Passports

[jlauntz]

Can anyone tell me the average time it now takes to get your passport. My sister has decided to travel with us in Aug. will she have a passportby then if she applies now?

[dina]

Right now people are getting passports within a few weeks. You have plenty of time.

[Mike M]

Right now it is around four to six weeks. Last November my daughter received hers in one week "non-expedited". This April my Son-in-law received his in two weeks and he paid the expedite fee.

Take care,
Mike

[brad813]

While the average time is about 6 weeks, if she is worried she should have it expedited. Also, she should go ahead and get both the passport card and the passport book on the same application, as this way will save her $25. Also, lastly, she should get two sets of passport photos made as she should have an extra set in case she needs them while abroad.

[Invictus]

We applied for five passports in April. All five passports were received in two weeks exactly. My co-worker applied in February for four passports and they were received in two weeks as well.

You will have no problem getting them back in time if you apply very soon.

[valleytwin]

We applied for our passports on May 2. Today is two weeks and the State Dept website is still showing them as "in process". It says they're running 4-6 weeks at this point, so I figure a bit longer.

(They did, however, cash the check by EFT the day they got the application!)

[tomahawk246]

I know that people on this site don't like to hear this answer. If the cruise is leaving and returning to the same port, all she needs is a birth certificate and an drivers ID.

[brad813]

Tomahawk, while this is true, it is also remiss not to have a passport because you cannot fly back to the United States without a passport book. It is prudent to have it in the case of emergency. A little extra money upfront saves alot of hassle if the unlikely happens while unprepared.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Originally Posted by brad813

Tomahawk, while this is true, it is also remiss not to have a passport because you cannot fly back to the United States without a passport book. It is prudent to have it in the case of emergency. A little extra money upfront saves alot of hassle if the unlikely happens while unprepared.

Well you should give people ALL their options and let them decide for themselves.

Going on cruise #21 in September and have not had to fly back to the U.S. yet. The odds are very slim but there is that possibility.

Don't you think that it's a bit overkill to get the passport and the passport card?

The passport card is a waste of money unless you live near a border town.

The passport can't be used for flying back either so what's the point?

Bill

[brad813]

For me the Passport card is useful because I travel by road alot and have need to have it as well. Besides, it serves the double purpose of an extra form of government identification. I travel alot on business, usually either flying or Greyhound. Besides, I would rather pay $20 extra to get the card now while I am applying for my passport instead of $45 later. Just makes more sense to me. I do agree that the passport card is a personal choice, but having the passport book is far more pragmatic then trying to get by with just birth certificate and id(though the exception is children under a certain age do not even need a passport to fly internationally).

[mrspair]

Originally Posted by tomahawk246

I know that people on this site don't like to hear this answer. If the cruise is leaving and returning to the same port, all she needs is a birth certificate and an drivers ID.

That's true!!!

[nighthawk65]

The OP stated they were cruising in August, if that is the case, I believe that effective June 1 (somebody correct me if I'm wrong) that a passport or passport card is required for land and sea border crossings unless the Feds have pushed the date back again.

Happy Sailing
Mark

[green_rd]

Originally Posted by nighthawk65

The OP stated they were cruising in August, if that is the case, I believe that effective June 1 (somebody correct me if I'm wrong) that a passport or passport card is required for land and sea border crossings unless the Feds have pushed the date back again.

Happy Sailing
Mark

Mart is correct - passport rules change June 1. Check out http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

[mrspair]

Originally Posted by nighthawk65

The OP stated they were cruising in August, if that is the case, I believe that effective June 1 (somebody correct me if I'm wrong) that a passport or passport card is required for land and sea border crossings unless the Feds have pushed the date back again.

Happy Sailing
Mark

If the cruise begins and ends in the same U.S. port. You can use either a passport or Birth Certificate and Gov. issued I.D. such as a Drivers License.

[GaryI]

I have read the link below, and to me it reads that you can still use your Drivers license, and birth certificate. This is applicable only for closed loop cruises. If your cruise leaves from, and returns to the same port that is all you need. Please look at this, and see if I am reading this right. We have our passports, so not a big deal for us. Just want all to get the correct info.
Gary I.
Check out pg. 6
http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/...andsea_faq.pdf

[green_rd]

I don't know if I would take the risk of someone else interpreting this differently. Two levels or regulation are described there. One set began 1/31/2008, the other takes effect on 6/1/2009.

It looks like what GaryI refers to as a "closed loop" may be a cruise to nowhere.

