Passports

[Guru]

What has been your experience in obtaining a passport. How long did it take.

[Bwana]

The last time I got mine, it was 3 weeks, but it's all over the board. Go get it waaaaaaaaay early.

[frazod]

Good thread. I think we're going to Europe later in the year, so I'll need one, too.

[Rain Man]

Couple of months, I think, but it's been awhile. That's for a renewal, so I don't know about getting a new one.

It might've been a little less than that.

[DanT]

I remember that it arrived well within the promised timeframe, somewhere around 75% or less of the maximum amount of time they said it would take, so I was pleased. I've forgotten whether I paid for the expedited service.

Best advice is to just go ahead and file the application well ahead of when you need the passport. That way, you can avoid the stress and expense of having to speed up the process.

[theelusiveeightrop]

Apply way early, and use an Arabic name.

[DaFace]

My wife renewed hers last year, and I recall it taking about 1.5 months.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by DanT

I remember that it arrived well within the promised timeframe, somewhere around 75% or less of the maximum amount of time they said it would take, so I was pleased. I've forgotten whether I paid for the expedited service.

Best advice is to just go ahead and get the application well ahead of when you need it. That way, you can avoid the stress and expense of having to speed up the process.

Agreed. If you don't have a passport you should get one. When you decide to travel, you may have to mail your passport off to get a visa, and that can take some time. If you have to get the passport first and then get one or more visas, it can be quite the process and can screw up your schedule. It's a really bad feeling to be two weeks from your flight and you still don't have a passport and visa in your hands.

[WV]

I think they should ban passports, you could bring something scary back.

[Bearcat]

I got mine within a couple of weeks, but went the expedited route due to time constraints... not really relevant to the thread I guess, since you know, it costs money.

[KCUnited]

I had mine get "lost" in the mail along with my birth certificate when they mailed it. Soon enough after 9/11 that it was a giant headache. It was recommended to me after the fact that I should of obtained a certified copy of my birth certificate and sent that as opposed to my original copy. A rarity for sure, but something to think about.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

My wife had to get a new one last year. She expedited the process and it took less than two weeks. It's obviously significantly more expensive, but it works quickly. Smart move is to plan ahead and allow for an extra month in the case of backlogs.

[pr_capone]

Originally Posted by frazod

Good thread. I think we're going to Europe later in the year, so I'll need one, too.

there is a passport station in Chicago. no need to wait at all for you good sir. just a 40 minute drive.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/npi...ncies_905.html

[KC Tattoo]

Go to the post office and find out every thing you need to bring. They can be picky and sticklers about things. I got mine to go to Mexico & it seemed like a big hassle and took several weeks proccess. It's a proccess.

[luv]

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=261460