Waiting game

[VandalFF]

Hey All,

I am awaiting the second packet and my passport after having my phone interview last week. They told me of a possible deploy date at the end of September or beginning of October and I was wondering if anyone else had insight on this? I am stoked for this experience and have been reading forums like crazy. I am wondering what the time line generally is because I would like to quit my job and go spend time with my family before I go. Any insight or feedback would be great. Thank you for your time.

[FFTRivera24]

Hey All,

I am awaiting the second packet and my passport after having my phone interview last week. They told me of a possible deploy date at the end of September or beginning of October and I was wondering if anyone else had insight on this? I am stoked for this experience and have been reading forums like crazy. I am wondering what the time line generally is because I would like to quit my job and go spend time with my family before I go. Any insight or feedback would be great. Thank you for your time.

I received my phone interview Friday of last week, and I got the second packet this Tuesday. I too was told that my possible deployment date was the same time frame as you. When you get the second packet you have about a week from the deadline letter to get the admin forms filled out and turned in, and about 10 days from the deadline letter to get the physical done and sent back to them. Do yourself a favor and go get everything done for your passport now! I did mine last week and I got a call from the State Department Tuesday saying that I had to re-do the application, because when I printed out the application the bottom barcode was cut off. And when you go to pay for everything, remember the $25 processing fee is a separate fee from the cost of the passport, so either have the $25 in cash, or a separate money order, or just use your debit/ credit card. And make sure you have a money order or check for the fee for the passport, and most of all make sure it is expedited. Good luck Brother, hope to see you in Houston or out there!

[VandalFF]

Thanks Man hope to see you there too. I'm still waiting on that second packet, don't know where they are sending it from but I am on the west coast so maybe the snail mail is just taking awhile. Plan to hit the ground running as soon as I get it though. Applied for the passport last monday and had it expedited. I also wrote my congressman and requested assistance on his end of things to hurry it up, I read on a forum somewhere on here that going that route can really move things along. Does anyone have some price ranges that these physicals cost?

[Irishfirefighting]

If u don't mind me asking What company are y'all going through.

[FFTRivera24]

Thanks Man hope to see you there too. I'm still waiting on that second packet, don't know where they are sending it from but I am on the west coast so maybe the snail mail is just taking awhile. Plan to hit the ground running as soon as I get it though. Applied for the passport last monday and had it expedited. I also wrote my congressman and requested assistance on his end of things to hurry it up, I read on a forum somewhere on here that going that route can really move things along. Does anyone have some price ranges that these physicals cost?

It would be nice to see someone that I know, well kind of know. Where on the west coast are you from, I’m in Santa Barbara? I got the phone interview last Friday, the 6th, and I received the second packet Tuesday, the 10th. It was sent overnight FedEx from Arlington, Virginia. I am just wondering; why did you get your Congressman involved? What could he do? I'm not trying to stir the pot or anything. I am just curious. What all can he do to hurry things up? Good job getting your passport done early, its gona help you leave early, or when they want you to leave! I am still waiting for mine to arrive. Tomorrow morning I’ve got to the clinic to get my lab work done. I was supposed to go this last Friday, but when I went at the time I was told to go, the lab was already closed! So now I'm fasting, for tomorrow morning. And on Tuesday I go see the doctor for the rest of the physical. I was able to get a copy of my shot record today while I was doing my Navy weekend drill. So I don’t have to worry about getting any shots, thankfully!! Haha!! As for the cost of your physical. Well, I don't have any health insurance right now, and I was told at the local clinic here, that it would cost anywhere from $700 dollars on up. And I am going to have to pay for it ALL out of my own pocket. But it may be different for you if you have health insurance. And like everyone says, and from what the Medical Packet, in the next packet that you will be getting, says; it will be reimbursed to you. It doesn’t help that I just maxed out my Visa Platinum card right now though! But you have to get an itemized receipt. And from what a guy that I know says, who worked for WSI, it had to be really detailed and itemized. Good luck with everything Brother, hope to see you in Houston, or out there in the Great Sand Box!!!

