slo’s WEDNESDAY 7/13 poll - Passport

[tvguy]

Ours expire next year. Need to renew them, but no hurry. With the pandemic no international travel in our plans before then.

 

[ronandannette]

Mine is good until 2024.

I got my first passport in 1984 and have renewed it every 10 years since then.

We got them shortly after 9-11 when it became clear that travel security was changing forever. We keep them current; due for renewal in 2027.

 

[ncc1701]

Got my first as an Adult about 38 years ago & for most of that time kept it current.Currentb one which has about 6 years left. Once Real ID comes ( the NJ DMV is such a mess as a PP nentioned), we'll still be able to fly domestically .

 

[JLemaire7]

Have one paid for by the company where I work since my job would occasionally require international travel on relatively short notice. When that expires and/or if I have a job that doesn't require travel out of the country, see no need to renew it. We never vacation out of the country and have that TSA-precheck for domestic air travel which makes going through security at the airport a breeze. Lots of domestic places to travel so doubt we will ever run out of choices.

Current passports are good to have in general even if you don't travel out of the country. They make getting/renewing drivers licenses and filling out I-9 forms for employment very easy.

 

[_19disnA]

Perhaps the rules vary by state, but I have never had to show my passport to renew my driver's license in any state I have ever lived in. Upgrading to that 'real ID' has a list of acceptable documents.

 

[goooof1]

oooohhhh.... better go check mine to see when it expires ! I think I have another year or so.....

 

[Southernmiss]

Just got our first one last month

Took about 4 1/2 weeks to come in.

Our kids have traveled internationally. One just got back tonight.

Dh and I have not. We are ready to go!

 

[tvguy]

Perhaps the rules vary by state, but I have never had to show my passport to renew my driver's license in any state I have ever lived in. Upgrading to that 'real ID' has a list of acceptable documents.

I used my Passport as one of the documents to get my Real ID license. Not counting that, because of my driving record I haven't had to do anything more than pay a fee and get a new photo every 12 years or so. Last time I had to prove my ID before REAL ID was 50 years ago when I got my learners permit.

 

[JLemaire7]

Perhaps the rules vary by state, but I have never had to show my passport to renew my driver's license in any state I have ever lived in. Upgrading to that 'real ID' has a list of acceptable documents.

It’s not that it’s required to have a passport to renew a drivers license but usually having it counts for multiple acceptable documents rather than having to bring 3 or 4 separate documents ie: social security card, birth certificate etc…. I don’t know. I just feel like it’s saved me a lot of time and hassle.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Yes I have a passport... well the card one that would get you into like Canada. Now that you remind me, I think it is only good for a couple more years, I need to get that renewed. I am assuming the cards are still a thing... If it is not too much hassle I should go ahead and upgrade to the book that is a lot more useful.

 

[mjkacmom]

Perhaps the rules vary by state, but I have never had to show my passport to renew my driver's license in any state I have ever lived in. Upgrading to that 'real ID' has a list of acceptable documents.

It’s not that you need a passport to get real ID in NJ, it’s the fact you need to snag an appointment somewhere and then spend hours there. It took me over a year to get an appointment during Covid (before they had appointments they had 12+ hour lines and folks lined up starting at midnight and some were offering line holder services for $), even with my appointment I was there for four hours.

 

[MIGrandma]

DH and I keep our passports current, we like to cruise.

 

[Moliphino]

What are the extra steps?

It would be like applying for a new one, which requires an in person application. For a renewal you can do it all by mail.

 

[AndreaDM]

I have one, it's still valid but expires in Jan. We are traveling to Europe in Sept. (flying into Frankfurt and out of Amsterdam). Those countries only require 3 months from the date you depart the country until the expiration date which I have. Now, Singapore Air is telling me I need 6 months validity to board. Sigh... we specifically chose these dates instead of going in Oct. so I could wait to renew my passport until after we got back. I don't want to chance anything so I just filled out the renewal application and am getting ready to send it in. I have a little over 8 weeks, should I pay to expedite it? Can I also just say I hate that the actual expiration date doesn't seem to mean anything?