[GaryI]

I am not trying to interpret anything, I am just showing what is posted. A closed loop cruise is not a cruise to nowhere. It just starts, and ends from the same US port. Read what is highlighted in the following exerpt. I suppose we can all read it as we want, but it is what it is.

Gary I.


"Traveling by Sea 5
How will the final WHTI requirements affect passengers going on cruises?
U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same port in the U.S.) will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present either an original or a copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by DOS, or a Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport when you dock at a foreign port, depending on the islands or countries that your cruise ship is visiting. Check with your cruiseline to ensure you have the appropriate documents for the stops you’ll be making on your cruise."

[green_rd]

My apologies - I guess I scrolled past the header with the page turn.

I still wouldn't leave the country without a passport in my hand, or passport card in the northwestern quadrasphere.

[briguy]

Originally Posted by mrspair

That's true!!!

Wont be for long.. get with the new century and get your passport before all the rest of the inexperienced travelers slam the passport agency with applications.

[mrspair]

Originally Posted by briguy

Wont be for long.. get with the new century and get your passport before all the rest of the inexperienced travelers slam the passport agency with applications.

I too have a passport as I needed one to fly to Jamaica last year. But just in case someone does not have theirs yet, it is good for them to know they can still take their cruise. But it is also good to go ahead and apply for one if you can.

[nighthawk65]

Yep, I stand corrected.
Looks like Cruise passengers are the exception when leaving and arriving at the same port as GaryI stated.

Mark

[thegambler]

Originally Posted by jlauntz

Can anyone tell me the average time it now takes to get your passport. My sister has decided to travel with us in Aug. will she have a passportby then if she applies now?

Last Thursday, May 14, our 21 year-old-son applied for his passport in the downtown Houston office. We paid the $100 fee (no expedite fee)...he was told it would be 4-6 weeks, but his passport arrived yesterday, Thursday, May 21. Way to go Houston, Texas passport office! We were shocked. This has to be a record time! Anyway, if your sister applies now, she should have no problems receiving it by August.

[badknees]

Please people, just get a passport. Then there will be no more worries about a port that won't let you get off the ship or emergencies or anything. It's a fun thing to have. It makes you feel immediately like a world traveler. It may even give you an incentive to go to other wordly places. It's magic.

[tomahawk246]

Everyone always gets bent out of shape when you suggest that you don't want to get a passport. I have 500 reasons not to get passports for my family of 4 people. I will use that 500 dollars to go on more excursions and enjoy my cruise. When I absolutly need a passport to travel I will get one, until then I will enjoy my 500 dollars. Again, I know people do not like to hear this. I really don't need to feel like a world traveler.

[mrspair]

Originally Posted by tomahawk246

Everyone always gets bent out of shape when you suggest that you don't want to get a passport. I have 500 reasons not to get passports for my family of 4 people. I will use that 500 dollars to go on more excursions and enjoy my cruise. When I absolutly need a passport to travel I will get one, until then I will enjoy my 500 dollars. Again, I know people do not like to hear this. I really don't need to feel like a world traveler.

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME!!!!!! I've been there, I do understand!!! We have 5 in our family!!! Enjoy your cruise, In plan too!!!!!

[brad813]

I think it would be a bad choice to not have at least a passport book, not because it is needed for same port round trips, but because the one time you may need it you just might not have it, making the difference between life and death.

[badknees]

I don't think anyone is bent out of shape. Cruisers worry about other cruisers and offer their heart felt opinions. I don't think we mean to sound like we think you're unwise or anything.
Most cruisers know of someone or heard from someone on Cruisemates who made errors in how they thought a situation might go and were wrong. Bad things don't happen often. You will probably never have a bad problem. Happy sailing.

[mustang44]

She should have her passport in 4-6 weeks. Most of the time the it takes less than a month. My daughter just got hers and it took 3 weeks.

[mehawk]

The passport in Houston is getting slammed each day now. We used to do up to 120 each day. Now we are doing 180-200 each day.

[brendaintexas]

Originally Posted by tomahawk246

I know that people on this site don't like to hear this answer. If the cruise is leaving and returning to the same port, all she needs is a birth certificate and an drivers ID.

Tomahawk, how did you get that fireworks thing showing the countdown to your next cruise? It is so cool! I adore fireworks...I'm actively and apprehensively working on a pyrotechnician's license (apprehensively because I learn hands-on and technical stuff slowly...not because I'm scared of "flowers of fire"!)....and I would love to have one under my posts.
Take care...
Brenda