BajaNomad

U.S Passport Renewal

toneart - 6-21-2016 at 01:49 PM

Now that travel to Mexico requires a passport, I notice that mine is about to expire in July.

What is the procedure now for renewal while still in The U.S.? Post offices used to handle the process.

Thanks,

Tony

renewal

John M - 6-21-2016 at 01:55 PM

Our local post office still processes the application - passport card - good only for land travel is about half the cost of the regular passport book - our post office quotes a 4 to 5 week turnaround.

High desert, CA

John M

Bob and Susan - 6-21-2016 at 02:09 PM

you don't need to go to the post office anymore...

you just mail it in...
here are the rules...
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/rene...

just fill out the application...sign it...mail it in with the money...picture...application and old passport and the new one comes back in the mail

pretty easy

the hardest part is the new picture...
we took our picture here against the wall and printed it on photo paper
thru an inkjet printer
the picture has to be the "right" size

toneart - 6-21-2016 at 02:19 PM

Thank you both for your prompt replies.:yes:

Bob and Susan - 6-21-2016 at 03:18 PM

they send the old one back...they "shoot" a hole in it...I mean "put"

Bajahowodd - 6-21-2016 at 05:01 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan  
they send the old one back...they "shoot" a hole in it...I mean "put"


Just so sad for world travelers who are proud about where they have traveled.

David K - 6-21-2016 at 05:14 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bajahowodd  
Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan  
they send the old one back...they "shoot" a hole in it...I mean "put"


Just so sad for world travelers who are proud about where they have traveled.

The holes are on the edge and do not damage your passport visa stamps... you get your entire old passport back is the point.

[Edited on 6-22-2016 by David K]

David K - 6-21-2016 at 05:30 PM

Quote: Originally posted by toneart  
Thank you both for your prompt replies.:yes:


Hi Toneart,
Our passports expired in February. They were issued at the post office 10 years ago. We went in to renew and unless they have been long expired or you are getting a new passport, they give you a form that you simply fill out at home.

You need new photos (just one, but at Costco they give you more, but are cheap, like about $5 for 4).

You can get both the new passport and a passport card together for $140. We just got ours last week, a total of 3 weeks time from when I mailed the stuff in on May 25th.

[Edited on 6-22-2016 by David K]

dtbushpilot - 6-21-2016 at 05:43 PM

Is there still an expedite option? We are going up to San Diego next month to get our passports renewed, would like to return home (BCS) asap, 3 weeks is too long.

David K - 6-21-2016 at 05:59 PM

YES! Costs more $$$ and it says get them in 3 weeks!
They estimated 6 weeks when we processed, but it was half that long... the expedited time, at the normal price.

Bob posted the online link, here it is... you don't need to go to a Post Office: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/rene...

[Edited on 6-22-2016 by David K]

Bob and Susan - 6-21-2016 at 06:23 PM

if you want to expedite...
go to post office...some don't need an appointment

your passport application goes to front of the line at passport center and you mail a express envelope for return...
1 week turn around right now

they must have an electric machine for the holes...looks too perfect

old passport.jpg - 81kB

mtgoat666 - 6-21-2016 at 06:28 PM

Quote: Originally posted by dtbushpilot  
Is there still an expedite option? We are going up to San Diego next month to get our passports renewed, would like to return home (BCS) asap, 3 weeks is too long.


You can get a passport in 72 hrs at the passport office on Columbia street. Instructions on state dept website.

Bob and Susan - 6-21-2016 at 06:37 PM

it's actually
401 w A St San Diego

(877) 487-2778...call them


mappass.jpg - 113kB

toneart - 6-22-2016 at 08:52 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Quote: Originally posted by toneart  
Thank you both for your prompt replies.:yes:


Hi Toneart,
Our passports expired in February. They were issued at the post office 10 years ago. We went in to renew and unless they have been long expired or you are getting a new passport, they give you a form that you simply fill out at home.

You need new photos (just one, but at Costco they give you more, but are cheap, like about $5 for 4).

You can get both the new passport and a passport card together for $140. We just got ours last week, a total of 3 weeks time from when I mailed the stuff in on May 25th.

