Vent -- Why are passports so expensive??

[scrapquitler]

They are not expensive. They are the #1 form of ID in the world.

I agree with this.

The Passport is THE BEST form of ID that there is. It contains all the info of the birth certificate plus your photo. It is the gold standard of identification. Most times where you need multiple IDs, if you have the passport, you don't need any other forms.

I remember when I was 16 and getting my drivers license. My friends were having trouble scrounging up all the various types of ids necessary to get a drivers license (one from column a and one from column b, etc). I had a passport, and that was the ONLY form of ID I needed to show at the DMV to get my license. It was SO much easier.

 

[cvjw]

We are going to Turks and Caicos next month, and all of our passports were expired, and had to be renewed at the same time!

Children - $80 for passport, plus $25 each "processing fee"

Adult Renewal - either $110 or $120 each, no processing fee for renewals

It was around $450 for our family of 4 to get our passports!

 

[SaraJayne]

I agree they are not expensive, considering the security they provide.

We got all 4 of us passports last summer...and we plan on using them.

For those of you wanting to take a cruise and want to take the risk of not having a passport, that's your choice.

However, if something were to happen and you had a terribly difficult time getting home, don't complain about what a pain in the rear it was because you didn't have a passport (which happens frequently on CC).

 

[SaraJayne]

This shows the current prices of passports and passcards for adult and children.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/fees/fees_837.html

 

[Lewisc]

Not every divorce situation requires the consent of BOTH parents to travel abroad if a child has a passport. By the same token, consent may be needed just to take a child out of state from the non custodial parent. Because laws and divorce agreements can vary so greatly, please don't offer generalized information.

Mexico can require a single parent entering with a minor child produce a notarized consent form from the other parent. A legal document showing the parent has sole custody may suffice. A copy of the divorce degree might work but I'd check first.

A few years ago a family got bumped. One parent took a child on one flight and the other parent and child took a different flight. Problems entering Mexico. My memory is someone tracked down the other parent at some airport to get consent.

A divorce degree may require consent to take a child out of state but there aren't any law enforcement officials physically stopping it.

 

[MrsPete]

They are not expensive. They are the #1 form of ID in the world. You will be paying thousands to travel outsideof the country and find the cost of the passport to be prohibitive?

The fee is set for all the investigation they do before they issue this form of ID. The person getting the passport is the one paying for the investigation. Do you want taxpayers to pay for the investigation so you can travel abroad?

In what way do you see them as the #1 form of ID in the world?

Whatever ID the people use in China and India is probably the #1 in terms of sheer numbers. Here in the US, the most commonly used ID is a state-issued driver's license; after all, it's more compact and easier to carry.

And the investigation they do is all just a computer check that takes minutes. I don't think it's worth the cost of the passport, especially since a person might get a passport today and then develop criminal tendencies tomorrow . . . and he'd have 9 years before the passport needs renewing and his "investigation" turns up anything.

Ask yourself this: People don't complain about the cost of getting their driver's license renewed, yet they do complain about the cost of a passport. Why? Simple: The driver's license costs $25 every five years, and the license is used on a fairly constant basis (less often now that we don't write checks like we used to). The passport, however, is $135 for an adult and most people don't use it regularly. Big difference in value for the money.

What I would support rather than our current archaic passport system: The national driver's license, which a few states have begun using. Unlike the passport, it isn't so expensive that people question its cost, it's the same for every state so law enforcement officers could recognize fakes more easily, and it fits in to a wallet. Technology makes it easy to keep the records of who's traveled where in electronic files rather than stamps on passport paper.

I've been thinking the same thing.... especially since we live Upstate NEw York, close to Canada.. and now we can't go there. We are looking into the card that lets you drive into mexico and Canada.. and we can use on the cruise. THe only setback I can see is if an emergency comes up we can't fly out. BUT it is sooo much cheaper to do it this way for us, as we are a family of 3.

Now that makes sense for those of you who are close enough to a border to come and go on a frequent basis. You'd probably get plenty of use out of a passport.

How much are they?

$135 for an adult, $105 for a minor (defined as 16 and under). So for a family of four (assuming two adults, two kids) you're talking about $480. Depending upon the time of year you're traveling, that could be one person's cruise ticket.

Compared to the other option, which is FREE, that's a good bit of money -- IF you want just to take one cruise.

I agree with this.

The Passport is THE BEST form of ID that there is. It contains all the info of the birth certificate plus your photo. It is the gold standard of identification. Most times where you need multiple IDs, if you have the passport, you don't need any other forms.

I remember when I was 16 and getting my drivers license. My friends were having trouble scrounging up all the various types of ids necessary to get a drivers license (one from column a and one from column b, etc). I had a passport, and that was the ONLY form of ID I needed to show at the DMV to get my license. It was SO much easier.

