It looks like passports will be required for those cruising in 2006

[jel0511]

Here is a quote from the State Department website on the roll-out of passports now being required of all US citizens. Here is the webpage link http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2224.html

The travel initiative requirements will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed implementation timeline is as follows:

* December 31, 2005 – Passport or other accepted document required for all travel (air/sea) to or from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America.
* December 31, 2006 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air and sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada.
* December 31, 2007 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air, sea and land border crossings.

The other accepted documents are called: Sentri that is used for Mexico travel or a Nexus for Canada travel. These are issued to individuals who travel to that country frequently for business purposes only, and can be used instead of a passport.

So, it looks like that anyone traveling on a cruise ship, or flying to/from the Caribbean starting at the beginning of next year will be required to have a passport.

 

[TheWog]

it's true ... for now

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=784068

 

[232271]

WOW, so we should get one sooner than later as the office's will be bogged down with all the US citizens trying to get one?

oh goodness!! we were planning on going to the Bahamas next year.

well better budget this in as well.

I tried to get my hubby to let us all get passports, since he has one for work
purposes.

 

[roadtripper]

"well better budget this in as well."

Budget is right-- we just got them for our family of four ( 2 adults, 2 kids) and they were 300 dollars, plus 36 for the passport photos. AAA Plus gets you free passport photos, which I found out after paying for them. A little extra expense we weren't planning on...

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Yup - I just got this from my TA for our cruise THIS nov.

I just received this info from my TA. Apparently the kids are all going to need passports soon. Not sure if this counts for the cruises - but it must and that is probably why she emailed it to me. HTH

Hello all
This is directly from the U.S. Department of State website. Anyone traveling outside of the U.S. will now be required to have a passport, birth certificates alone will no longer be accepted.

If you are traveling within the next few months or during the summer of 2005 it seems that you will still be able to use the birth certificate with a raised seal and photo ID for anyone age 16 and over.

Passports are good for 10 years for anyone age 16 and over. 5 years for anyone up to the age of 15

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2225.html


Josephine
Small World Vacations, Inc.

 

[LeslieG]

What's the procedure for getting a passport? I've noticed signs at the post office, but are there different ways to get them that vary in price?

 

[dzneprincess]

HOw much are passports? What can I expect to pay for my family of 6?

 

[my3kids]

I believe adults are $85 and children under 16 are $70. There was a price increase in March of about $12, and I'm not sure if those rates are before or after the increase. Add the photo cost also for the 6 of you.

 

[lbgraves]

Here is the state department's website. http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/fees/fees_837.html

Adults are now 97 and kids under 16 are 82 which makes it $358 for my family of four, not including the pictures.

If all your kids are under 16 that would be 522 for a family of 6.

 

[Vavasmon]

This also effects people coming back into the country after Jan 1, 2006.

We depart Dec 29, 2005 but do not come back until Jan 2, 2006.

All three of us already have passports but I assume many are going to be caught off-guard.

Also, don't forget for kids both the child and BOTH parents must be present to apply unless: only one parent has custody (you must have court order), the other parent has completed and had notarized a form from the state department, or only 1 person is listed on the birth certificate.

We spent a fun 2 hours waiting in line at the post office last spring when we applied for DD's passport (most parents didn't have the correct documentation for the "missing parent). Also in addition to the charges listed I think the post office charged a processing fee (had to be paid by separate check).

 

[jel0511]

I believe adults are $85 and children under 16 are $70. There was a price increase in March of about $12, and I'm not sure if those rates are before or after the increase. Add the photo cost also for the 6 of you.

Those are the correct rates, so it's $97 per adult and $82 per child for a first time applicant. The child rate is valid for children 15 and under, children 16 and older pay the adult rates. So, assuming for a family of 6 all kids are under 16, you'd have a bill of $522.

 

[LeslieG]

Do you have to go to the post office to get them and pay their processing fee, or can you get them directly? Where do you get pictures, and how much?

 

[jel0511]

Do you have to go to the post office to get them and pay their processing fee, or can you get them directly? Where do you get pictures, and how much?

You have to pay the processing fee, regardless of where you apply. The processing fee just goes to the agency (post office, county clerk, passport office, etc) you apply at. It's actually called the execution fee, so it's unavoidable. You can get passport pictures at most 1 hour photo places, Kinkos, or UPS stores. Around here they cost $10 per person.

