Updating a U.S. Passport in a post 9/11 world

[Baltimore Shooter]

My passport is coming up for renewel this year and I'm wondering how hard is it going to be to update it? My passport was last updated in 98, so I haven't yet had to deal with all the post 9/11 issues. What can I expect?

Warren

[smltm4nw]

My experience was it just took longer to get. I got my new one last October and I waited much much longer than I remember waiting for my first one.

[Foxwood]

I renewed my passport 3 years ago. It took about 3 weeks.

[David R. Busse]

No problems here. Took 3 weeks in 2005---all done thru the mail. My son did his last year with a 2-1/2 week turnaround.

[f11vid]

I renewed mine last year. There was a large backlog due to the new requirements for those traveling to Canada and Mexico who previously did not need them. I chose to use the expedited form.You pay an additional fee and have to pay for express mailing.I got it in under two weeks.

[cameradog]

My passport is coming up for renewel this year and I'm wondering how hard is it going to be to update it? My passport was last updated in 98, so I haven't yet had to deal with all the post 9/11 issues. What can I expect?

New regulations that went into effect at the beginning of 2008 require that you submit to a penile plethysmograph.

[Hiding Under Here]

You can pay more money and have it expedited. It's not a big deal.

[Focus Finder]

will be mush less of a hassle than having to fly with your gear

[backfocus5]

I renewed my passport 3 years ago. It took about 3 weeks.

Same here. It really isn't that big a deal.

[Baltimore Shooter]

New regulations that went into effect at the beginning of 2008 require that you submit to a penile plethysmograph.
But I don't know if they have one that's big enough for me. ;)

Warren

[tarzan]

This doesn't really have anything to do with U.S. policy on passports, but rather with Mexican policy on visas:
About a half-yr ago, I was supposed to go to Mexico to shoot a series. I checked my passport, and figured that since my U.S. passport was still good until a month after my scheduled trip, I'd be okay. But then I read the fine print on the requirements for a visa to work in Mexico, and saw that in order to get that visa approved, my passport had to still be valid for another 6 months. By the time I realized this, it was too late to apply for U.S. Passport renewal, and my station had to send another photog to shoot the series. That sucked.
Some say I still could have gotten through Mexican customs with all that gear without a visa, but I think there would have been problems.

Moral of story, I guess, is always make sure your passport has plenty of time left on it.

[wtv]

Just for the record, most countries require that your passport be valid for 6 months more at the time of applying for a visa.

[editor_dude]

on a side note you DO NOT want to use the pass port office in DC( if you wish to make an in person application). I learned quickly that this is were the stereo typical government worker comes from.

[I DREW A PHOTOG]

I ordered my first passport two fridays ago and got it on saturday no problems

[pre-set]

But I don't know if they have one that's big enough for me. ;)

Warren


Oh, sure. They've got lenses now that go up to 50x or 60x. Shouldn't have any trouble spotting it with glass that big, right?



:p







(BTW, renewed last year, no issues, took 4 weeks.)