Re: Passports?

Tribesters · ‎03-10-2010

Do do you have any travel plans? A renewal is much easier than a first time passport. You can do it yourself as long as you can submit your previous passport, haven't changed your name & were at least 16 years old when your last passport was issued. I would say apply at least a month before you need your passport. Usually renewals don't take as long- 3 weeks or less but sometimes, during peak travel periods, they may get behind.

You can complete the renewal online- travel.state.gov website. You will need a current passport photo, your payment ($110 for passport book- check payable to US Dept of State) & the completed application. You can also pick up forms at most (but not all) post offices. You can check at USPS.com to find a passport office in your area- they can also do the photos & you can mail it right from there. Very convenient!

There seems to be a problem with this forum & iPad users the last few days- we can't edit our posts. I want to add that in order to renew a passport it has to have been issued in the last 15 years. Adult passports are good for 10 years so if you have no immediate plans it's ok to renew in a couple years. Just don't go past the 5 years or you'll have to start over & pay the $25 application fee in addition to the other fees. But it's also nice to always have a current passport for those spur of the moment trips!

aubnwa01 · ‎03-09-2010

@Tribesters wrote:
@aubnwa01

Do do you have any travel plans? A renewal is much easier than a first time passport. You can do it yourself as long as you can submit your previous passport, haven't changed your name & were at least 16 years old when your last passport was issued. I would say apply at least a month before you need your passport. Usually renewals don't take as long- 3 weeks or less but sometimes, during peak travel periods, they may get behind.

You can complete the renewal online- travel.state.gov website. You will need a current passport photo, your payment ($110 for passport book- check payable to US Dept of State) & the completed application. You can also pick up forms at most (but not all) post offices. You can check at USPS.com to find a passport office in your area- they can also do the photos & you can mail it right from there. Very convenient!

There seems to be a problem with this forum & iPad users the last few days- we can't edit our posts. I want to add that in order to renew a passport it has to have been issued in the last 15 years. Adult passports are good for 15 years so if you have no immediate plans it's ok to renew in a couple years. Just don't go past the 5 years or you'll have to start over & pay the $25 application fee in addition to the other fees. But it's also nice to always have a current passport for those spur of the moment trips!

Thanks, Tribefan. No, I have no travel plans, but I don't want it to expire, either. I checked & found that a post office near me does the passport & photo by appointment, so I think I might go that route.

If my adult passpot is good for 15 years, why does it say mine expires in Oct. 2016 (I got it in Oct. 2006), so it was only good for 10 years. Is the 15 year passport a new thing that went into effect within the past 10 years? Obviously, I'm a passport know-nothing!

sunshine45 · ‎03-09-2010

@aubnwa01 wrote:
@Tribesters wrote:
@aubnwa01

Do do you have any travel plans? A renewal is much easier than a first time passport. You can do it yourself as long as you can submit your previous passport, haven't changed your name & were at least 16 years old when your last passport was issued. I would say apply at least a month before you need your passport. Usually renewals don't take as long- 3 weeks or less but sometimes, during peak travel periods, they may get behind.

You can complete the renewal online- travel.state.gov website. You will need a current passport photo, your payment ($110 for passport book- check payable to US Dept of State) & the completed application. You can also pick up forms at most (but not all) post offices. You can check at USPS.com to find a passport office in your area- they can also do the photos & you can mail it right from there. Very convenient!

There seems to be a problem with this forum & iPad users the last few days- we can't edit our posts. I want to add that in order to renew a passport it has to have been issued in the last 15 years. Adult passports are good for 15 years so if you have no immediate plans it's ok to renew in a couple years. Just don't go past the 5 years or you'll have to start over & pay the $25 application fee in addition to the other fees. But it's also nice to always have a current passport for those spur of the moment trips!
Thanks, Tribefan. No, I have no travel plans, but I don't want it to expire, either. I checked & found that a post office near me does the passport & photo by appointment, so I think I might go that route.

If my adult passpot is good for 15 years, why does it say mine expires in Oct. 2016 (I got it in Oct. 2006), so it was only good for 10 years. Is the 15 year passport a new thing that went into effect within the past 10 years? Obviously, I'm a passport know-nothing!

An adult passport is valid for 10 years, and a child passport is valid for 5 years. It is important to review the expiration date of your passport regularly so you are not surprised when it is time for it to be renewed. Many travelers do not realize the importance of checking your passport validity, but it is the one thing that can sideline any trip. Additionally, many travelers are unaware that most countries require that your passport have at least 6 months of validity remaining on your passport before it expires in order to enter their country.

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"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." - Albert Einstein

Tribesters · ‎03-10-2010

@aubnwa01

Sorry- I've tried to edit my post & there's still a problem somewhere. I can't edit anything.

The adult passport is good for 10 years. I had a typo when I said 15- the 15 years is the timeframe to renew. I apologize for the mistake- I was typing faster than I was thinking.

A renewal is easier- you can do it yourself & don't have to pay the $25 application fee.

Really wish QVC would fix the problem with the forums- I'd like to edit/correct that mistake in my last post....

Nuttmeg · ‎03-09-2010

@qbetzforreal wrote:
@Shorty2U wrote:
Has anyone had this much trouble getting a passport?

My granddaughter (18) applied for her 1st passport (to travel to Europe this Summer)

She was of course born in PA here in the USA. But she was refused saying they need more proof she was born in America. She had filled out everything including sending her birth certificate.

Years ago, her birth certificate was lost. So my daughter sent for a new one years and years ago. But there was something misspelled on the birth certificate. So my daughter had that all fixed long ago and got her birth certificate long ago (as in many years ago).

Well the passport was refused due TO her getting a copy and fixing the mistake (again long ago) so they wanted more proof she was born in America.

They said to get school records and everything which she did. (Which makes no sense to me because how can school records prove she was born here, she didn't start school till 5 yrs old!). But of course she complied and did what they said.

NOW she got a thing saying no passport until she fills out a census! She lives at home with her parents and sisters because she just turned 18 (2 months ago) and is just about to graduate high school! But she is now filling out the census.

Yes I understand these are different times and things are strict, but I spoke to others who had their kids get passports in the past years and no one had all this trouble.

And my thoughts are I wonder if other countries are checking who flies back and forth over here like this? Geesh, I cant get over they don't trust a birth certificate from the USA and then school records. Now its a census has to be filled out first?

PS) She is actually thinking of changing her trip to later because she doesnt know if her passport will get OKd and here in time.
yes, all countries require a valid passport/papers to travel outside of the country of origin. in some countries, it's even worse.

She's also going to need a visa. That's another part of traveling abroad. She's get her docs.
It depends where a person is traveling. Most folks going to countries in Europe don't need a visa with a US passport.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_United_States_citizens

Burnsite · ‎03-10-2010

i am going to the Netherlands and Belgium in July and a visa is not required of US citizens for travel there. It is not required for travel (under a certain limit of days) to the UK or Ireland or Italy.

But if there is any question, the US passport site has a list of countries that require visas, with the current pricing and amount of time it usually takes to receive them. I am not sure, but in the Euro zone, the time-limit may be 90 days, so students often do face some additional paperwork.