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odessa
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« on: March 16, 2008, 02:37:02 PM » |
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I'm embarrassed to post this question, especially since I just got off the phone with my sister who was giving me grief for my ...err... "oversight." (She used a different word.)
I haven't done any international travel in much too long and inadvertently let my passport expire. Renewing it recently got added to my to-do list as I expect to be travelling across borders again this summer. However, through a weird set of circumstances, I need to travel internationally in about 3 weeks, so I need a valid passport ASAP. I'm too far away from a government office where I could show up in person and get supposedly same day turnaround. Thus, I've been checking out websites for "rush passports." I have to admit that I'm a little nervous about shipping my documents off to an unknown, web advertised, purveyor. Has anybody used one of these services? I'd like a recommendation.
I realize that I'll be paying through the nose for speed, but I accept that as a cost for my lapse. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks.
O.
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fiona
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« Reply #1 on: March 16, 2008, 02:44:37 PM » |
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I've been looking into this problem myself, and my local post office claims it does passport renewals. I haven't tried them, though.
I hope others post soon.
The Fiona
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The Fiona or perhaps La Fiona
Professor of Thread Killing, Fiork University
The Right Reverend Fiona, PhD, Bishop of the Fora
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odessa
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« Reply #2 on: March 16, 2008, 02:52:14 PM » |
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Fiona, it's good to know I'm not the only one dealing with this. Like I said, my sister was giving me grief. I'll have to tell her I'm in esteemed company with The Fiona!
Hope someone has a good suggestion for the two of us.
O.
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kissa_mau
Frequently Napping
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 1,212
Purrrvocative Posing
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« Reply #3 on: March 16, 2008, 03:07:23 PM » |
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The city where I live has an office connected to the DMV that will process things for you and send it off. They charge a fee, but it is nice.
I just sent in my passport renewal about a month ago, non-expedited, and the new one came in 2 weeks. I was shocked and amazed.
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Cat! I'm a kitty cat. And I dance, dance, dance and I dance, dance, dance.
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notaprof
Not a
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Posts: 11,084
This space for rent
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« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2008, 03:11:52 PM » |
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Dear Odessa,
I have the name of an expediting agency at the office and I'll post it here in a couple of hours when I stop by there to pick up something. It is one we have used many times for faculty and students going abroad and they provide quick and reliable service, but you will pay for it. I imagine the ones you have located are all fine but if you want one that is tried and true, I'll send the name along a bit later today.
One thing to check into as well, do you need a visa? My colleague just left for the UK and had to have digital eyescans and fingerprints (she is not a US citizen) and it required 10 days to get an appointment to do that. Of course. US citizens don't need a visa for most places on stays of less than 90 days but it wouldn't hurt to check.
Have a great trip. I just remembered, my passport expires this month!
Finally, and I promise I don't get commissions for this, but you might want to look into getting an International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC). It costs $22 but comes with important evacuation insurance and well as some basic insurance coverage. I think it is worth the cost.
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"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone.
"When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."
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odessa
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« Reply #5 on: March 16, 2008, 03:32:26 PM » |
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The city where I live has an office connected to the DMV that will process things for you and send it off. They charge a fee, but it is nice.
I just sent in my passport renewal about a month ago, non-expedited, and the new one came in 2 weeks. I was shocked and amazed.
Operative word here, KM, is city. Alas, I live in the boonies. I've heard that the back log on passport processing has eased, but I wouldn't want to gamble on enjoying your good fortune and the 2 week turn around. Dear Odessa,
I have the name of an expediting agency at the office and I'll post it here in a couple of hours when I stop by there to pick up something. It is one we have used many times for faculty and students going abroad and they provide quick and reliable service, but you will pay for it. I imagine the ones you have located are all fine but if you want one that is tried and true, I'll send the name along a bit later today.
Thank you, notaprof. This is exactly what I was hoping for. The peace of mind of "tried and true" would be worth the money. One thing to check into as well, do you need a visa? My colleague just left for the UK and had to have digital eyescans and fingerprints (she is not a US citizen) and it required 10 days to get an appointment to do that. Of course. US citizens don't need a visa for most places on stays of less than 90 days but it wouldn't hurt to check.
I'm okay on the visa front. This is not an exotic trip. Have a great trip. I just remembered, my passport expires this month!
Finally, and I promise I don't get commissions for this, but you might want to look into getting an International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC). It costs $22 but comes with important evacuation insurance and well as some basic insurance coverage. I think it is worth the cost.