[FFTRivera24]

If u don't mind me asking What company are y'all going through.

I’m going through Wackenhut Services Incorporated, otherwise known as, WSI.

[Irishfirefighting]

Cool thanks I sent my resume to India last week and she said she's sending me an application.do you guys have arff. Cause I don't will this hold me back

[FFTRivera24]

Cool thanks I sent my resume to India last week and she said she's sending me an application.do you guys have arff. Cause I don't will this hold me back

I don’t have my ARFF Firefighter right now, but next week I am going to the Alabama Fire College to get my ARFF Firefighter and my ARFF Driver Operator. When I had my phone interview, they guy said it was not a big deal if I didn’t have it, but it would help while out there if I did. So I hope this helps. Take care and good luck Brother!

[VandalFF]

CAFireman,

I'm out of Coeur D' Alene Idaho so not to close to you but maybe we will be meeting each other soon. I read in a forum that contacting your congressman can speed things along. They must have a red phone direct to the passport office I don't know. But the gal at the office took my information and I had to fax in a form with the request on it. Still haven't gotten that second packet yet and it's driving me nuts. My interviewer said that it would be sent last Monday too. Your's was overnighted? I've tried calling Ms. Moore and Melody as well as email. Today I emailed Kris and he said he forwarded my email to Ms. Moore, hopefully that helps. I just want to make sure they have the right address or something. I know they said to be patient and all but since you got yours so fast I'm startin to wonder if there was a hold up and if there is anything I can do.

[FFTRivera24]

CAFireman,

I'm out of Coeur D' Alene Idaho so not to close to you but maybe we will be meeting each other soon. I read in a forum that contacting your congressman can speed things along. They must have a red phone direct to the passport office I don't know. But the gal at the office took my information and I had to fax in a form with the request on it. Still haven't gotten that second packet yet and it's driving me nuts. My interviewer said that it would be sent last Monday too. Your's was overnighted? I've tried calling Ms. Moore and Melody as well as email. Today I emailed Kris and he said he forwarded my email to Ms. Moore, hopefully that helps. I just want to make sure they have the right address or something. I know they said to be patient and all but since you got yours so fast I'm startin to wonder if there was a hold up and if there is anything I can do.

Wow, your way up there in Idaho, I have family in the Twin Falls area. I might have to call my Congressman so I can get mine faster. What form did you fax over to their office? Is it a form that I can find online? Yea, mine was sent overnight. I don’t know why you haven’t gotten your second pack yet, but all I can really say is to be patient, I know it doesn’t help, but that’s all you can really do. I tried calling Miss. Moore today too, because I have a few questions about the “Offer Packet”, but I only got her voice mail. I have never gotten through to her; I always end up leaving messages. I’ve even emailed her a few times, but I have never received a reply. And the questions I have are rather important too. But all I can say it to be patient and to keep trying to get a hold of her. Keep emailing that Kris guy, and have him forward your emails to her. Good luck Brother!

[peterbound]

Mr. Rivera,
All the ladies in VA are swamped, absolutely swamped with emails that 'are important' to the people sending them.
Kris is also wicked busy and you need to understand that he is in processing many new hires. His being the middle man for you emails are not his highest priority.
Many of your 'important' questions have more then likely been asked on here and the answers are readily available

and an aside: i don't know who the heck told you that your state representative could help you out, but that may be one of the more ridiculous things i've heard on here... good luck with that.

[FFTRivera24]

Mr. Rivera,
All the ladies in VA are swamped, absolutely swamped with emails that 'are important' to the people sending them.
Kris is also wicked busy and you need to understand that he is in processing many new hires. His being the middle man for you emails are not his highest priority.
Many of your 'important' questions have more then likely been asked on here and the answers are readily available

and an aside: i don't know who the heck told you that your state representative could help you out, but that may be one of the more ridiculous things i've heard on here... good luck with that.

