Passport Advice ...

[Barton Hills]

So I need a passport for a trip I go on at the end of March. I went to the Post Office last Friday to get it, they quote me 6-8 weeks for standard delivery. Six is supposedly normal, but with Spring Break coming up they are padding the delivery date.

The trip I'm going on was 8 weeks and 1 day from last Friday. The dude behind the counter thinks I'll be fine, so I pay the $97 instead of forking over $200 for expedited.

Well I find out yesterday that a friend of my wife applied for a passport about 9 weeks ago and still hasn't gotten it. WTF ???

What should I do now ? I'm going to run over to the USPS site, but any firsthand knowledge about my options at this point ? Can I still request expedited service, is it too late ... should I even bother ?

What do you guys think ?

 

[TXHookem]

When I was on a tight deadline, I paid the expedited fee. I can't imagine it would hurt to call the passport office and find out what you can do to expedite the processing. It's worth paying an extra few bucks than sweatin' it.

 

[next2naus]

does Austin not have an official passport office? I needed mine ASAP for a trip to Africa and I went to the State Department here in NYC and paid $50 to wait in line for same day service. I rule

 

[Barton Hills]

Wow ... how long ago was this ???

I asked like 15 people, they all said to go to the Post Office.

 

[HornInDub]

I think there's only a State Dept office in Houston and Dallas. I know there's one in Houston as that's where I went in person to get additional pages added to my passport a few years ago. I think they have a toll-charge # that you can call and talk to someone about your application, but you'll have to look up the Houston State Dept office for their #.

 

[bigup2dahorns]

i just did the regular service for my renewal, and it took exactly 6 weeks. but i hear what you say about spring break, plus the new rules that just took effect on 1/23, i bet they are busy.

 

[Lone Star]

Go back to the USPS and pay the fee to expedite the application. Go in person, do not try to do this over the phone.

 

[EuroHorn]

And run, don't walk!!

 

[utmck]

Do under age kids need a passport also?

 

[bigup2dahorns]

you can check all the rules on passports here USdeptofstate

 

[Barton Hills]

This f'n sucks.

This is for a Bachelor Party.

Already paying out the nose for a flight to the Bahamas ... now another $105 on top of the $97 I spent on a passport already.

Not to mention all the other jack I'll be spending while down there.

 

[next2naus]

it was '99 and I needed it to catch a flight to South Africa.

 

[pflugervillehorn]

It looks like they do but here is a linkState Dept Passport Minors

 

[Lone Star]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[ryan4502]

got mine expedited today in Austin for $158

 

[Macanudo]

When I expedited mine earlier this month, I paid $158 and that included the cost of overnighting it both ways. Well worth the extra cost. I got mine back in under a week.

 

[AugieBall]

If you go to Houston, you can take it home the same day.

 

[TXHookem]

You may be paying for the passport but it's a good document to have - I'm still amazed at the number of people who would rather (in the past tense) travel with a folded up copy of a birth certificate than a passport.