Ouch--signed up for our passports today

[yeahdisney]

2 adults 2 children--$270 for the paperwork
$100 for the mailing of them

We got our pictures taking at CVS took over an hour, due to one person working both picture counter and the check out. Then the post office only took 45 minutes, due to us filling out the paperwork there and only one person working that desk. The process not to bad, only DH had to go get a copy of his birth cert. But that horrible total almost $400 boo hisssssssss.
Our Disney cruise Dec 3

 

[casndan]

Why was it $100 to mail them?? Did you rush them?

 

[victorandbellasmom]

Yup, I remember how much it hurt my pocketbook when we did it for dh and my 2 kids 3 years ago. It was a little more since we had to rush it since the passport office was swamped and there was a back log. Regular processing would have taken 4-6 months. We have another couple of years 'til mine expires as well as the kids.

 

[bumbershoot]

Why was it $100 to mail them?? Did you rush them?

Looks like Yeah is just breaking it down like the passport site does. I just think of it as the total, $100 for an adult passport, $85 for a kid, but the site shows $75 or $60 for the application fee payable to State dept, $25 execution fee payable to where you apply.

 

[andrews_dad]

Looks like Yeah is just breaking it down like the passport site does. I just think of it as the total, $100 for an adult passport, $85 for a kid, but the site shows $75 or $60 for the application fee payable to State dept, $25 execution fee payable to where you apply.

Mine was $85 total at the Post Office for the baby. Only 11 months old at the time and needs a passport to fly to the Bahamas? Seems odd to me, but that is the way it is.

 

[caribear]

We need to get passports for our cruise next year too. I already have one, but the cost has kept me from getting the rest of them until next year. As unbelievable as it may seem it only took me 17 days to receive my passport. I had all the info preprinted from home, went to the Post Office....and 17 days later my passport arrived in the mail. No rush service added or anything like that.

 

[5boyz]

We were $341.for DH ME ds dd.s American so that cost $130CDN, pic $15. at Walmart. Me ds dd...$160CDN plus $35. pic at photo place. It took less than 2 wks for them to come!!!

 

[4Seasons]

But remember the adult ones are good for 10 years and children under 16 are good for 5 years. Yes it's a sizeable upfront expense but absolutely the best form of international ID.

 

[Ava]

But remember the adult ones are good for 10 years and children under 16 are good for 5 years. Yes it's a sizeable upfront expense but absolutely the best form of international ID.

And if I'm remembering right the price to renew is a bit less than the cost of getting a Passport for the first time.

 

[crjack]

We just got 3 as well and I didn't realize how much it was going to cost. Both of my children needed them and mine needed to be updated.

We didnt pay extra for rushing them through but there was a processing fee to the state dept. and a fee to the post office as well.

Because both DH and I needed to be there it was easier to do it at the post office. I'm just glad they are done though.

 

[Starfish106]

And if I'm remembering right the price to renew is a bit less than the cost of getting a Passport for the first time.

I paid $75 to renew + change my name on mine. No rush and I received it in about 3 wks which is what they stated at the time.

 

[wowsmom]

I hear ya! We applied for our passports last week - for me and 2 kids. And we chose to pay to expedite cuz they told us it's taking 6-8 weeks right now and 8 weeks is when our vacation is (assuming we ever actually book the thing!!!).

We did ours at our local library, but there was still the $25 per person fee to be paid to the facility.

 

[bumbershoot]

And if I'm remembering right the price to renew is a bit less than the cost of getting a Passport for the first time.

Yes, if you do it by mail, you lose the $25 fee paid to the facility. So it's just the application fee.

 

[eeyoregon]

Also remember that you don't have to have a passport to sail a closed-loop cruise that departs from the USA. A certified birth certificate and photo ID is all you need for a Disney cruise that departs from Port Canaveral.

The only reason you would need a passport on a closed-loop cruise is if there is an emergency during your cruise and you have to fly out of a foreign country back to the USA.

 

[SandrA9810]

They also have the passport card for land and sea travel. It's half the cost (45$). And you can only go to canada, mexico, bahamas with it.

You can not fly with it.

 

[SandrA9810]

Of course for something that lasts ten years... it's quite a small price to pay (10-20$) a year. And who knows how much traveling you'll want to do down the road.

 

[JerseyMamaBear]

They also have the passport card for land and sea travel. It's half the cost (45$). And you can only go to canada, mexico, bahamas with it.

You can not fly with it.

Really? where can I find info on that. I dident see it on the site. That would save us a ton.

 

[Shawn429]

Passport Card:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html

I'm going on a cruise in December (Carnival, not Disney) and I have no plans in the near future to fly out of the country, so with the passport card, you can use it at ports of call as long as you go back to the same American port of call, from what I understand.

I'm going out of Ft. Lauderdale to Key West, FL, then to Grand Cayman and Jamaica and then back to Ft. Lauderdale. I see no reason why the passport card wouldn't work, considering I'm technically returning to the same port of call.

 

[Julia M]

I hear ya! We applied for our passports last week - for me and 2 kids. And we chose to pay to expedite cuz they told us it's taking 6-8 weeks right now and 8 weeks is when our vacation is (assuming we ever actually book the thing!!!).

We did ours at our local library, but there was still the $25 per person fee to be paid to the facility.

I applied for my passport on May 15 and was told it was taking 6-8 weeks, but was told "off the record" it would probbaly be 4-6 weeks. I received it in 3 1/2 weeks.

Just paid for the regular (free) mailing.

I put on the form we leave July 29 (which is true)

Julia

 

[UCFALUM]

We're going on an Alaskan Cruise in a couple weeks and my passport only took 3 weeks. I opted NOT to get the kids passports at this time, $400 or so savings. The website states for children on ship into Canada you can use their birth certificate. My oldest son has a passport but it expired-5 years goes so fast! His would still be good if it was 10 years for kids like adults. So I'm waiting until we absolutely need them to start the 5 year clock.