With this new online submission thing, if you forget something and the application is rejected do you just need to return and submit the one missing thing? Or is it the same old nonsense where they make you resubmit every document all over again…
You have to submit everything over again nothing is saved starting from scratch as if you never submitted it the first time everything is deleted nothing is saved back at the end of the line that’s the end you have no ability to make any corrections all of that ended in 2024 why don’t you take a moment and ask me how I know
It is for this very reason if I get denied a second time I have a application that has about 20 pages of documents it has the application pages the pay.gov pages all of them and in the renew box I listed every single thing I needed renewed in the same order that it was listed in the book I have copies of all of my IDs front and back and I reread the document probably 20 to 30 times before I saved the PDF and I will also later on because I got the compression down right on the PDFs I will submit every single course certificate as well when I make another PDF file in the future just because
…..???,!!!..…
There you go. You can go back and randomly throw these things into your posts.
Yeah I was just curious if they ended that practice or not.
Submitted a renewal on 6/10 and still don’t have an open application with the ASAP thing.
What a system.
It was about 6 weeks for me.
Submitted an app for PIC june 1st. Last week I received email notifications that I passed safety/suitability and was awaiting an evaluator. The next day I checked the application portal and it showed it had been received.
Thanks - hopefully there’s some movement soon.
I submitted a renewal on 6/6 and it still does not “exist” in their system.
Theoretically you should be before me! Except we live in the twilight zone.
Here’s my current timeline for reference.
-May 26, submitted
-July 1, received at REC
-July 10, cleared safety and security, thats where I’m still at now awaiting professional qualifications clearance.
So you guys are due to be received pretty much any day now, I would guess. Better hope none of us made any mistakes, if any of us forgot a signature or something it looks like its about two months or more before you even know that you have to get to the back of the line and start over. Lol.
Off topic, did anyone else have trouble with their taxes this year? I only finally received my tax refund a little while ago, it took about 3 months or more from when I submitted til it hit my bank account. I think the fact that I reported incomr from like 4 different states triggered a review but I don’t think the IRS has enough manpower to be efficieny anymore, either. Bad time to be dealing with any government offices I guess.
Approved to print today, here’s my timeline (straight renewal):
May 9th: Application submitted. (D+0)
June 13th: Application received by REC Martinsburg. (D+35)
June 25th: Cleared safety and suitability check. (D+47)
July 14th: Begin professional evaluation. (application was placed on hold same day briefly for missing doc that was then submitted same evening) (D+66)
July 16th: Application process completed and approved to print. (D+68)
For what it’s worth -
NMC Processing Timeline Update 2 – Recovery Efforts Continue to Reduce Processing Times Following 2026 Funding Lapse
The National Maritime Center (NMC) has made substantial progress in reducing the backlog of applications resulting from the 2026 lapse in appropriations. As a result of sustained recovery efforts and increased production capacity, the NMC is updating its published processing timeline outlined in the NMC Processing Timeline Update announcement dated June 16, 2026.
Effective immediately, complete applications are expected to be processed within 4 months from the date received, excluding any time waiting for mariner applicants to test or provide additional information. This improvement reflects expanded production efforts, overtime, surge processing, workflow efficiencies, and the reallocation of personnel and resources to reduce the backlog inventory accumulated during the lapse.
While application volumes remain elevated, current trends indicate continued progress toward restoring more normal processing timelines. Mariners and maritime employers should continue to plan accordingly and submit applications early to avoid potential disruptions to employment and vessel operations.
Key Information:
- Applications will continue to be processed on a first-in, first-out basis. Only applications demonstrating a clear and documented nexus to national defense will be considered for expedited processing.
- Mariners are strongly encouraged to apply early via the ASAP Tool to account for unforeseen delays. As a reminder, mariner credential renewals may also be post-dated up to 8 months, allowing mariners to renew early. Paper and incomplete submissions may delay issuance.
- Mariners should verify the expiration dates on their medical certificates before submitting a renewal application. Medical certificate expiration dates may differ from MMC expiration dates, and medical certificate renewal may not yet be necessary.
The NMC remains committed to further improving processing times while maintaining the safety, security, and professional standards of the U.S. merchant mariner credentialing system.
Mariners are encouraged to monitor the NMC website for updates regarding processing times, REC operations, and policy adjustments as operations stabilize. For ongoing updates, sign up for the NMC list server by scanning the QR code below. For questions, contact our Customer Service Center via the NMC online chat system, by e-mailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).
Sincerely,
/J. B. Suffern/
James B. Suffern
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard
Officer in Charge, Marine Inspections
A thought has occured to me during my interminable wait:
I submitted a drug letter from my last employer to satisfy the drug testing requirement. If I’m not mistaken, I believe I have to have been subject to testing within the last six months or so. Going into my third month of waiting, I am going beyond that time frame. Is that time supposed to be from time of submission (which I met the requirement for) or from the time someone actually reviews it, which is out of my control and I am now out of date?
Edit: for MMC renewal
Time of application.
I just got my renewal back. I had to test, which added a few days to it. Just over 80 days, with less than 2 weeks once the USCG looked at it.
Submitted May 6th. Received in the mail July 24th.