BajaNomad

Anyone renewed their passport at a consulate in Baja?.. UPDATE

Dave - 3-19-2009 at 05:29 PM

I need to renew but I also need my passport as ID as I cross over to the U.S. on a regular basis. I'm told that the consulate will stamp your passport as 'in renewal' so you can continue to use it while the new one is processed. Anyone have experience with this?

Made an app. and went to the consulate on Tuesday. Applied to renew my passport and get a card. Process took about 45 minutes. Passport ready in 1 week. Card in 2 weeks. I'll need to return to the consulate to pick them up.

Cost for passport renewal is $75. Card $20.

They cancelled my current passport but allowed me to keep it until the new one is ready. Crossed with it the same day. No problem with customs when using it as ID.

A pleasant, no hassle experience. Piece of cake.

[Edited on 4-16-2009 by Dave]

oxxo - 3-19-2009 at 08:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
II'm told that the consulate will stamp your passport as 'in renewal' so you can continue to use it while the new one is processed.


I don't see how that is possible since you have to send in your old passport to get a new one.

woody with a view - 3-20-2009 at 05:59 AM

i'll bet the consulate has a stack to issue in an emergency. i mean, if you lose your passport in the middle of africa how long would you be waiting for it to arrive by mail? they issue new ones.

k-rico - 3-20-2009 at 07:06 AM

I just renewed my passport via the US mail using my US address. It took 3 weeks. I used my birth certificate to get across the border while the renewal was in process, you have to send in the expired passport.

One thing to watch out for if you have a Sentri Card is that it also automatically expires when your passport expires. If you use the Sentri lanes they may confiscate it. I used the regular lanes after my passport expired so I still have the Sentri Card. I haven't gone to the Sentri office yet to get the card "un-expired".

I found out my Sentri Card expired when my passport expired when I went to the Sentri website and logged in to take care of another matter. I then called the Sentri office asking if I can still use the Sentri lanes while my passport renewal was in process and they said no and if I did the card would be confiscated.

bajajudy - 3-20-2009 at 07:34 AM

It has been a couple of years, but when I renewed my passport in San Lucas they did not take my passport because I needed it for identification. I do not recall their stamping it.

turtleandtoad - 3-20-2009 at 07:49 AM

I've never had one issued at a consulate in Baja, but have had it done at the consulate in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The law is that you have to turn in the old passport when they issue you a new one. The key here is "Issue"; For the consulates, they "issue" you the new passport when they hand it to you at the consulate. At that time they will take your old one.

In the US, they insist that you mail it in because they consider placing the passport in the mail as "issuing" it. To quote a famous statesman, it's a a matter of what your definition of "is" is.

So, unless you've let the old one expire, you shouldn't have a problem.

BajaDove - 3-20-2009 at 08:10 AM

When we had our passport renewed they took it, but we didn't need to cross the border before it was returned. It was our impression they could not renew without taking it.

Bruce R Leech - 3-20-2009 at 08:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
I need to renew but I also need my passport as ID as I cross over to the U.S. on a regular basis. I'm told that the consulate will stamp your passport as 'in renewal' so you can continue to use it while the new one is processed. Anyone have experience with this?

Yes Dave I have done it in TJ and they will return your old one for I.D.

cantinflas - 3-20-2009 at 09:11 AM

I've done it in Puerto Vallarta and they took the old one. I did'nt get the new one for 7 weeks.

Bruce R Leech - 3-20-2009 at 10:23 AM

if it is expired they might keep it but if it is still valid they cannot keep it. I always get mine about 6 mo.s before it expires.

Bajahowodd - 3-20-2009 at 11:15 AM

We lost our passports after returning from a recent trip to Ensenada. Went to our local post office and completed a form for lost passport, plus new app. We got our new ones in seven days!

rhintransit - 3-20-2009 at 11:46 AM

I renewed mine in La Paz, back when the consular agent was coming up from Cabo once a month. 2007 I believe. he did NOT take the passport. but that service was discontinued. I understand there is a new consular agent, you should check to see if renewing locally is still possible.

bajalinda - 3-20-2009 at 11:56 AM

I am in the process of renewing my passport through the US consulate in Cabo San Lucas. Because my passport doesn't expire until mid-April, I was told to keep my current passport because it is still valid and they simply took a copy of my current passport to go along with the renewal application. The whole process should take about 2 to 3 weeks. I don't know yet if I'll have to turn in the current passport when the new one arrives or not....... will see. By the way, you have to go the the consulate and apply for the renewal in person and you also have to go back and pick it up in person - they will not mail it out to you.

Perfect!

Dave - 3-21-2009 at 03:36 AM

Everyone, thanks for the response. I'll make an appt. in TJ.

UPDATE...See original post

Dave - 4-16-2009 at 01:09 PM

DENNIS - 4-16-2009 at 01:11 PM

Good to know....Thanks, Dave.

Which Consulate ?

CaboRon - 4-16-2009 at 01:26 PM

Don't know where you are ???????

Which Consular Office did you use ?????
Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
I need to renew but I also need my passport as ID as I cross over to the U.S. on a regular basis. I'm told that the consulate will stamp your passport as 'in renewal' so you can continue to use it while the new one is processed. Anyone have experience with this?

Made an app. and went to the consulate on Tuesday. Applied to renew my passport and get a card. Process took about 45 minutes. Passport ready in 1 week. Card in 2 weeks. I'll need to return to the consulate to pick them up.

Cost for passport renewal is $75. Card $20.

They cancelled my current passport but allowed me to keep it until the new one is ready. Crossed with it the same day. No problem with customs when using it as ID.

A pleasant, no hassle experience. Piece of cake.

[Edited on 4-16-2009 by Dave]

The consulate in TJ

Dave - 4-16-2009 at 01:30 PM

flyfishinPam - 4-16-2009 at 05:00 PM

AT Cabo San Lucas they were friendly and helpful and I've never run into problems. I've renewed my passports and my kids and also claimed their American citizenship as they were born in Mexico. Fast service, ready in two weeks. They send everything to TJ so that must be the head consulate or Baja. All our passports say issued in TJ.

bajalinda - 4-16-2009 at 10:28 PM

Just picked up my new passport today at the consulate in Cabo. Agree completely with flyfishinPam - my turnaround time was 2 weeks also. Only wish they had service in La Paz because I'd rather not have to make the 4-hour drive....oh well....