International travel and passports

[Haertig]

I learned something new about international travel today. It was on the Fox News website. Regarding passports. I don't travel internationally, although I did get a passport once - back when my daughter was doing study abroad in Tasmania. If something would have happened, I wanted the ability to get over there quickly. That passport has expired and I need to renew it.

But what I learned that is new to me, is that in order to be allowed to board a plane for international travel, your passport must have an expiration date at least six months past your planned return date. Additionally, it must have at least four blank pages at the end to allow for all the stamps you may accrue during your trip. The article also said that passport requirements may vary based on destination country. This is probably old news to seasoned international travelers. But that does not describe me, so I'm glad I saw this info posted. I'll keep it in the back of my mind for future recall.

https://www.foxnews.com/travel/flig...oarding-dont-follow-rules-travel-expert-warns

 

[Mountain trapper]

I learned something new about international travel today. It was on the Fox News website. Regarding passports. I don't travel internationally, although I did get a passport once - back when my daughter was doing study abroad in Tasmania. If something would have happened, I wanted the ability to get over there quickly. That passport has expired and I need to renew it.

But what I learned that is new to me, is that in order to be allowed to board a plane for international travel, your passport must have an expiration date at least six months past your planned return date. Additionally, it must have at least four blank pages at the end to allow for all the stamps you may accrue during your trip. The article also said that passport requirements may vary based on destination country. This is probably old news to seasoned international travelers. But that does not describe me, so I'm glad I saw this info posted. I'll keep it in the back of my mind for future recall.

https://www.foxnews.com/travel/flig...oarding-dont-follow-rules-travel-expert-warns

I don't know if any of that is new. I always had to make sure that my passport was good for at least 6 months beyond my expected return date. I used to fill all of the pages in my passport and would have to send it off to have more pages added. After 20 years of travel I didn't even renew my passport after the last one expired.

 

[havasu]

My passport expires in 2026, so I will need to renew it next year. This renewal should last my lifetime.

 

[Patchouli]

It is strange but I’ve been thinking I need to get a passport even though I’ve got no international travel plans, currently or ever before.
What has been your wait time from getting it from start to finish?

 

[Haertig]

It is strange but I’ve been thinking I need to get a passport even though I’ve got no international travel plans, currently or ever before.

You never know when a relative might do some international travel and get injured or compromised in some way that requires you to go over there. that was my main reason for getting the passport that I did. It's expired now, which is not good. But my daughter has been back from Tasmania for many years now so I don't feel it's so urgent. However, she has made mention of other potential international trips she might make. So I should be ready for that. It would be horrible to have a family member stuck in another country in dire straits and you could not travel there.

 

[zoomzoom]

It is strange but I’ve been thinking I need to get a passport even though I’ve got no international travel plans, currently or ever before.
What has been your wait time from getting it from start to finish?

You're going to need real-id or a passport soon to board a plane or enter some government buildings.

They say about 6 weeks for the passport but ours never took that long.

 

[Patchouli]

I’ve had real ID for awhile and recently traveled by air within the US.

 

[Mountain trapper]

It is strange but I’ve been thinking I need to get a passport even though I’ve got no international travel plans, currently or ever before.
What has been your wait time from getting it from start to finish?

4 to 6 weeks. You can get it expedited, then its 2 to 3 weeks. I would budget at least 2 months for receiving the passport before booking any trips.

 

[montanabill]

Real id costs and isn't as useful as a passport. Be aware if you have married and changed your name you need the marriage license as well as a birth certificate.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Real id costs and isn't as useful as a passport. Be aware if you have married and changed your name you need the marriage license as well as a birth certificate.

I think you need a certified copy of your birth certificate, not the actual BC. I could be wrong, it's been awhile since I got a passport.

 

[Supervisor42]

It is strange but I’ve been thinking I need to get a passport even though I’ve got no international travel plans, currently or ever before.
What has been your wait time from getting it from start to finish?

You don't even want to go to Jamaica, mon?
They have ganja down there.
I remember when we got off the plane there, both walls in the airport were lined with guys selling pot.

 

[Caribou]

There is a passport and a passport card. The passport card is plastic the size of a credit card. The passport is the paper booklet that you are used to. You can order either or both. There are differing costs. As I only plan to go to Canada I opted for the card. My passport was getting ready to expire when I was in Barbados. I went to the consulate, asked for and received, a double thick passport. As my passport was almost full of stamps they granted my request. A few customs agents have questioned my passport as they have never seen one like it. If you are going to countries that stamp your passport you will need the regular passport.

