BajaNomad - Ordered my passport today...

Ordered my passport today...

David K - 1-19-2006 at 06:02 PM

Thought someone might me interested to hear the details.

I went to my local (Oceanside) post office to get stamps and there were no lines! I asked about getting a passport, the clerk gave me the form.

To ask how long it all takes I walked into the side room where they do the passports... and there was no line there either... So, I filled out the form, presented my long ago expired previous passport (or a birth certificate would work), drivers license, got a photo taken right there, raised my right hand to take an oath I was providing the true details on my form, forked over $112.95, and was told 6 weeks or less it would be mailed to me.

That was way too easy... But, I must have just been lucky with timing. Normally they do passports by appointment.

The total fee included the photo ($15) and some processing fees ($30), money order to the feds (.95), and the actual passport fee ($67)... If I wanted rush rush service there was another hundred dollars that they would take... That's okay, I can wait!

I guess the $30 is to save me driving to L.A. to the passport office there???

Anyway, if we need them in the future to get back home from Baja... I will be covered. Although, being forced to stay in Baja isn't such a bad idea!!! Hey!! :light:

Bob and Susan - 1-19-2006 at 06:59 PM

The $30 fee is for passport acceptance...any agency that accepts applications gets that money.

You really cant go to LA anymore unless you meet certain emergency situations.

Rush service is not $100 it's $60

You must have asked for express mail service for the returning of the passport.

Unless you wait untill the last minute you do not need to expitite your passport application or use Express Mail return service.

Save your money....get it early!!!

One thing you do need is a "certified" copy of your birth certificate not the one from the hospital. It will not have feet on it!!!

What a WASTE of money :lol:

Strange, we just ordered Patricia's yesterday...

Mexray - 1-19-2006 at 07:15 PM

...we did it by mail. If you have an existing passport, 15 years old or less, and it's not damaged, and you haven't changed your name (except by marriage), you can do it by mail...go here for the info...

http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds82/ds82_843.htm...

You can print out the forms and fill them in by pen, or you can fill in the blanks on the INTERNET and then print them out. You have to enclose (2) of those 2x2 inch photos, a check for $67.oo and mail the stuff to their processing center back east. Still takes about 6 weeks. I believe passports are good for a period of 10 years...

Now, if your are getting your first passport, you could still print a copy of the application form so you know what info is required, and like David mentioned above, you'll need your 'official' birth certificate. Check out the web site for all the info, it's quite complete.

The new passports have a 'chip' embedded in them that contains your personal data for use by immigration, etc. wonder when they will promote a program to have these 'chips' embedded right under your skin, so you won't have to carry a passport anymore!...

Bob and Susan - 1-19-2006 at 07:29 PM

Mexray....do you listen to "fringe radio"???

The "mark of the beast" :lol:

Frank - 1-19-2006 at 07:48 PM

I think I'll add some extra excitement on my way home next time. Im just going to get dropped off in Tj and give it a run. I know it sounds strange but it looks pretty excitng.
Its dark, your running through the brush. Helicopters are searching for you. Run!!!!!!!!!!! Everytime Im near the Border at night I get a rush watching the excitement. I think I need a vacation..... someone stole new truck.

Bob...

Mexray - 1-19-2006 at 08:02 PM

...by 'fringe' do you mean I can't use my indoor handgun range in the spare bedroom, anymore? :saint:

capt. mike - 1-20-2006 at 05:33 AM

jan '07 ALL must have them to get back in........i dunno, i just may stay OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :wow:

David K - 1-20-2006 at 09:52 AM

Baja is worth the $112.95 for 10 years, isn't it Mike? Sell some more of your awesome GIANT (full wall) maps of Baja to pay for a passport...

wilderone - 1-20-2006 at 10:45 AM

Add $2,000 for Mex. insurance for 10 years, $460 for visas every 6 months, and about $600 in toll road charges ($15 RT x 4 trips/yr x 10 yrs). Equals $3,170. You could fly to Hawaii once a year on that.

David K - 1-20-2006 at 11:17 AM

Hawaii ???

There's no BOOJUMS in Hawaii!

