Passport renewal question

[golfgal]

I have been all over the Passport site and I can't find this answer so I am hoping someone here knows-DS17 turns 18 right after the rate hike for passports. He has a minor passport now but we need to renew it for an adult passport. Can we do that now or shortly or do we have to wait until he turns 18?

 

[NHdisneylover]

Unless there has been a very recent change, 16 and over is considered an adult for getting a passport--so you should have no issue.

ETA--just double checked--adult passports are still 16 and over.

 

[golfgal]

Unless there has been a very recent change, 16 and over is considered an adult for getting a passport--so you should have no issue.

ETA--just double checked--adult passports are still 16 and over.

Great, THANKS!!

 

[bicker]

I just renewed mine yesterday. $75 for the renewal, $25 for execution fee, and then $35 for the Town where I submitted the renewal. I thought that the $25 covered the passport acceptance site's costs... guess not! :-\

 

[mla1977]

Interesting that adult passports are now for 16 and older. When I got my first passport (in 1994) I was given a junior passport and I was 16. When did the age change for adult passports?

 

[bicker]

Does anyone have a Passport Card? It seemed, at first, to be kind of strange to me. $35 is a lot less than $100, though. And if I think about it, if it wasn't for work, I might be okay with the restriction of applicability to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

 

[Abbie]

Does anyone have a Passport Card? It seemed, at first, to be kind of strange to me. $35 is a lot less than $100, though. And if I think about it, if it wasn't for work, I might be okay with the restriction of applicability to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

I think eventually that will phase out and a full passport will be required anyway so you might as well get the full one, especially if you have the potential to travel to countries other than those few.

DD got her first passport last year shortly before her honeymoon in Mexico. Then this year she had to get a new one with her new name, so in less than a year she had to pay full price for two full passports. I didn't think that was really fair but oh well. In retrospect, she should have just gotten the card for her honeymoon, then gotten the full passport upon her return!

 

[Mickeyistheman]

The Passport card is strictly for taking cruises if you don't have to fly into another country. But keep in mind yes it is cheaper but if you get stuck on one of those islands you can't get out until the cruise ship is ready to leave.

For those getting married I know you have to get it in your maiden name, but I would wait to change it because why spend that extra money in these times? Unless you can afford to change it the following year then go for it.

I work in the travel industry and unless its a big deal, just travel under your maiden name. Many people do that.

 

[debknight]

I just renewed mine yesterday. $75 for the renewal, $25 for execution fee, and then $35 for the Town where I submitted the renewal. I thought that the $25 covered the passport acceptance site's costs... guess not! :-\

If you are eligible to renew by mail you do not have to pay an "execution fee".

You must meet the requirements listed on the government website in order to qualify for renewal by mail.

 

[NHdisneylover]

You're wlcome Golfgal--I am glad it will be easy for you

I think eventually that will phase out and a full passport will be required anyway so you might as well get the full one, especially if you have the potential to travel to countries other than those few.

DD got her first passport last year shortly before her honeymoon in Mexico. Then this year she had to get a new one with her new name, so in less than a year she had to pay full price for two full passports. I didn't think that was really fair but oh well. In retrospect, she should have just gotten the card for her honeymoon, then gotten the full passport upon her return!

There is NO fee to change your name in your passport. I did this for free in 1996--it is still free:
http://www.us-passport-service-guide.com/passport-name-change.html

I just renewed mine yesterday. $75 for the renewal, $25 for execution fee, and then $35 for the Town where I submitted the renewal. I thought that the $25 covered the passport acceptance site's costs... guess not! :-\

Going from a child's passport to an adult is not considered a renewal and full fees will need to be paid by the OP, unfortunately.

 

[bicker]

If you are eligible to renew by mail you do not have to pay an "execution fee".

I suspect that I would also not have had to pay the extra $35 to the Town, either, in that case.

 

[Abbie]

There is NO fee to change your name in your passport. I did this for free in 1996--it is still free:
http://www.us-passport-service-guide.com/passport-name-change.html

I guess she should have been more on the ball then! By the time she got around to renewing, it had passed the less than a year mark when it would have been free.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

For those getting married I know you have to get it in your maiden name, but I would wait to change it because why spend that extra money in these times? Unless you can afford to change it the following year then go for it.

I work in the travel industry and unless its a big deal, just travel under your maiden name. Many people do that.

This may be true, but it is not legal, if the person has had their name changed on their drivers license, SSN, etc. By law, your name must match on all government issued ID. Would anyone necessarily find out if you you just made all your reservations in the name on your passport? Probably not. However, you might have quite a problem getting your passport reissued if you lost it while you were traveling in another country.

 

[ShannonRT]

When is the fee going up? I was married in May and have been putting off getting a new passport, due to the fee, and probably won't be traveling out of the country until next year. But if the fee's going up, I'll definitely get it done!

 

[bicker]

July 13, 2010

 

[ShannonRT]

Holy crap! I'd better get on it!

 

[disneymarie]

Unless there has been a very recent change, 16 and over is considered an adult for getting a passport--so you should have no issue.

ETA--just double checked--adult passports are still 16 and over.

If not flying those getting passports, we took the option for a Pass card. It is great for driving to Canada, and boat cruises. A lot less $ too.