I’m on day #37 awaiting my TWIC renewal. I’ve heard people getting their renewal in less than a week, and others saying it’s taken over 40 plus days. Once again, another government program that they can’t manage in a timely manner. No harm or foul to them, they collect a check no matter what…meanwhile I’m about to lose work over it. Grrrrrr
Last year when I renewed mine, my twic was lost in the mail. I called to get another sent which they did. They then informed me I would be charged again if they had to reprint and send another. Luckily it arrived the second time around.
Got my renewal one week ago. Less than two weeks start to finish. Ten minute office appointment to get new photo and prints and fork over $128. They said it could be up to six weeks but came in mail in under two weeks. Doesn’t make much sense it would take long for a renewal. I could understand for an original application where they have to do a full blown background check.
Renewed two months early last February, when it was convenient to stop by a TWIC office before getting back for a hitch. Wanted to avoid any possible snags. The new TWIC card was issued within two weeks and arrived at home before the end of the hitch.
Of course, the new TWIC expires 5 years from the date of issue, not five years from the expiration of the old card, so the TWIC folks just made a little more money. With all the TWIC cards issued that renew a month or two early just to avoid a delay, the TWIC folks have more to pay their lobbyists.
Mine took almost a month, if not over. They do promise two weeks or something like that.
Also, cynicism is strong here, I feel. It’s just a card, guys. Almost everything is bureaucratic when it comes to stuff like this, even our MMC, it is to be expected. I’ve lived in other countries and I got to say, although bureaucracy is strong in the US, the government does manage to do their work rather efficiently, [U]considering[/U] the innumerable amounts of people and how large this joint is altogether. Have an old fashioned and calm your salty balls.
Have you called? Mine took about 32 days and at the time they said I should have it within 21 days.
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[QUOTE=sjöman;187057]Have an old fashioned and calm your salty balls.[/QUOTE]
It’s hard to calm your salty balls when no card means no work.
Mine got to my home surprisingly fast- processed and mailed in less than 3 days and in my mailbox in about a week. I started the process several weeks early. Glad I did, though, given all the issues the TSA has had lately.
Give em a call and rattle their cage. Also, consider contacting your congress critter. Make them earn their pay.
[QUOTE=catherder;187064]Mine got to my home surprisingly fast- processed and mailed in less than 3 days and in my mailbox in about a week. I started the process several weeks early. Glad I did, though, given all the issues the TSA has had lately.
Give em a call and rattle their cage. Also, consider contacting your congress critter. Make them earn their pay.[/QUOTE]
I definitely advocate calling your US senator or local congressman. Picking the one with the most tenure is probably best.
I called my 6 plus term senator lately to get my MMC renewal delays resolved; that was on day 42 in the afternoon, a Thursday. It had not been assigned to an evaluator by the 45th day since it was rx. Between 0800 and 1200 on day 46 (a Monday) it was assigned, approved, and issued. It arrived by USPS on day 49.
I have zero doubt the call to the Senator’s office made all the difference.
absolutely. I strongly agree. If you don’t complain when it’s necessary you’re part of the problem.
I’ve had my congress and office help when I went a while without even being assigned an evaluator, approved to test the next day.
Just be happy they mail them. If I remember right I had to pick mine up where I applied for it. Same thing when I renued it 3 years ago.
[QUOTE=sjöman;187057]Mine took almost a month, if not over. They do promise two weeks or something like that.
Also, cynicism is strong here, I feel. It’s just a card, guys. Almost everything is bureaucratic when it comes to stuff like this, even our MMC, it is to be expected. I’ve lived in other countries and I got to say, although bureaucracy is strong in the US, the government does manage to do their work rather efficiently, [U]considering[/U] the innumerable amounts of people and how large this joint is altogether. Have an old fashioned and calm your salty balls.[/QUOTE]
Really hard to remain calm when the most ignorant card ever issued, will prevent me from going to work!
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[QUOTE=Johnny Canal;187068]I definitely advocate calling your US senator or local congressman. Picking the one with the most tenure is probably best.
I called my 6 plus term senator lately to get my MMC renewal delays resolved; that was on day 42 in the afternoon, a Thursday. It had not been assigned to an evaluator by the 45th day since it was rx. Between 0800 and 1200 on day 46 (a Monday) it was assigned, approved, and issued. It arrived by USPS on day 49.
I have zero doubt the call to the Senator’s office made all the difference.[/QUOTE]
I’m about to do the same with my STCW renewal. My application has been in since the end of April. Just did the live chat thing on the homeport website and they are telling me that due to the number of applications, that it’s taking 26-27 days alone…just to be assigned to an evaluator. Clearly they have their head lodged up their backsides. Glad I didn’t wait until this fall to do the gap closing classes. Imagine how much fun that’s going to be for guys that did wait.
I appreciate the heads up. I have until December, so I will probably start the process in October. Loosing a couple of months over a 5 year span isn’t bad. At least I can expense mine. . .
Renewed mine back in january…from the day I made my appointment online till I had it in hand it was only about a two week wait.
I guess the lesson here is to renew early no matter what, because for whatever reason their service is not consistently punctual.
I wonder if what office you get it done at matters for time.
A buddy mine waited 38 days from the twic office in Corpus, Mine was ready in 24 hours using the twic office in Deer Park, down by the Houston ship channel.
Sorry a billion dollar boondoggle is something to get upset about.
Never mind that a TWIC does no good at the airport, no you have to get a TSA precheck card to bypass the security lines. Thats another $85, and the same background check.
Get this I go online to sign up for renewal and they is no option to accept a current TWIC card as proof of ID.
How the FUCK does that make sense.
Renewed mine on a Monday, Flew South to work on Wednesday, Received notification on Friday it was ready to pick up.
Seriously, it might be that you did not renew your visa to work in the GoM like I told you to! :rolleyes:
[QUOTE=Emerald Shellback;187113]Renewed mine on a Monday, Flew South to work on Wednesday, Received notification on Friday it was ready to pick up.
Seriously, it might be that you did not renew your visa to work in the GoM like I told you to! :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]
I don’t know, I wouldn’t be so upset if I haven’t been hearing the stories of people getting their card within a week. I’m on day 41 now. I’ve heard of others taking 45 plus days. I’ve went up the entire chain at the Universal Enrollment Center and they keep saying the same pre-generated excuse of heavy application volumes, and no recourse to follow up except generating a ticket for response…WHICH will take time for them to answer. I’ve given up with them and have written my senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.
Start early. It took 6 weeks to get mine back. They say 30 days. All this for a card that never comes out of my wallet. Its a joke. Government revenue. I wonder how the foreign flag crew get on the dock. Ha. Ha.
[QUOTE=hawspipehillbilly;187132]Start early. It took 6 weeks to get mine back. They say 30 days. All this for a card that never comes out of my wallet. Its a joke. Government revenue. [U]I wonder how the foreign flag crew get on the dock.[/U] Ha. Ha.[/QUOTE]
They are supposed to be escorted from gangway to gate which usually means getting in a mini bus to and from, if they are allowed ashore at all. Same can happen overseas for a US citizen depending on which country you are in and what security level is in effect. Most of them just have a shore pass system in place though. I dont crew change in the US anymore so you are right it doesnt come out unless I have to send a photo copy to the USCG for a renewal. I guess it must be the longshoremen, truck drivers and other port workers that use it regularly. For someone holding a credential is sure seems redundant and a solution looking for a problem instead of the other way around. Just glad mine went well this time.
I requested a replacement yesterday and received a shipment confirmation today. $60.00 for replacement only.