Passports, how long did it take & how much

[wdwstar]

Passports, how long did it take & how much?
since we will be leaving dec.31, 2005 and i have been reading on these boards about passports in 2006 will be required and the price will go up,
i thought i better get our passports now since they will be good for 10 years and since everyone here says once you cruise you will be addicted to cruising . i just dont want to fall in that cruise again catagory with out a passport if they will be manatory.

 

[DIS NURSE]

I would advise that you get the process started now....read a thread a few pages back entitled, "my BC doesn't have a raised seal!".....I posted my passport saga there and I still am waiting for mine (we sail in Nov.).....the cost is supposedly going to skyrocket as the year progresses, too.

Go to the postoffice tomorrow! Get the crazy forms you have to fill out and bring them home to sit down and do them step by step. If children are involved, you ALL have to be there when the parents sign.....getting everyone together during their limited hours on a weekday can be a challenge.

Average turn around time is 6-8 weeks I believe. That's if you don't have any blunders to deal with like myself (I am now 3 months into the process and still don't have mine...and my BC had gotten me through all of my schooling/college/nurse's license, etc. until the federal government had their say!).

Good Luck!

P.S. For the 4 of us (2 adults/2 kids) it cost $315!!!!!!

 

[Otimon]

My daughter and I (husband already has one) went to our local courthouse and filled out the passport applications about three weeks ago.

The cost was $97.00 each plus $10.70 each for the passport pictures (you will need two). We were told they would be mailed to us in about 6-8 weeks.

 

[glindamood]

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

That is the link to the US Department of State - the instructions and forms needed are all there as well locations.

 

[AnnaS]

We are a family of five. Four of us went together and received them within 8 business days. My oldest son went a week later - we have yet to receive his - two weeks.

 

[pppiglet]

We went to the post office. I downloaded the forms first at home and had them ready to go. $97 ea $15 ea for pictures and it took 20 days.

 

[Buckeye1]

I went to get my passport and was told by my post office that I had to have a marriage certificate since my name was different than my birth certificate. Others I have talked to on the boards said they did not need a marriage certificate. I did not have the official marriage certificate so the people at the passport agency told me I had to have five docuements ( utility bills, mortgage, dr bills ect) that were more than five years old using my married name. I finanaly gathered everything up and sent it in thinking it might take months to get it back with all the run around. I received it in 11 business days.

Never know whats going to happen so plan for the worst.

Good Luck and send your info in early.

 

[wdwstar]

thank you for all the advise, i printed out all the forms, i have all our birth certs. (mine , DH believe or not has the seal, thank goodness, DD has the offical stamp, but the other DD has no stamp, no seal but its on some kind of special paper with a raised border going around it, i will have to take it to the post office and ask about it) now the only problem i have is DD is 15, she will be 16 in aug. but she will not get her drivers lics. right away. if i get her passport now, it is cheaper but only good for 5 years. if i wait when she is 16 its more but it will be good for 10 years and that is if i can get it without her drivers lic. what would you do?

 

[CM_Mom]

Can you have DD 15 get her learner's permit right away? That would give her a photo ID. If you have time between August and your cruise, I think I would wait and get the one good for 10 years.

 

[wdwstar]

DD has her learners permit, i am not sure if they have a photo on them, i will have to ask her, thank you . i was thinking the same thing waiting for DD to turn 16 because the passport is only about $15 dollars more for an extra 5 years.