayne.
Roman familiarized us with the U.S. Passport Card.
” The U.S. Passport Card was created by the State Department for those looking to travel to Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean, by land or sea only. You do not need a passport if you’re driving there or taking the cruise. You cannot fly with the passport card. It also serves as a valid form of identification and proof of citizenship. So if you’re abroad and God forbid you lose your passport, you will be able to go to a U.S. Embassy and submit your U.S. Passport Card as your proof of citizenship. That’s extremely helpful in your obtaining a replacement passport.”
There is an extra $20 fee for that.
So Dwayne made out a check that included the $135 for the passport and the $20 for the passport card. He got a receipt for payment.
” You’re all set,” said Ramon. ” You have everything you need. We are going to submit this to the State Department tomorrow morning and you’ll be able to pick up your passport as we discussed. If you have any questions please give me a call. Thank you for using our services.
True to their word, the passport was ready for Dwayne as promised. Once again, it’s ‘have gig, will travel.
Dwayne could not have been more grateful.
” Thank you, Howard,” said Dwayne. ” I could not have done this without you.”
Produced by Noreen Lark
If you find yourself in a last minute passport crisis, and cannot get an appointment at a Regional Passport Agency in time for your trip or if you don’t have the time to do it yourself, and would like assistance, visit Rush Passport, Registered Expeditors of the US Dept of State, handling all Passport cases for children and adults at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Agent. (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Agency.
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