[Edited on 6-22-2016 by David K]


Thank you, David!
It is now in the works.

Tony

BajaBlanca - 6-22-2016 at 08:54 PM

toneart - when is your trip down planned for?


:biggrin:

Martyman - 6-23-2016 at 09:26 AM

You can get it in San Francisco in about 4 hours. I did it and I needed an upcoming hotel reservation in Mexico and you gotta pay about double!

DENNIS - 6-23-2016 at 10:22 AM


FYI.......There's a PP office in Chula Vista as well.

BajaGeoff - 6-23-2016 at 11:07 AM

Our daughter got her passport in three days from the 401 West A St office in San Diego. The interview was on a Wednesday and we picked the passport up that Friday. It was about $160 bucks for the expedited service...not cheap but better than waiting for weeks and weeks...

BajaNaranja - 6-23-2016 at 01:01 PM

Wife and I both renewed passports about a month ago. I went with expedited option as I was toying the the idea of a trip involving air travel in the near future, so paid the extra for mine, while she went for standard handling. Of course we got both passports back within a couple days of one another - maybe 2-3 day difference. Probably was 2 or 2.5 weeks total turnaround time for mine. They mail back your old passport separately.

[Edited on 6-23-2016 by BajaNaranja]

toneart - 6-23-2016 at 05:49 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca  
toneart - when is your trip down planned for?


:biggrin:


Blanca, I am not planning a trip. Just being optimistic and wanting to renew the passport for the future. Health is getting in the way.

Tony

ex250 - 6-24-2016 at 12:56 AM

I misplaced my passport and I have a reservation in Baja. Can I enter Mexico with just the passport card ?

Passport card entry

John M - 6-24-2016 at 04:18 AM

Yes, by land - don't think it will work for air travel though.

John

AKgringo - 6-24-2016 at 04:28 PM

I submitted my application for renewal in Anchorage today, and added a passport card as well. The cost was $143.75 with the shipping envelope and money order fee.

I was surprised to see that they were set up at the post office to take the photo, but the clerk told me it was an additional $15 there, or I could drive two miles to Costco and get them for $5, which I did.

If you take the form home and fill it out, be sure to use black ink, or you will be doing it over.

If anyone in Anchorage needs to submit an application, there are only three locations that have the forms, downtown, at the airport, or at Northwood and Strawberry. I used the Strawberry location, and it went pretty quickly.

The worst part of the process was comparing the new photo to the one taken ten years ago. What happened to me?

[Edited on 6-24-2016 by AKgringo]

Bajahowodd - 6-24-2016 at 04:32 PM

Quote: Originally posted by toneart  
Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca  
toneart - when is your trip down planned for?


:biggrin:


Blanca, I am not planning a trip. Just being optimistic and wanting to renew the passport for the future. Health is getting in the way.

Tony


We old farts do have that issue about planning, don't we, Tony.

grace59 - 7-3-2016 at 03:42 PM

Quote: Originally posted by dtbushpilot  
Is there still an expedite option? We are going up to San Diego next month to get our passports renewed, would like to return home (BCS) asap, 3 weeks is too long.

I just renewed our Passports (and got a Passport Card at the same time). I used the "Expedite" feature...sent them overnight mail with extra payment to have them overnighted back to me and had the new Passport Book back within a week. A couple of days later I got the Passport Cards and old Passport Book back....they all came in separate mailings.

Marc - 7-4-2016 at 07:37 AM

In San Francisco my daughter and I renew at city hall. Just show up with a picture (mine at a Walgreen's photo shop) and your expired passport, pay a fee, and it's in the mail in a week or two.
Tony, I drive by your house in the Orchard but you are never there.

AKgringo - 7-26-2016 at 05:31 PM

I forgot to report on my passport application result when I got it back. I used a standard US mail envelope, with no special priority to renew my passport, and add a passport card. It took less than three weeks to my P.O. box in Anchorage.

The envelopes were not postmarked, and I was out of town when they arrived, so I am not sure of an accurate turn around time.

Edit; My application was mailed from Anchorage on June 24, and the new issue date was July 08. Unknown how many days in the return mail, but it was fast.

[Edited on 7-27-2016 by AKgringo]