US Passport question, re: Expediting

[pr surfer]

Hello all...

My brother is coming with me on the cruise this summer, and he needs his passport. We are cruising in July.

I know all about the backlog and delays due to the current requirements for US Citizens. I also know that the state department's website is still showing rather hopeful and unrealistic wait times.

I plan on taking him to the courthouse this coming friday to submit his paperwork, paying to expedite it, and using Fedex overnight both ways.

Does anyone have any realistic ideas on how long this should take?

 

[Coach Rick]

I did mine at the post office, paid the additional $60 and had it in 17 days. DW had her's in 20 days. That was back in April...

 

[pr surfer]

perfect.. thank you.

1 last question for you. Since you're in RI, can you tell me which office issued your passport? I'm just trying to get an idea of wait times and such.

 

[Coach Rick]

perfect.. thank you.

1 last question for you. Since you're in RI, can you tell me which office issued your passport? I'm just trying to get an idea of wait times and such.

Boston...

 

[DrCavin]

FYI.. If you are cruising on the Wonder this summer, a passport is not required.

 

[pr surfer]

FYI.. If you are cruising on the Wonder this summer, a passport is not required.

11 night euro cruise, 7/7/07

I'm actually a US/Spain dual citizen, so I am covered. My brother hasn't attempted to repatriate with Spain yet, so he's US only.

 

[WDWBarb]

Hello all...

My brother is coming with me on the cruise this summer, and he needs his passport. We are cruising in July.

I know all about the backlog and delays due to the current requirements for US Citizens. I also know that the state department's website is still showing rather hopeful and unrealistic wait times.

I plan on taking him to the courthouse this coming friday to submit his paperwork, paying to expedite it, and using Fedex overnight both ways.

Does anyone have any realistic ideas on how long this should take?

Our family expedited our passports in April and got them back two weeks to the day that we applied. For the three of us it was very expensive to do (last minute trip). You pay $90 for the passport, $60 more to expedite, $28 per person to overnight ship them ($14 each way) plus $15 per person for the photo (did them at the post office - you can get them cheaper elsewhere but we were in a total rush).

We don't cruise until May 24th so we had lots of time. Still glad I expedited (although my checkbook isn't!!)

 

[Coach Rick]

$15 per person for the photo (did them at the post office - you can get them cheaper elsewhere but we were in a total rush).

Yeah, we did our photo's at CVS for $9 for both of us. The woman at the post office didn't like my wifes, but CVS did a retake at no charge, and that one passed.

 

[pr surfer]

I'm taking him to our local AAA office for the photos. Free for AAA Plus members

 

[Hanover]

Come join our 7/7/07 cruise meets thread at :http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1075984&goto=newpost

 

[earpiemom]

We booked the 6-16 med cruise quite late actually about 3 weeks ago. I was really worried about getting the passports. We went to our local post office(we are in NC) and the clerk suggested only doing the $60 expedite fee - not doing the overnight. She told us they were done priority mail anyway. I was a little scared to do that but she was right. We got ours back in 16 days. We did our pictures at WalMart and they were only $5. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[jima53]

Went to a local, smaller post office and followed the clerks advice not to pay to expedite since we were so far away from our cruise. It's been 10 weeks this weekend and no passports. I know I have more than enough time to get them but for peace of mind I would have paid the extra money because of the special handling they seem to get at the passport office.


Jim

 

[pr surfer]

Went to a local, smaller post office and followed the clerks advice not to pay to expedite since we were so far away from our cruise. It's been 10 weeks this weekend and no passports. I know I have more than enough time to get them but for peace of mind I would have paid the extra money because of the special handling they seem to get at the passport office.


Jim

My grandma did hers that way first week of January. She got her passport 2 weeks ago.

That is too close for comfort for us

 

[pr surfer]

We booked the 6-16 med cruise quite late actually about 3 weeks ago. I was really worried about getting the passports. We went to our local post office(we are in NC) and the clerk suggested only doing the $60 expedite fee - not doing the overnight. She told us they were done priority mail anyway. I was a little scared to do that but she was right. We got ours back in 16 days. We did our pictures at WalMart and they were only $5. Hope you have a great trip!

I'd go with priority normally, but I'm opting for Fedex since A- I have a corporate account with them so I can bill it that way, and B- I get a tracking number that way.

 

[pr surfer]

The passport arrived today!! I have just gained a whole lot of faith back in the US government. From application to receipt, it only took 11 days... I'm certain that fedex + expediting helped out though.

 

[cntkg1]

Went to a local, smaller post office and followed the clerks advice not to pay to expedite since we were so far away from our cruise. It's been 10 weeks this weekend and no passports. I know I have more than enough time to get them but for peace of mind I would have paid the extra money because of the special handling they seem to get at the passport office.


Jim

11 weeks for DD and still no passport either. I'm thinking more around 15 weeks. So glad she went early enough for our Oct cruise.

 

[lauritagoddess]

I expedited my son's passport. I applied on 5/12 and received it yesterday 5/24, much quicker than I'd expected.

 

[llachance]

is at 14 weeks for a renewal. It has been shown it as processing since the first week of March. Maybe soon.....

 

[Gina]

DS and I just got ours today. Tomorrow marks 3 months from the day we applied. We don't even sail again until February, so that wasn't issue, but it sure made me nervous for them to have our original birth certificates for 3 stinkin' months!! I'm very relieved to finally have the passports.