Yea I bet they are. I am not mad or anything. I figured, and can only imagine how they were swamped with calls and emails, and I understand. I am not mad or anything. I was just trying to give the guy some help, and to tell him to be patient. And like I said, I am not mad, upset or anything. That VandalFF guy was the guy, not me, who called his Congressman. I was only curious as to why he did what he did, and if I could/ should do the same thing. I don't have any plans on contacting mine; my passport should be here next week, hopefully. I meet with the doctor tomorrow to finish the rest of the physical; I only hope the lab gets my results in time for me to mail it all off to them. I am working on my SF-85P at the moment, I downloaded a fill able SF-85P and the continuation sheets. I found the one I did for when I was working for the Fort Riley Fire Department in Kansas. So I am filling the new one out, with all my new stuff, and copying what was on the one I did for the FRFD. And tomorrow after the visit with the doctor, I have to go to Vandenberg AFB to get my fingerprint cards done, so I can overnight it to Miss. Moore.

[Beach08]

Dead horse alert

Yea I bet they are. I am not mad or anything. I figured, and can only imagine how they were swamped with calls and emails, and I understand. I am not mad or anything. I was just trying to give the guy some help, and to tell him to be patient. And like I said, I am not mad, upset or anything. That VandalFF guy was the guy, not me, who called his Congressman. I was only curious as to why he did what he did, and if I could/ should do the same thing. I don't have any plans on contacting mine; my passport should be here next week, hopefully. I meet with the doctor tomorrow to finish the rest of the physical; I only hope the lab gets my results in time for me to mail it all off to them. I am working on my SF-85P at the moment, I downloaded a fill able SF-85P and the continuation sheets. I found the one I did for when I was working for the Fort Riley Fire Department in Kansas. So I am filling the new one out, with all my new stuff, and copying what was on the one I did for the FRFD. And tomorrow after the visit with the doctor, I have to go to Vandenberg AFB to get my fingerprint cards done, so I can overnight it to Miss. Moore.

Guys, I realize and understand that you all have questions. Do not rely on everyone's answer on these posts, even mine. It all depends on your site they assign you to. Things change over there DAILY. You will get the most accurate and up to date information in Houston and when you arrive at Victory. Then, when you arrive at your site, you will noticed things are done differently than what you were told during in-processing. Just wait for your plane ticket and be open minded. Lose all expectations. I will say again....lose ALL expectations.

[VandalFF]

Peterbound,

I got that info about contacting your state rep from some forum and decided to look into it just to do whatever I could to get that passport asap. When I contacted them they were happy to help faxed me a form to fill out and return and then they called me stating they would be contacting the Processing center in PA. Nothing may happen here that gets things going faster but its worth a shot. CAFireman and I are just giving each other feedback as we are going through the process. Working on being patient with the process and everyone I have talked with at WSI has been more than helpful. My interviewer was one of the nicest people I've talked to in awhile though and was able to answer a lot of questions.

[FFTRivera24]

Guys, I realize and understand that you all have questions. Do not rely on everyone's answer on these posts, even mine. It all depends on your site they assign you to. Things change over there DAILY. You will get the most accurate and up to date information in Houston and when you arrive at Victory. Then, when you arrive at your site, you will noticed things are done differently than what you were told during in-processing. Just wait for your plane ticket and be open minded. Lose all expectations. I will say again....lose ALL expectations.

Yea I dont really rely on answers posten here, but they do sometimes help. I was wondering though, I filled out the "Offer Packet" and I signed the "Offer Letter" but I am still waiting for my passport. I checked the US State Department's web site for the status of my passport, they are processing it now, so I hope I get it soon. I was wondering if I should send in the filled out "Offer Packet" and signed "Offer Letter" with out the copy of my passport, and fax a copy of my passport when I get it, or if I should wait for my passport to arrive and then send it in? I also was wondering, my CPR card is gona expire February of 2011, and I cant get into a CPR class anytime soon, will the MFR (Medical First Responder) that the company offers give me my CPR for Healthcare Providers? I just earned my NREMT-Basic and that dosent expire till March 31, 2012 I just really want to go, I cant wait to make some big bucks so I can finally get out of debt and buy me a new Tacoma!