Passport update

[phinnb]

Just thought those who don't have a passport yet would like to know... I live in St. Lucie County, Florida. I went to the post office to apply for our passports and I had to make an appointment. They no longer take walk-ins. The first opening they had was June 1. Lucky for me we are not sailing till January, but if there are any folks out there planning on doing that closer to their sail date, I would advise you to think again. It takes weeks after the application and that time is getting longer the later into the year it gets. I went what I consider early because I don't want an add on fee from one of those "rush order" places. Don't know how other states work it, but just thought I would pass it on.

 

[Conniemc]

The National passport agency has updated it's usual advisory.

The post office will now not tell you 4-6 weeks, but 8-10 weeks for delivery. I received mine after repeated calls to the main Philadelphia office after 9 weeks.

They are VERY backed up.=huh

 

[BSeabob]

Good info for us

UPDATE FOR CANADIANS 2 MAY 07

Passport Canada
advises they can process passports in three weeks.

BUT by mail is up to 10 weeks.

We still will be able to cross US border via auto or sea untill JUNE 09

Following is quote from Passport Canada (NOT USA)
This permission to delay is until June 1, 2009, or until three months after the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security have jointly certified that specific security criteria for travel documents have been established, including the following:

* The U.S. PASS (People Access Security System) card must meet or exceed International Organization for Standardization (ISO) security standards and best available practices for protection of personal identification documents;
* The technology for reading PASS card data must be compatible with information technology systems and infrastructure used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection;
* The technology and any subsequent changes must be shared with the governments of Canada and Mexico;
* An agreement must be reached with the U.S. Postal Service on the fee to be charged to individuals for the PASS card;
* An alternative procedure must be developed for groups of children travelling across an international border under adult supervision with parental consent;
* Consideration must be taken for frequent travellers, including those who reside in border communities; and
* The implementation dates for land and sea borders must be amalgamated.

This means that the WHTI could be fully implemented before June 1, 2009, if all the criteria are met.

 

[phinnb]

So if it's already 8-10 weeks and it's not even June, I can just imagine the rush people will be in by the end of the year. I would hate to see people miss out because they "thought" they had plenty of time. I hope everyone is considering one if they don't already have it. Best to be prepared....egads, I'm turning into my mother!

 

[Conniemc]

Actually, when I went in February, I "walked in" to a very remote post office at the Jersey shore (dead of winter - very few year round people were here) and was shocked to find about a dozen people there for passports. The post office said it has been that way for about 6 months. And when the post office was kind enough to help me find out where the passport was after 8 weeks or so...(they gave me the unlisted number for Philly area processing), Philly told me it's "just crazy". They keep hiring new people, but they can't keep up. They pulled me out and did me right there on the phone and mailed it. So hopefully, it won't get worse. Eventually the backlog should slow up.

ps - Lived in Jupiter for 13 years, until I finally got sick of the heat and hurricanes and moved back "home". As you know, we both took 3 direct hits. What are the odds?? Gave away all my lanterns, ice boxes, generators, etc. and said ADIOS!!! Good luck with this year's hurricane season.
:daisy