Passport fees for Americans increasing

Passport fees for Americans are going up on July 13th. More relevant for most of us with existing passports is inserting additional pages which used to be free is now going to cost $82. If you're thinking of getting extra pages best to do it soon.

Now I am really glad I just renewed my passport...and got extra pages put automatically in.

This news makes me sad. I need to get a new passport as I've married and now have a new name. (And I need more pages) But my passport renewal isn't until 2013. Its only a couple of years off so before this I was going to wait. But now...I'm not so sure. Thanks for the heads up though!

Landire, I was in somewhat of the same position. I had a passport that expired in late 2012. Since I am leaving on an open ended trip in a couple of months, I figured that it may be at an inconvenient time that I would have to renew and also that some countries do not allow you to enter unless there are at least 6 months remaining on your passport. So I decided to renew and just included a note informing them that I wished to waive the 2 or so years, thereby avoiding renewing out of country and also the rate hike. Even though I chose not to expedite the delivery, I still received it in less than 3 weeks.

thanks for the heads up! i've been putting off renewing mine but i guess i need to get to it asap!

if i want to get extra pages added into my new passport, can i just submit the application for additional pages along with the application to renew my passport?

if i want to get extra pages added into my new passport, can i just submit the application for additional pages along with the application to renew my passport?

I am not sure how it works these days. When I got a new one 2 years ago, I think that I just requested a 52 page passport in writing with my application. But, that was largely because previously I had the 28 page passport and when I got pages added it became a 76 page passport and that was a beast. So, I requested a 52 page solely so they wouldn't add a double insert and start me off with a 76. However, now with the new fees, maybe we all should be requesting 100 page passports.

yeah, i found this..

http://travel.state.gov/passport/correc ... d_850.html

it says that if you travel extensively & are getting a new passport, just submit the passport renewal application with a written request for more pages.

i'm sending mine off later today! thanks for the kick in the butt i needed to get that taken care of.. lol.

can you still get extra pages added in for free at embassies abroad after the fee change date? i couldn't find anything on that.

xoom wrote:can you still get extra pages added in for free at embassies abroad after the fee change date? i couldn't find anything on that.

I had a look at the USA embassy in London and they indicate that fees are going up in their recent news section. And then if you click on the link, it actually says the prices are going up to pay for the real cost of operating the 301 consulars abroad, etc. So, even though it doesn't specifically state it, I am guessing the charges will probably be universal.

Just be thankful you can add extra pages as my Canadian one I got new last June prior to my RTW is full & have to get another new one when I get back at the end of the month.

If the Canadian government was honest & not just out to ripoff travelers they would put a warning on passport applications saying good for the 5 years you are paying for or until full!!

Good to see others saw this. I just saw it today on SeattleTimes.com.

Free to $82 is ridiculous. I got a new passport last year and got pages added with the the app for a 52 page one. A fee under $30 I might be able to comprehend, but $82 is insane.

I'm actually wondering if I should send mine in for more... Does anyone have a newer(ePassport) 52 pager they've added to? Its already a bit bulky at that, another ~24 might be overkill...

Mine expires in 2014, I think, but I'm in no danger of needing extra pages. I guess I'm not planning a RtW in this time, nor do I travel on business, so i'm not too worried.

Still, 82 dollars is a lot for a new passport.,,

well, considering the Brazil visa costs 130 dollars, and thats just one country, well, its a drop in the bucket, isn't it. If you can't afford the 90 bucks for a new passport, then perhaps one ought to reconsider travelling at all. Travelling poor is NOT especially fun, though I've done it.

Canadian one is $87.00 & only lasted 1 year + over $1,000.00 in visa fees for my RTW, then there is health insurance + meds so as Tortuga_traveller says $82 is just a drop in the bucket.

yay i just got my new one! why are they so ugly now? i freaked cuz i realized that with my upcoming travel plans, i NEEDED it back by august-ish. so i paid the extra $ to get it expedited anyways. doh!

so re the extra passport pages with a renewed passport, all i did was just type out a request for additional pages, signed it, and mailed that in along with the passport renewal form. but.. that probably doesn't matter anyways since they're charging for it now.

FYI people I'd still advise getting extra pages while abroad at an embassy regardless of the fees- what can be a several week wait if you send yours in etc I accomplished in less than an hour in Dublin without even an appointment!

I do have the ugliest passport known though- I was blinking when the dude took my picture and he refused to do another one so I look like a druggie, and the old passport/ new page scheme looks strange in addition to it not being taped in straight. Looks like a hack job! Ah well, 4 years left with this one...