How in the heck do you get a Passport??

[Graybeard]

Eminent brothers,
You know what they say about paybacks.....well the payback for my insolence has been quantified. It seems I have to take Bludworm & SWMBO on a cruise this summer. We will visit my folks in Daytone Beach and then drive to Port Canavaral for a 7 day cruise. I made the downpayment and then I was told we need passports. Anyone got any advise they can spare on getting a passoprt. The cruise starts July 25, 2009 and from the sounds of it, I need to act fast.

[27 sailfish]

Go to your local post office - they will handle it for you. Takes about 1/2 hour.

You might have to pay extra to get it expedited.

Since 9/11 - it has taken longer to get them.

[AquaholicFishing]

Just go to a Post Office, here is a link to the Passport page: USPS - Passport Application Information (http://www.usps.com/passport/welcome.htm?from=home_lgpromo&page=applyforpassport)

Might want to get there ASAP as they usually take some time to get processed.

[webnstuff]

yup,
we did this 2 years ago. Went to the local wallyworld and got our mugshots, took that with birth cert /old passport to the post office. We completed all the paperwork right there, and it took almost 6 weeks for them to show up.
Hope that helps.

[Shortylong01]

GB...Good advice on paying the expedite fee. Things have really picked up since the US has required citizens to have Passports for Mexico and Canada... The process has been slowed too because of the Passport processors having to process applications for the Passport Card, sort of a Speed Pass Passport that will be used by people who go back and forth over the borders frequently...(Truckers etc.)

Good Luck... You will have the Passports back in time for the trip if you apply now.

[27 sailfish]

Greybeard - we had to go to DC to get them. Luckily we had an appointment or the wait would have been hours.

Be sure to ask how long the back up is and explain you need them by a certain date.

You should be OK with 90 days.

[Shortylong01]

Skip is right... no reason for the DC trip yet... But I'd apply soon so you will have em in plenty of time... OH And make a couple of copies of the Passports, give one copy to someone you trust. MUCH easier to replace if they are lost or stolen while you are on the trip. There is a market for stolen Passports...

[27 sailfish]

:D Man , I was asleep at the wheel. You are going on a 7 day boatride and not catching any fish ...... nothing new , huh :pp:pp:pp.


Serious advice about the passport copies. Keep your's locked in the cabin safe. Ask a crew member if you'll need it ashore - 90% of the time - you will not. A copy is fine most times or your photo ID.

No fun losing a passport in a foreign country.

[Capt Mike]

Get the forms from State Dept web site, fill them out and print them, went to Waldorf Post Office took less than 15 minutes to do photos and pay the bill,:confused: check 75.00 to Dept of State for passport - $15 for photos and $20 for process to PO. It has been five wks and I still do not have the actual passport - they say six wks it the normal time. Go Luck.

[Capt. Jim Brincefield]

Will you be taking Chumbucket along with you?

[tommyb40]

I had to get a passport for canada fast, like the guy said before it takes about a hour or so to get it done at your post office but call and make sure of the days when they do it because they do not do it everyday. and you will have to pay extra for it to get to you fast. It usually takes about 8 weeks, but you should be fine

[msawyer13]

I just did this in December and got my passport in about 4 weeks. By far the easiest thing to do is either print the forms online, or just swing by the Post Office and ask for a passport application and take it home with you.

Fill it all out at home, once you have everything complete and all the necessary proof of identity call the Post Office and make an appointment for a photo and completion of the application. They will take care of everything for you. You need a check for the fees.

The application asks if/when you are scheduled for a trip. I can only assume they somewhat prioritize to get people their passports in time (but then again this is our federal government).

If you are down to the wire with no passport, THEN plan on the trip to DC and wasting an entire day to get one on the spot.

Good luck...

[BigWillJ]

We took a cruise to Canada on the Queen Mary out of New York last year, and all that was needed was my Birth Certificate and driver's license. You might want to read those rules carefully for where you are going and see if that's all you might need also.

[The Annapolis Crab]

Graybeard,

Below is the link to the US Department of State website. Very simple instructions and there is a list of locations that you can apply in person.

How to Apply for the First Time (In Person) (http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html)

Enjoy the trip!

The Crab

[Shady Grady]

Brother GB,

Not all Post offices are the same and getting the wrong picture can be a PITA. Go to the PO in columbia md with all of your family. They take the picture and everything. it was a "FULL SERVICE" post office when I needed mind done before going to Guatemala> Funny thing is seeing my son's Guatemalan Passport with the name Cristofer Vorsteg
Poor kid got stuck with a German last name ... talk about confusion when he is older

[wino]

Renewed my expired passportr at one of our local Post offices, got it back in less than 3 weeks.

[SkateCatcher]

I did mine in Nov.

Go to your local Post Office. Birng your birth certificate and cash.
Will take about a half an hour or less.

Do not pay the expediting fee.

I didn't and got mine in 8 business days. They mail it to you. Passport and BC seperate, so dont be alarmed when you get one or the other first.

[rhahn427]

GB ......... shortly after the new requirement for passports to just about anywhere there was a rush and there weren't additional people hired to handle the influx so there was a huge backlog. Since then there are fewer applications and they have been processed quickly. Judy and I got our passports last year. We were told 6-8 weeks and we got ours in less than 2 weeks without an expedite. If you get it done now you shouldn't have any problems getting it by the time you take your cruise.

[AIK68J]

:D Man , I was asleep at the wheel. You are going on a 7 day boatride and not catching any fish ...... nothing new , huh :pp:pp:pp.


Serious advice about the passport copies. Keep your's locked in the cabin safe. Ask a crew member if you'll need it ashore - 90% of the time - you will not. A copy is fine most times or your photo ID.

No fun losing a passport in a foreign country.

Bring a spring, few hundred feet of line 1 umbrella tie it onto the rail Check it every so often Trolling Big Pimpin style :rolleyes::rolleyes:
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn121/clv14518/aimeepimp.gif

[rocksteady]

18 replies for something this simple ? This is getting funny . Come on Capt. Jim , keep the humor coming!:yes::thumbup::jackthread:

[Chumbucket]

18 replies for something this simple ? This is getting funny . Come on Capt. Jim , keep the humor coming!:yes::thumbup::jackthread:

Next up: Toilet Paper; Fold or crumple?

[rocksteady]

Next up: Toilet Paper; Fold or crumple?

Wrap quickly around hand:thumbup:

[Chumbucket]

Oh, and Graymug, don't forget to bring lots of fruit through customs, tell them you've wandered around agricultural areas, and develop a serious TB-like cough on your foreign escapades...

How do you get a passport - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?btnG=1&q=How+do+you+get+a+passport)

[Chumbucket]

Whoa, hold on a second....Did he say cruise? CRUISE? Like on a boat in the ocean cruise? Holy mother of God, does your wife want to kill you, John? I hope this tub, whatever it is you're going to be on, is the size of the USS Ronald Reagan...What are you going to do? Puke your way across the Caribbean?

[Graybeard]

Eminent Brothers,
Thanks for all the help. We just got back from submitting all our application stuff to the local passport application center. It cost me $330 for 3 passports, what a rip!!!! Bludworm and I were OK, but; SWMBO's birth certificate didn't have a raised State seal. So we have to get one of the birth certificate services to get one for us. And get this, SWMBO has been lieing about her age all thses years!!! SWMBO is actually 7 months older then me!!!!!! Maybe I should go to the doctor and get some perscription sea sick pills....for Bludworm and SWMBO :D