You just can’t make this kind of stuff up, folks. A Delaware woman applied for a passport renewal, only to be turned down because she had apparently been marked as deceased, healthy vital signs notwithstanding.

According to NBC’s local Philadelphia affiliate, the incorrect death report came to light when Terri Penza was applying for a passport renewal at the passport office in Philadelphia.  Since she was scheduled to be in Jamaica for a family vacation in just a few days, she applied in person at the office instead of by mail.  Imagine her confusion when, during what was supposed to be a routine appointment, she was told that she couldn’t get a passport because the government thought she was deceased!

Ms. Penza had been turned down earlier in the year for a store credit card for the same reason, but she had believed that it was just a “crazy fluke” since she was, after all, very much alive.  Fortunately, she was able to get her passport renewal on time, though not without a visit to the Social Security administration to get a letter confirming that the death record had been issued incorrectly.

Experiences like this demonstrate why it’s a good idea to apply for your passport renewal as far in advance as possible.    You never what could happen to turn a perfectly normal renewal request into a long, drawn-out affair.

If you’re on a deadline, an expedited company like RushMyPassport can help get your passport application processed more quickly, so you get notified of any problems ASAP and can hopefully get them corrected. We personally deliver your application to the Department of State, for processing times as low as 24 hours, and you’ll get a trained, professional passport specialist to walk you through the process.

Also, you’ll notice that Ms. Penza had to travel from her home in Delaware to the Philadelphia passport office to get her passport renewed in time. That’s because passport agency offices that can issue same-day passports are scattered about the country. You may not have one near you. If you don’t, or if you just don’t want to take the time to drive down there, an expediting company offers a more convenient solution.

Let us help you apply for your passport renewal today!