Bob H - 1-20-2006 at 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by capt. mike
jan '07 ALL must have them to get back in........i dunno, i just may stay OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :wow:

Capt Mike,
I think I read something the other day in the Union Tribune that the government was going to come up with a less expensive "I.D. Plan" to cross between US and Canada and US and Mexico and that the Jan 1, 2007 deadline for needing a passport was cancelled.
Bob H

David K - 1-20-2006 at 11:20 AM

That may be just for land crossers, not them 'rich' pilots and yachties! :lol:

Tifosi - 1-20-2006 at 01:06 PM

I got my passport at my local city clerk office one afternoon (Anaheim, CA). Total cost for me, wife and three kids was almost $450. The process was easy, no lines to wait in, they took the picture for us and the passports arrived in the mail about 4 weeks later. All that was required was a picture ID and birth certificate. For the kids we provided birth certificates and my wife and I had to swear under oath and sign that the kids were ours and their birth certificates really did belong to them. I would say from start to finish it was 45 minutes (remember it was for 5 people).

I used my passport for the first time last weekend during my weekend fish taco run to Ensenada. The border agent gave it a cursory glance looked at my wife and I and we were cool. Our friends in the back seat got scrutinized a little more because they only had a driver?s license. The agent mockingly lectured them that about the values of a passport and they eventual necessity of a passport to cross back into the US. You can bet our friends have already visited the city clerk and got passports for the whole family. Now when they accompany us for our annual 2 week trip to Cabo in July they are one step ahead of most.

Tifosi

bajaandy - 1-20-2006 at 02:36 PM

Got mine and my wife renewed hers and got one for my son last year. Not a big deal, just make sure you fill out the forms correctly and get a decent photo that meets the standard. I'll be testing it out tomorrow when I go down to be a tourist and look at the stranded container ship in Ensenada. (It's really just an excuse to go surfing and get tacos, but don't tell anybody.)

woody with a view - 1-20-2006 at 05:08 PM

hey andy-

we're all tourists! not a bad thing in baja, tho!

Bob H - 1-20-2006 at 05:24 PM

It's nice to have the passport so you can explore other places too besides only Baja. There is a beautiful world out there.
Bob H

capt. mike - 1-20-2006 at 06:18 PM

hahahah - :lol:

:lol

avid, what i meant by staying "out" is that i will stay OUT of the US, as in stay in baja, and not come back!!

Bob H - no the passport thing is not cancelled yet, i get reminded each time i clear back in , including today's return from Rocky Point.......too bad and if they DO cancel it lemme know, will ya? :fire:

thebajarunner - 1-20-2006 at 09:00 PM

I read this post this evening, just after returning from a stop at the local post office to renew my pasaporte....
It was flawless... yep, cost me a few extra bux, but hey, they took the foto, they swore me in, they confiscated my old one, separated me from not too much money, did the mailing (I hope) and I am set to jet.
Going to Baja in March,
going to Kiev and Moscow in June.
This is about my tenth passport, easiest one I ever got,
USPS- my kinda folks.

capt. mike - 1-21-2006 at 06:07 AM

so does most any postal sub station do them?

here's a tip to anyone who's "rico" (David's post above) and wants to remain so.....do not buy a plane or large boat. Both will suck you drier than you could ever imagine. And the suckage is constant and relentless!

only crazies and fools will put up with owning one.....Top Ramen has become my main entree.

but, i wouldn't give it up for an instant!! :bounce:

thebajarunner - 1-21-2006 at 10:09 AM

Mike, not all (but most) post offices do them.
I got mine in the very small p.o. in Riverbank, they also do them in the equally small one in Oakdale.
Check first to see what hours, here it is 10 to 2 and in Modesto it is until 4.
Guess they all march to their own drums.
But the extra few bucks are well worth the "walk away" part of the deal!

Yep, I have owned both planes and boats. (my partner just bot a new Zodiac LSA plane)

You know what they say.... "The two happiest days in a boat (plane) owner's life***** 1. the day you buy it.....2. the day you sell it..."

Bob H - 1-21-2006 at 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by capt. mike
Top Ramen has become my main entree.

but, i wouldn't give it up for an instant!! :bounce:

I love Top Ramen too.... pork flavor (hard to find sometimes)
Bob H