Perhaps it varies from state to state, but last time I got my license renewed I had to wait and wait and wait . . . and I overheard the very unpleasant woman at the desk fussing with a whole lot of people about having the wrong identification. One young boy's mother brought him in just to have a state issued ID made (he was too young for a driver's license). She brought in his passport, and she was told that they don't accept that as ID. When my daughter went to get her license, knowing how horrible the DMV is, we brought a number of items: Her Social Security card, her birth certificate, her passport. They accepted the first two but wouldn't look at her passport. By pure chance, it was report card day and she had an official report card on official school paper in her bookbag. They accepted that. Actually . . . I'm not sure that I'm telling the whole truth about what we brought, but I do remember that they wouldn't take the passport and the school report card saved the day.

I don't agree with the idea that a report card and a Social Security card should be accepted by the DMV ahead of a passport, but I have personally observed it twice.

 

[mrsklamc]

Also, in the unlikely event that you were to have a true medical emergency while on a closed loop cruise, the state department would get you back in the country.

 

[SaraJayne]

Also, in the unlikely event that you were to have a true medical emergency while on a closed loop cruise, the state department would get you back in the country.

Eventually, they would. It may take a few days, but you'd get back to the US eventually.

 

[mrsklamc]

Eventually, they would. It may take a few days, but you'd get back to the US eventually.

Yes. It would definitely be less convenient, so you have to consider whether you are willing to take that risk.

 

[Lewisc]

Also, in the unlikely event that you were to have a true medical emergency while on a closed loop cruise, the state department would get you back in the country.

Probably, but there might be a delay. I'm not sure what would happen if your reason was less urgent. You want to fly home because a close friend was in an accident.

Part of the cost of the passport goes to setup and run the computer system that's used to check.

We don't want to pay higher taxes. Government is using "user fees" as a way to "enhance" revenue. Let people using a service pay for it. I'm not saying I agree with it. Park admission is higher. Some states have raised the cost of registering your car.

The cost isn't a large % of your trip cost if you're going to Europe. It becomes a large % for a family of 4, taking a discounted cruise.

 

[okeydokey]

They cost money because of the salaries paid to the people who do the check and the work to issue it to you. They are not volunteers. I think the price is reasonable.

 

[4forWDW]

We are thinking of going out of the states in 3 years for our DD's 16th Birthday. I told my DH that starting in about a year we'll start getting our passports and that way it will stagger the expense and we won't have that expense for me, DH, DS and DD all at once.

 

[Mom of 3 Princesses]

I agree!

Agreed

 

[punkin]

We are thinking of going out of the states in 3 years for our DD's 16th Birthday. I told my DH that starting in about a year we'll start getting our passports and that way it will stagger the expense and we won't have that expense for me, DH, DS and DD all at once.

We also have staggered passports. DD18 is one date; DH is another; and DD12 and I are on one date. I

always thought it was reasonably priced, though a bit of a shock to the wallet. I figure if you can get 2 trips in 10 years out of one passports, it's not so bad. Since we seem to average about 5 trips in 10 years (last time it was France, Canada, cruise, Jamaica, Curacao), I really can't complain.

 

[bettymae1121]

Not every divorce situation requires the consent of BOTH parents to travel abroad if a child has a passport. By the same token, consent may be needed just to take a child out of state from the non custodial parent. Because laws and divorce agreements can vary so greatly, please don't offer generalized information.

Many countries require permision from the absent parent, including Mexico and Canada. If you don't have a noterized letter, you can be denied boarding for international flight or a cruise, and you'll be stoped at land boarder crossings. This is true even if you aren't divorced. If one of the parents isn't traveling, you need this letter! Also, if you have sole custody of your child(ren) or if you are a widow(er) you will need proof of that in leu of the noterized letter.

Generally it's just a good idea to get the letter, even if a country doesn't require it, it will protect the traveling parent from any misunderstandings with the ex.

As for the OP, the passport cards are much less than the full passports, if you qualify for them I'd look into doing that instead.

 

[cluvsdisney]

It can be a big upfront expense but they are good for a long time - annualy it works out to less then $15 per year or $1.25 per month. Maybe that will ease the pain of getting them all at once now.

 

[eliza61]

Not that expensive.
It's a universal form of ID.
Last for 10 years.
allows you to travel and probably one of the cheapest parts of the trip.

Totally voluntary. don't want to pay the fee, don't leave the states. Really that simple.

 

[Mom of 3 Princesses]

Many countries require permision from the absent parent, including Mexico and Canada. If you don't have a noterized letter, you can be denied boarding for international flight or a cruise, and you'll be stoped at land boarder crossings. This is true even if you aren't divorced. If one of the parents isn't traveling, you need this letter! Also, if you have sole custody of your child(ren) or if you are a widow(er) you will need proof of that in leu of the noterized letter.

