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Entry bubble Passport Cards and Fee Changes

By: Jake | February 04, 2008 | Category: Travel

Passport and other travel documents

I am going to Vancouver this summer so I applied for a passport last week to avoid passport delays that can plague travelers in the spring and summer months.

What I didn't expect was to save money. I saved because the Department of State raised passport fees on Friday, February 1. The difference between the old and new prices is $3. The fee to expedite a passport did not change. The new passport fees are:

Adult passport book - $75  + execution fee $25 = $100
Under age 16 - $60 + execution fee $25 = $85

DOS also started accepting applications for the new passport card on Friday. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will eventually require all travelers to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the U.S. The card carries the same validity as a passport book, but does not allow you to travel internationally by air. The card will speed up the border entry process for citizens re-entering the country from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by sea and/or land. DOS plans to start sending cards to applicants in the spring. The passport card fees are:

Adult passport card - $20 + execution fee $25 = $45
Under age 16 - $10 + execution fee $25 = $35

Also DOS now requires that children under the age of 16 must now appear in person to apply for either a passport book or card.

| View Comments [5] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: cards   jake   passports   travel  

Comments (5):

blue comment bubble Posted by Daniel S. (Germany) on February 04, 2008 at 05:55 PM EST

I am currently trying to apply for a US Greencard and I am urgently searching for further information on this topic. Until now I only found this website http://www.greencard-kostenlos.de which provides a very structured and detailed overview about the greencard program. Does any body know further sources which I can use.

By the way: Great blog :-)

Greetings from Germany,
Daniel

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blue comment bubble Posted by Jake on February 05, 2008 at 08:36 AM EST

Daniel,

Thanks for your compliment. Try this link for information about Green Cards in the U.S.:

http://answers.usa.gov/cgi-bin/gsa_ict.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=7964

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blue comment bubble Posted by tannette on February 07, 2008 at 01:34 AM EST

i will be going on a crusie to the bahamas in the spring can i use a pass card?

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blue comment bubble Posted by Jake on February 07, 2008 at 09:56 AM EST

Tannette,

Thanks, that's a very good question. You can use a passport card, but if your cruise is this spring you may not need it. The earliest the Dept. of State will require a passport or passport card for sea travel to neighbooring countries is this summer 2008. Check out this DOS link with information with travel requirements for the Bahamas:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_989.html


Jake

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blue comment bubble Posted by Lynda on February 11, 2008 at 12:24 PM EST

Will people who owe back child support be able to get the passport card?

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