U.S. Passport fees going up

[testifyoncruises]

This is an incorrect and misleading thread. The cost is NOT going up on March 10. The fees and proposed rule change is in a 30 day comment period that began on February 9, 2010.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/fees/fees_4734.html

There is NOT a set date to implement new passport fess whatsoever.

 

[DrCavin]

This is an incorrect and misleading thread. The cost is NOT going up on March 10. The fees and proposed rule change is in a 30 day comment period that began on February 9, 2010.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/fees/fees_4734.html

There is NOT a set date to implement new passport fess whatsoever.

True it won't happen on March 11, it certainly could happen very shortly after the deadline.

IMO the increase is insane & should not be implemented.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I have an issue. $35 bucks is still money not in my account. Increasing fees is no different than increasing taxes. This is a 40% increase in price - it's ridiculous!

IMO the increase is insane & should not be implemented.

Would it change either of your minds if you realized the costs involved in generating a passport (background checks, adminstration, etc)? Should everyone pay in part of their taxes to offset the true cost versus what people pay, or should the cost to obtain one be fully born by the person requesting it?

IMO, the cost should be born by the person requesting the passport. One has a choice to travel outside the US, if it is for business purposes most companies will either pay for it, or you can write it off as a non-reimbursed expense.

 

[samshane]

Just went and applied for my passport today (I was going to do it today even before I saw the fees were going up) - I asked about getting passports for my kids, and she told me that the fees are going up June 10, 2010.

Now - if that changes, I don't know. But this was at our city clerks office.

 

[nephthys43]

I'm sitting at the application office as I type

 

[DrCavin]

Would it change either of your minds if you realized the costs involved in generating a passport (background checks, adminstration, etc)?

No - It has increased from $67 in 2007 to $110 now (proposed). I doubt their costs have increased by that much.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

No - It has increased from $67 in 2007 to $110 now (proposed). I doubt their costs have increased by that much.

The additional security searches put in place since even 2007 and the fact the original cost probably didn't fully capture the price to issue is something to factor in.

 

[Mysteria]

We just sent our renewals in today and paid for expedited service... an extra 60 bucks. Has anyone used the expedited service? Did it actually come back in an expedited manner?

DH's did. He got his back in under 2 weeks.