Passport Anyone?

[mrsboz]

I have never gotten a passport before, but my daughter needs one. How does she go about it? Is there one way cheaper than another? Faster than another? Roughly how much does it cost? Thank you.

 

[chris31997]

I'm not up on the fees.

But you go to the post office and fill out the form and send it in along with forms of id(right birth cert), photos, and money.

Depending on the age of your DD both you and hubby will need to be there. If DD is 16, I believe, she can get an adult passport and it will be good for 10yrs otherwise it is a child's passport both parents(or the right forms for only 1 parent) and the passport is good for 5 yrs.

Expidited costs extra
Personally walked thru costs extra

You will be quoted 4-8 weeks. It is the standard answer. Depending on where you live, if you are closer to a passport hub, it will take less time. I have seen on the Cruise Forum, people post getting passports back in 2 weeks.

I believe post office is the best place to get passport, probably the only place. You can get a pic done anywhere, just make sure it follows the guidelines.

 

[Ladcassidy]

Because this will be your daughter's first passport, she will need to apply in person at the post office. Depending on her age, you may need to go with her. In any event, you should download the forms from the State Department website and fill them out and gather all necessary documentation (including passport pictures) in advance. When we took DD for her first passport before she was 2, we planned to have the post office take the pictures, but their machine was down that day, so they sent us to the CVS Pharmacy down the street. Lucky us, we got to stand in the passport line twice that day. Too bad we did not have a Fastpass.

 

[tasha99]

If anyone wears glasses, take them off for the passport photo. My son's first photo was rejected because of glare. We did the retakes without glasses.

Both parents have to be there (I believe) for minors, or at least sign some paperwork, unless you're divorced. I had to turn my son's application with my divorce decree stating I had full legal custody (whew!). Glad we didn't have joint custody, as my ex was in Afghanistan at the time!

 

[Deb & Bill]

They offer both a passport and a passport card. The passport card (like a DL) is for travel to Canada, Mexico and maybe other countries that are extremely close to the US. Maybe just Canada and Mexico.

 

[gardengalB4]

AAA Plus and AAA Premier members may obtain 2 sets of passports photos per year at no charge.

 

[bumbershoot]

I have never gotten a passport before, but my daughter needs one. How does she go about it? Is there one way cheaper than another? Faster than another? Roughly how much does it cost? Thank you.

Google "state department passport". Be sure to have blocked a few hours of reading time to make sure you understand the hows and how much and where and all of that. Especially if she's a minor and there are any oddities with her other parent, you want that time to read it all to see that you actually do not have to have both parents there; that there are other ways to go about things.

For some people the post office works; other people go to other govt offices in their towns. It all depends on *exactly* where you live and where you would go.

Read read read!

 

[kP72]

They offer both a passport and a passport card. The passport card (like a DL) is for travel to Canada, Mexico and maybe other countries that are extremely close to the US. Maybe just Canada and Mexico.

Pending on the age, I believe the ID also works for foreign islands during a cruise (Bahamas, Caribbean)... but that may be for those under 18. Do not quote me on that...

Obtaining a passport seems intimidating, but it's rather easy... especially if you fill out the form correctly.
Passports are not expensive, but to have it expedited can be costly (sent to you within a month's time). I want to say that mine cost almost $300 (total) expedited, but that was seven years ago.

Find a post office that handles passports. No, not all post offices do this.
The paperwork, picture, and money can all be taken care of in one fatal swoop.

 

[mrsboz]

Thx everyone. I neglected to say that she is 18. Neither me or my husband has ever gotten a passport. She is going away for her senior trip and needs one and I know nothing about it. Thanks for your help.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

Go to the Department of State website and to the US passport. You can print out the forms you need and it has the instructions and cost.

Having a passport opens up the world. It is a great thing and with the passport you don't need the ID card.

Congrats on your daughters travels.

 

[msmama]

My post office has VERY specific hours that it will only accept passport applications. I'd say prepare to go once having done something wrong and then have to do it again - and by that I mean leave enough time. The rules are VERY rigid.

 

[Marionnette]

Not every post office has a passport desk, so make sure that you check before you go!