 

[Hardcalibres]

There is a passport and a passport card. The passport card is plastic the size of a credit card. The passport is the paper booklet that you are used to. You can order either or both. There are differing costs. As I only plan to go to Canada I opted for the card. My passport was getting ready to expire when I was in Barbados. I went to the consulate, asked for and received, a double thick passport. As my passport was almost full of stamps they granted my request. A few customs agents have questioned my passport as they have never seen one like it. If you are going to countries that stamp your passport you will need the regular passport.

The U.S. passport card may only be used for international travel by land or sea between the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air.

 

[Caribou]

The U.S. passport card may only be used for international travel by land or sea between the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air.

Almost none of the Caribbean countries stamp your passport, or they didn’t 25 years ago. Neither does Canada.

 

[Patchouli]

You don't even want to go to Jamaica, mon?
They have ganja down there.
I remember when we got off the plane there, both walls in the airport were lined with guys selling pot.

You can actually remember you went there?
I don’t think I’d ever.

Fortunately we can find accurate information online at travel.state.gov
It would cost $165 to get the passport book and pay the other fee, acceptance fee. I’m not totally clueless and some of my kids have gone through the process.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I'd be fine if I never went anywhere that requires a passport or ever got on a plane again. But the wife wants to go back to New Zealand again and visit our friend in Australia. Plus she wants to go to Thailand and Singapore. So we'll probably be renewing our passports again. I really don't like traveling. Maybe she could fund someone to go with and I could stay home.

 

[Tommyice]

I renewed mine in 2019 at a post office in the next town. I was planning on getting only the card since my travel is limited to Canada. The agent taking care of me suggested I het the booklet also—“you never know when you might have to skedaddle” she said.

 

[Magpie]

I learned something new about international travel today. It was on the Fox News website. Regarding passports. I don't travel internationally, although I did get a passport once - back when my daughter was doing study abroad in Tasmania. If something would have happened, I wanted the ability to get over there quickly. That passport has expired and I need to renew it.

But what I learned that is new to me, is that in order to be allowed to board a plane for international travel, your passport must have an expiration date at least six months past your planned return date. Additionally, it must have at least four blank pages at the end to allow for all the stamps you may accrue during your trip. The article also said that passport requirements may vary based on destination country. This is probably old news to seasoned international travelers. But that does not describe me, so I'm glad I saw this info posted. I'll keep it in the back of my mind for future recall.

https://www.foxnews.com/travel/flig...oarding-dont-follow-rules-travel-expert-warns

Yes thats true, especially when travelling to the States. To be honest, if I only had say 7 months and I was heading your way, I would still get a new one; your security people have a habit of being awkward, and if you get turned back for any reason on USA soil, i.e, JFK airport, its classed the same as being deported.

 

[montanabill]

At our local post office where they issue passports they seem to be critical of passport photos....So I always tell people to wait and have the passport office take the photo.

Living close to the Canadian border I have heard some stories....if they turn you down for crossing at one station don't go to a out of the way border station and try again the next day.....the computer knows and then you are suddenly a criminal. (while the drugs and human trafficking's go on unabated)

Hard to imagine right now but a official looking passport that identifies you might come in handy in the future.....those roadblocks can be a problem...
From that latest crappy movie "Civil War".....Well, what kind of American are you? Bang.

 

[zoomzoom]

At our local post office where they issue passports they seem to be critical of passport photos....So I always tell people to wait and have the passport office take the photo.

We get our photos done at CVS. Pretty sure they guarantee the photo will be accepted (and for me, it's only 2 blocks from the post office).

 

[snappy1]

I renewed mine in 2019 at a post office in the next town. I was planning on getting only the card since my travel is limited to Canada. The agent taking care of me suggested I het the booklet also—“you never know when you might have to skedaddle” she said.

I got both a few months ago. My booklet had expired about 8 years ago. No plans but I'm ready!

 

[UserNameTaken]

We just renewed ours, even though there was 3 years to run. They were recommending if you are a year from expiration to start the process. (That's an issue in itself, as the cost of the documents is getting out of hand, and renewing early as we did is a lot of money thrown away.)

I STRONGLY recommend renewing or applying NOW, before the change of regime in case issues arise regarding the new admin's plans to replace Federal workers. I don't think that's going to go over well with the workers, and the first thing that comes to mind is federal work slow downs or walkouts.

Also, FYI - to replace both passport and card, using expedited service and overnight return costs $241 - each. Plus photos ($8 @ Walmart or $24 at CVS) and outgoing express mail about $15. It's a LOT - freedom of travel is only for the well off these days.

We got ours back in 2 weeks - one of which was Thanksgiving week Mine came on Wed, wife's on Friday - we sent them in the Monday of the week before - so like 4 or 5 processing days. For $500 plus. I was pretty impressed at the prompt service. I hope it continues.

Now if our CCW permit renewals didn't take 150 days...