 

[mjkacmom]

I have one, it's still valid but expires in Jan. We are traveling to Europe in Sept. (flying into Frankfurt and out of Amsterdam). Those countries only require 3 months from the date you depart the country until the expiration date which I have. Now, Singapore Air is telling me I need 6 months validity to board. Sigh... we specifically chose these dates instead of going in Oct. so I could wait to renew my passport until after we got back. I don't want to chance anything so I just filled out the renewal application and am getting ready to send it in. I have a little over 8 weeks, should I pay to expedite it? Can I also just say I hate that the actual expiration date doesn't seem to mean anything?

I would definitely expedite it (although my twins applied the same day, one expedi it, one didn’t, both arrived in 6 weeks on the same day). Different countries have different rules about expiration, tbey don’t want folks in their countries illegally due to an expired passport.

 

[AndreaDM]

I would definitely expedite it (although my twins applied the same day, one expedi it, one didn’t, both arrived in 6 weeks on the same day). Different countries have different rules about expiration, tbey don’t want folks in their countries illegally due to an expired passport.

Right, I understand that and am in total compliance with both countries we'll be in, but I'm afraid the airline won't see it that way. I've never flown with Singapore Air before so don't want to take any chances of missing my first trip in long-haul business!

 

[bcla]

The State Dept now has a pilot program to renew online. They don’t specifically require the old passports or passport cards to be sent. It wouldn’t require a paper passport photo and doesn’t need to be mailed. I had my paper form all ready, but I think I’ll renew this way.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/renew-online.html

 

[jo-jo]

I have a passport card. Only wanted it for flying within the U.S. A few years ago there was a thread about what was needed for getting a real ID and a number of women stated that the marriage license from years and years ago or a couple of weddings ago or whatever couldn't be found. For a passport didn't need the actual paper , just answer a few questions.

 

[bcla]

The State Dept now has a pilot program to renew online. They don’t specifically require the old passports or passport cards to be sent. It wouldn’t require a paper passport photo and doesn’t need to be mailed. I had my paper form all ready, but I think I’ll renew this way.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/renew-online.html

I tried the online application and just paid for a large book (no extra cost) and passport card. I guess the advantage of this would be that they accept credit/debit (in addition to a checking account via ACH) while normal mail-in renewals must be via check or money order (and I don't have any checks since they're rarely needed these days). Even at an "acceptance facility" they only accept cash or credit for the acceptance fee (depending on the location) and the only way to pay the State Dept is via check or money order sent with the application. I also don't need to print a paper photo, although their online cropping tool was automatic and I couldn't do anything else. I suppose I could have created a square photo using a passport editing tool and then it would likely submit it as is.

I am a bit concerned because it's a pilot program with the possibility of hiccups. I got some warning that something didn't work, but then it said that my payment was successful. But then I tried to print my application (it gives that option) and the data I see doesn't include my given name. I'm thinking it could be a glitch while they have all the required information. I don't see my height or other descriptive information. All my contact information (including email) that I entered is blank.

However, I did get an email response from the State Dept that has my full name and my application number. I'm just hoping this actually worked and the strange print form I got with missing information is just some software issue where they do have everything. They also say that my passport and/or passport card are automatically cancelled. I suppose it doesn't matter since they're both expired but within the 15 year requirement to process a renewal without going to an acceptance facility or passport office.

I was working on it for a few days (you can save an application) but I was prompted to finish it today since I read this article claiming that the pilot program would hit a limit of applications and then a new opportunity window would start next month.

https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/new-system-for-online-passport-renewal-is-here-17520226.php

 

[bcla]

The State Dept now has a pilot program to renew online. They don’t specifically require the old passports or passport cards to be sent. It wouldn’t require a paper passport photo and doesn’t need to be mailed. I had my paper form all ready, but I think I’ll renew this way.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/renew-online.html

Update: they closed it for new enrollees yesterday, although if one already set up an account it's still possible to renew online using that account.

Update: October 26, 2022​

We temporarily closed our online renewal service to new customers on Wednesday, October 26 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Thank you for volunteering and testing our system during this pilot program.​

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If you activated your MyTravelGov account before 3 p.m. Eastern Time on October 26, you can still submit and manage your application.​

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If you do not want to wait until we reopen the portal later this year, you may be eligible to renew by mail or in-person now.​

There were some caveats where they had limits based on when a passport was issued. An applicant had to be at least 25 years old and the previous passport had to have been issued at least 9 years ago, I suppose to limit the number of applications using the pilot program. It was also like regular mail-in passport renewal where the previous passport (or passport card) had to be issued less than 15 years ago to quality for it without requiring an in-person visit.