 

[Green Tea]

This is the website http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/new.html

The forms you can fill out (to print) are to the right. Take the forms to your local office that processes passports. Here it is not the postoffice, but the clerk of court in a neighboring city. You likely can find a link to find the local to you option via the official website.

No discounts on the passport. It costs what it costs.

 

[My3kiddos]

I advise to print the passport application before you go and have everything filled out along with a passport picture (you can get them at CVS) paper clipped to the application. Also have your birth certificate and I believe we had to have our ss card and picture id. It's really not difficult but if your post office is like ours it's first come first serve and we waited 2 hours and we got there 10 min after they opened.

 

[PlutoPony]

The State Department website has a section on Passports, including full explanation of the process and fees and download of the form. Go to http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/new.html Not all post offices handle passport applications, but those that do all require an appointment, you can't just walk in. Would recommend checking on this asap as some locations are booked quite a while in advance.

When reading through the info on the website, make particular note of the fees and how they can be paid. And from experience I would highly recommend having the form completely filled out when you go to the appointment as it will save you a lot of time and stress.

Good luck and hope she has a good trip!

 

[crisi]

Our neighboring city hall does passport applications and pictures. I think its really pretty easy.

1. Get the forms from the website.

2. Fill out all the forms COMPLETELY.

3. Collect the correct documentation. MAKE SURE YOU PROVIDE THE CORRECT DOCUMENTATION. There are certain things they accept.

4. Get a passport photo - CVS does them for $10 or less and there is a coupon on their web site for $1 off.

5. Take it to the local passport processing place - the State Department will have a list - I find the local city clerks to be better than the post office staff.

6. Write a check (its over $100 IIRC - I want to say about $120).

Plan on six weeks - it isn't taking that long right now.

 

[Lewisc]

A couple of posters suggest google. You have to be careful, most of the hits are for commercial expeditor services. You pay $$$.

You need an "original" birth certificate. You need passport pictures. This is the budget board. COSTCO charges $5. AAA generally charges members $5, some members are eligible for free pictures. Many one hour photo places (CVS) charge around $10.

You can get the form from the state departments website
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/new.html (same link from PP). Even easier. Go to your local post office and pick up the form. It has instructions.

Go to the state department website. Put in your zip. You'll get a list of locations. Call and book an appointment at whichever place as the earliest available appointment which works with your schedule. It will probably be a post office but could be a government office.

NOT EVERY POST OFFICE PROCESSES PASSPORTS. DO NOT SIGN THE FORM. You have to sign it the form in the presence of the person accepting your application.

COST Current cost application fee is $110 and execution fee is $25. Check the site. Credit cards aren't always accepted. Personal checks or cash work. You can use a debit card to purchase a money order at the post office.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Google "state department passport". Be sure to have blocked a few hours of reading time to make sure you understand the hows and how much and where and all of that. Especially if she's a minor and there are any oddities with her other parent, you want that time to read it all to see that you actually do not have to have both parents there; that there are other ways to go about things.

For some people the post office works; other people go to other govt offices in their towns. It all depends on *exactly* where you live and where you would go.

Read read read!

Hours of time? It's a very easy process to apply for a passport and the State Department website explains the process very clearly.

 

[clh2]

There is a "search" feature on the government passport website that allows you to see where passport applications are accepted. If you click on each location, you can see what hours they handle these transactions. In my area, all post offices are by appointment only, OR I can go to my county courthouse, and they accept applications all day from 8:15 to 3:45, m-f. Just wanting to put this as an option, as some people get frustrated with the appointment process with the post office.

 

[bumbershoot]

Hours of time? It's a very easy process to apply for a passport and the State Department website explains the process very clearly.

I wanted her to really read through it. Hence hours. Plenty of people don't read through, skim it, and get confused. You could see it even in the answers here (a minor child has to have both parents present). Figuring out where the op's daughter (now that we know she's an adult) should go and exactly how much that will cost and what sort of payment methods THAT place will require isn't a five minute thing. Better to block out a good amount of time and be done early than think it will be nothing, skim, and mess yourself up!

I'm a reader. I've spent hours in total on the state dept passport site toodling around reading everything.