Thanks for both the well wishes and the information about the ITIC. It sounds like it would be well worth the $22. O. |
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notaprof
Not a
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Posts: 11,084
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« Reply #6 on: March 16, 2008, 07:42:18 PM » |
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As promised, here is the agency I mentioned Travel Document Express, in DC. Tel 202 785-3250 www.traveldocument.comLike I said, it is not cheap - $129 is their fee on top of the passport fees but if you don't have a place where you could go in person, I guess it is cheaper than an airline ticket or several tanks of gas to get to a place where you could do it in person. For reference of The Fiona, if your need is not as urgent, or you don't live in the boonies, many post offices are authorized to do passports by mail on and you can search for the nearest place by zipcode at http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/. You can expedite at the designated center near you and get one within 3 weeks is the claim, and probably sooner as kissa mau mentioned, but it would be a gamble. At least you wouldn't have to pay the $129 agency fee. |
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"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone.
"When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."
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fiona
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« Reply #7 on: March 16, 2008, 10:39:36 PM » |
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That's great, Notaprof! The site turned up ten places within a few miles of me (I'm not in the boonies).
Thank you hugely!
The Fiona, who isn't travelling abroad but now ya need an up-to-date passport to get on a plane
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The Fiona or perhaps La Fiona
Professor of Thread Killing, Fiork University
The Right Reverend Fiona, PhD, Bishop of the Fora
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cc_alan
is a wossname
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 7,242
Caution! Nekkid zamboni driver ahead.
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« Reply #8 on: March 17, 2008, 12:04:45 AM » |
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That's great, Notaprof! The site turned up ten places within a few miles of me (I'm not in the boonies).
Thank you hugely!
The Fiona, who isn't travelling abroad but now ya need an up-to-date passport to get on a plane
?? Not for flying within the US. Alan |
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Excuse me... which aisle would I find the unicorns and rainbows? No, Alan is a man among men, striding the Earth like a Colossus with a really big bladder, wearing a tool belt.
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poiuy
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« Reply #9 on: March 17, 2008, 01:45:27 AM » |
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Just another data point: I used an expediting service last June, in the middle of the passport crunch. It really worked for me. They delivered my passport within 4 or 5 business days. I couldn't have made my trip dates without them. - Poiuy
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fiona
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« Reply #10 on: March 17, 2008, 02:06:28 AM » |
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We do need passports now for flying within the U. S.
It's required I. D.
The Fiona
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The Fiona or perhaps La Fiona
Professor of Thread Killing, Fiork University
The Right Reverend Fiona, PhD, Bishop of the Fora
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qrypt
Qryptacular & not really a Member-Moderator
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 5,439
the great vampire squid round the face of humanity
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« Reply #11 on: March 17, 2008, 03:20:28 AM » |
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We do need passports now for flying within the U. S.
It's required I. D.
The Fiona
That's not true. A driver's license will do. If it were true, a very significant percentage of Americans wouldn't be able to fly internally - I forget the exact figure, but a significant proportion of Americans don't have passports. |
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"I'm tired of being your love slave!"
"Does that mean I'm not going to get my coffee?"
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fiona
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« Reply #12 on: March 17, 2008, 04:04:15 AM » |
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We do need passports now for flying within the U. S.
It's required I. D.
The Fiona
That's not true. A driver's license will do. If it were true, a very significant percentage of Americans wouldn't be able to fly internally - I forget the exact figure, but a significant proportion of Americans don't have passports. OK, but our university travel agency requires that we have passports even for within-U. S. flights. I know many people who had to get their first passports last year, which accounted for the glut and backup, just to make sure they could get to conferences within the U. S. Anyhow, that's how things are played. The Fiona |
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The Fiona or perhaps La Fiona
Professor of Thread Killing, Fiork University
The Right Reverend Fiona, PhD, Bishop of the Fora
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zharkov
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« Reply #13 on: March 17, 2008, 10:50:09 AM » |
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Just another data point....
Mrs. Z. just got hers renewed, took about 3-4 weeks from going to the USPS passport counter to getting the new one in the mail.
So at least the normal lines have improved.
Z
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__________ Zharkov's Razor: Adapting Zharkov a bit to this situation, ignorance and confusion can explain a lot.
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stanwyck
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« Reply #14 on: March 17, 2008, 05:13:38 PM » |
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[From ifly.com] As an adult, you’ll need either a valid passport or a state approved photo identification card. If you’re traveling internationally, you’ll need a passport valid for at least six months past the date of travel. For travel within the United States and portions of the Caribbean you’ll need either a valid driver’s license or a state ID card. For travel to Mexico and Canada a passport is preferred, but a valid photo ID and a certified birth certificate will also do the trick. [Not from ifly.com] I've been following the RealID situation w/Montana (and three other states, Georgia, Washington and Massachusetts, I think?). If Homeland Security and the State of Montana don't come to some sort of agreement soon, Montana state IDs/driver's license will not be considered valid for flights after May 11. You'd need a passport after that, but not right now. http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=7767404 |
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