Passport Pre-Op

[Valerie Elizabeth]

I found on the http://www.nctequality.org/Issues/federal_documents.html#passport_gender site about changing your gender pre-op.  I was wondering if anyone followed those instructions.  Not that I doubt them, but the forms I have tell me to send them to a different address. 

Does anyone have experience with this?  Should I send them to the NCTE listed address, or should I send them to the address on the passport documentation.

Please let me know.

Valerie

[Renate]

I don't know. I sent a DS-82 (Application for a U.S. Passport by Mail) post-op to Philadelphia,
received my old documents from New Hampshire and my new passport from New Mexico.
Go figure.

I don't know how big a problem it could be traveling on a passport that says "Male".
I couldn't be bothered changing my passport beforehand and went through 4 borders.
I had no problem.

I'd stick with what travel.state.gov says.

[Julie Marie]

After I had my name change done (pre-GRS) I went to the Post Office and had them change my name and replace my photo.  It was pretty easy.

Julie

[Valerie Elizabeth]

Well, I want to do the Gender Change.  Says I can change it 1 year prior to SRS.  I have the letter from my surgeon.  It's under one year.  Just wondering if anyone did that as well?

[Julie Marie]

The US passport service requires a surgeon's affidavit stating GRS was performed or they will not change the gender.  Same with social security.

[Valerie Elizabeth]

Gender Change

    You must submit:

       1. Evidence of citizenship and proof of identity (for example, a driver's license or birth certificate).
       2. A photo that is a good likeness of current appearance.
       3. A fee of $85 to have a new passport issued.
       4. Medical documentation stating that you have had or are planning on having surgery.

    For Post Op transpeople, this documentation consists of a letter from a surgeon or hospital that performed surgery, a detailed statement from a medical surgeon regarding the surgery and name change evidence, if applicable (for example, a certified copy of a court document).

    For Pre Op transpeople, this documentation consists of a detailed statement from a surgeon with whom you have plans to undergo surgery. This statement must outline the plans for your surgery. If you are traveling to undergo it, the passport agency will issue a temporary passport valid for one year.

[Syne]

I sent mine in to the address provided and it went through in no time but then I let it expire after surgery so will have to go through it again sometime soon.

Make sure to make copies of everything and keep a notebook and note everything that you do and who you talked to, etc, etc.

[Valerie Elizabeth]

I sent mine in to the address provided and it went through in no time but then I let it expire after surgery so will have to go through it again sometime soon.

Make sure to make copies of everything and keep a notebook and note everything that you do and who you talked to, etc, etc.

Provided at the website or on the paperwork?

[Syne]

Paperwork as I did not follow any websites except the one the .gov has out there.

[Julie Marie]

Gender Change

    You must submit:

       1. Evidence of citizenship and proof of identity (for example, a driver's license or birth certificate).
       2. A photo that is a good likeness of current appearance.
       3. A fee of $85 to have a new passport issued.
       4. Medical documentation stating that you have had or are planning on having surgery.

    For Post Op transpeople, this documentation consists of a letter from a surgeon or hospital that performed surgery, a detailed statement from a medical surgeon regarding the surgery and name change evidence, if applicable (for example, a certified copy of a court document).

    For Pre Op transpeople, this documentation consists of a detailed statement from a surgeon with whom you have plans to undergo surgery. This statement must outline the plans for your surgery. If you are traveling to undergo it, the passport agency will issue a temporary passport valid for one year.

I tried that but the USPS said they needed a surgeon's affidavit that the surgery already had been performed.  Both Julie and I went to Montreal with that "M" on our passport.  More power to you if they accept a pre letter.

Julie

[ceili]

I applied for my passort in June. All I did was put "Female" on my application, though my BC still said male. I got a phone call from the Boston passport office, asking me about the discrepency. I explained that I was transgender and applying for the passport to travel to Thailand for surgery. He replied that he thought that might be the case, then said he was going to mail a letter to me with instructions on how to get a temporary passport (good for a year) with Female on it. In four days I had the letter and all I had to do was mail a copy of the letter back along with documentation from my therapists verifying that I was truly transgender and my plans for Thailand. I got the passport with my F about two weeks later.

Now that I'm post-op, all I have to do is send a copy of the letter from my surgeon in order to get that F permanent and a 10 year passport. I already changed Social Security and the BC is in the works.

~Ceili

[Valerie Elizabeth]

I tried that but the USPS said they needed a surgeon's affidavit that the surgery already had been performed.  Both Julie and I went to Montreal with that "M" on our passport.  More power to you if they accept a pre letter.

Julie

I think the USPS didn't know the policy.  I would have mailed it anyway.  But, you are post op now, so it doesn't matter.

[Valerie Elizabeth]

I just wanted to update this. 

I decided to go ahead with applying for the passport.  I sent it to the address on the NTCE website.  I followed their instructions to the T.  I submitted the paperwork via USPS Priority Mail with delivery confirmation.  I did this on Thursday the 17th of September.  I recieved my new passport along with a voided (hole punched) old passport today.  That was an 11 day turnaround (including weekends, wow).

The passport is valid for 1 year, and everything is correct on it.  No hassles.

Easy as can be.

Valerie
Post Merge: September 28, 2009, 01:29:45 PM
It says on the last page of the passport.

-This passport expires on SEP 23 2010.  It cannot be replaced without the express authorization of the department of state.

-A full validity passport book and card may be authorized upon receipt of required documentation.