Generally it's just a good idea to get the letter, even if a country doesn't require it, it will protect the traveling parent from any misunderstandings with the ex.

As for the OP, the passport cards are much less than the full passports, if you qualify for them I'd look into doing that instead.

Red is mine.

XH and I have joint custody of our children. Although, technically they are with me more. However, before I leave the country I ALWAYS have him sign a notarized letter saying that he is aware and consents to my taking the children out of the country for XX amount of time.

It is good practice, and at Customs, they are very skeptical sometimes. I have a married name, but legally, I kept my former name so that my name and my older (12,15) children's names are the same. The baby has my husband's name. I kept the name for reasons like this. When they turn 18 I will change it to my now husbands.

 

[ilovemk76]

In what way do you see them as the #1 form of ID in the world?
Whatever ID the people use in China and India is probably the #1 in terms of sheer numbers. Here in the US, the most commonly used ID is a state-issued driver's license; after all, it's more compact and easier to carry.

And the investigation they do is all just a computer check that takes minutes. I don't think it's worth the cost of the passport, especially since a person might get a passport today and then develop criminal tendencies tomorrow . . . and he'd have 9 years before the passport needs renewing and his "investigation" turns up anything.

Ask yourself this: People don't complain about the cost of getting their driver's license renewed, yet they do complain about the cost of a passport. Why? Simple: The driver's license costs $25 every five years, and the license is used on a fairly constant basis (less often now that we don't write checks like we used to). The passport, however, is $135 for an adult and most people don't use it regularly. Big difference in value for the money.

What I would support rather than our current archaic passport system: The national driver's license, which a few states have begun using. Unlike the passport, it isn't so expensive that people question its cost, it's the same for every state so law enforcement officers could recognize fakes more easily, and it fits in to a wallet. Technology makes it easy to keep the records of who's traveled where in electronic files rather than stamps on passport paper. Now that makes sense for those of you who are close enough to a border to come and go on a frequent basis. You'd probably get plenty of use out of a passport. $135 for an adult, $105 for a minor (defined as 16 and under). So for a family of four (assuming two adults, two kids) you're talking about $480. Depending upon the time of year you're traveling, that could be one person's cruise ticket.

Compared to the other option, which is FREE, that's a good bit of money -- IF you want just to take one cruise. Perhaps it varies from state to state, but last time I got my license renewed I had to wait and wait and wait . . . and I overheard the very unpleasant woman at the desk fussing with a whole lot of people about having the wrong identification. One young boy's mother brought him in just to have a state issued ID made (he was too young for a driver's license). She brought in his passport, and she was told that they don't accept that as ID. When my daughter went to get her license, knowing how horrible the DMV is, we brought a number of items: Her Social Security card, her birth certificate, her passport. They accepted the first two but wouldn't look at her passport. By pure chance, it was report card day and she had an official report card on official school paper in her bookbag. They accepted that. Actually . . . I'm not sure that I'm telling the whole truth about what we brought, but I do remember that they wouldn't take the passport and the school report card saved the day.

I don't agree with the idea that a report card and a Social Security card should be accepted by the DMV ahead of a passport, but I have personally observed it twice.

They are #1 because they are valid any where is the world. A NC DL may not be valid ID for a NC resident in India but a US passport it. That is why it is #1. It is the only single form of ID that proves you are who you are - birth information, photo and fingerprint.

Whether you buy a DL or a PP it is your choice. A person can live their entire life without either.

That DL will not get you any place outside of the US but that PP opens the entire world to you.


I would want a PP on a closed loop cruise just in case you need to be air lifted back home due to a medical problem. I know a person who this happened to and the DH was in his 30s.

 

[Shleedogg]

Because their processing is so overstaffed. The gov't doesn't process them, they contract them out. I used to work for the large financial organization that processed them, started in data entry entering the passport info from scanned forms then worked my way up.

They staff up for the busy season in the spring. We're talking about 200 people per shift for 3 shifts, plus a weekend shift. In the spring and early summer, they need that many people; 3-4 months. The rest of the year, they don't but keep the staff. The staff are mainly temps but they keep them anyway. The rest of the year, they get paid to go home early when there is no work. The government pays for all of this. This, to me, is a poor management choice. I think you'll find similar choices in most gov't agencies and contracts.

There are also fully staffed locations in LA and CT where they both scan in the passport forms and enter in the data. There could be some cuts made in staffing. The situation could have changed, I quit 3 years ago. However, I see on FB that some of my former coworkers who still work there are still going home early through a lot of the year. Perhaps they wised up and only pay the perm staff to go home and not the temps? We can hope.