 

[lbgraves]

IDK why they charge so much for kid's passports when they are only good for 5 years. That means that for my kids to have passports for 10 years to go with ours it will cost me another 67 per child so a total of 492 for 10 years of passports for our family and the cost of 6 pictures, assuming that they will need new pictures for the renewal. I guess that we are going to have to do some serious thinking about cruising after this year. Yes, you are looking at $50 when you divide it by years & we cruise once a year...if we continue to be lucky enough to do that. It is a big chunk of change at one time though. I seriously can't imagine too many people planning for their one time only cruise...especially if it is land/sea...if they need to add another 400 for passports & photos to their total.

 

[momm2four]

Here is the state department's website. http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/fees/fees_837.html

Adults are now 97 and kids under 16 are 82 which makes it $358 for my family of four, not including the pictures.

If all your kids are under 16 that would be 522 for a family of 6.

Wow! That's a lot just to board a ship. It would be nice if they would offer some type of one-use only passport for people who don't travel regularly. We've never been out of the country (actually my DH went to Costa Rica several years back, but only needed a birth cert. with the group he went with) and don't know when we'll ever cruise again.

(Hi, Lisa Your daughter is absolutely beautiful! How are things in the big city of New Bern? )

Lori P.

 

[LeslieG]

Did I read somewhere that if you're a member of AAA they will pay for the photos?

 

[lbgraves]

Well here in NC AAA is so expensive that it would be cheaper for us to get four pictures done than join. What a way to majorly bum out an evening, eh? I wonder how many people are going to be canceling plans for a 2006 cruise now.

 

[roadtripper]

As I mentioned in my earlier post, AAA does passport photos FREE for PLUS members, and cheaper rates than I could find elsewhere for regular members. FWIW, our local post office charged us a 30.00 per person processing fee-- for a grand total of 336.00 for a family of four. Actually, I got the passports for another family trip (wedding in Ireland), so I'm glad that they will come in handy for our cruise as well! Makes the hit a little easier to take

 

[dzneprincess]

As I mentioned in my earlier post, AAA does passport photos FREE for PLUS members, and cheaper rates than I could find elsewhere for regular members. FWIW, our local post office charged us a 30.00 per person processing fee-- for a grand total of 336.00 for a family of four. Actually, I got the passports for another family trip (wedding in Ireland), so I'm glad that they will come in handy for our cruise as well! Makes the hit a little easier to take

oh geez so I am looking at $522 for my family of 6 plus another $180 in processing fees? for a grand total of 702??? DO you know that is almost what I am paying for a 4 night Wonder cruise thie Sept for DH and I??

 

[dletz]

If you are 16 years of age or older: The passport processing fee is $55, the application execution fee is $30, and the security surcharge is $12 therefore your total cost for the passport will be $97. Your passport will be valid for 10 years from the date of issue except where limited by the Secretary of State to a shorter period.

If you are 15 years of age or younger: The passport processing fee is $40, the application execution fee is $30, and the security surcharge is $12, therefore your total cost for the passport will be $82. Your passport will be valid for 5 years from the date of issue except where limited by the Secretary of State to a shorter period.

For faster processing, you may request expedited service. Expedited requests will be processed in three workdays from receipt at a passport agency. The additional fee for expedited service is $60. Therefore, if you choose to request expedited service and you are 16 years of age or older the total cost of your US passport will be $157 and if you are 15 years of age or younger the total cost of your US passport will be $142. Expedited service is available only in the United States.

Go here for all info on Passports. http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

Basically if it's a new passport you print off the form fill it out, and take it and your birth certificate to a processing facility. You can find your local places at that site, and times they are open. We went to a local library. The place you go should not charge you more than the above prices. If they charge you an extra processing fee go someplace else. They take your birth certificate have you read some statements and sign the paperwork. You pay them 2 seperate checks. One for the passports, and one for the execution fee (the $30). The execution fee goes to the place you have the paperwork done.

When you renew your passport you mail in a form, and do not pay the $30 execution fee.

All AAA are different, and I suggest you ask them for the cost of their photos. We got ours done at Costco as it was half the cost of AAA. Call around for places to get the photos done. You can actually take the photo yourself, but there are tons of rules on how close the photo must be taken, the size and other stuff, that for most it's probably just easier to pay for them.