susancollins Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 We are going to the Bahamas on a cruise in November would someone please tell me how much passports are and how to go about applying for them? Thanks Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 I think ours were around $100 each, give or take. Go into your post office to apply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usetoschool Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/forms_847.html Has the forms you can fill out online and print to take with you. There is also information about times and costs and what forms and documentation, like certified birth certificates, you will need. Also, kids under a certain age need both parents to sign in person or an official letter from the other parent. All of the info is on the site. Have fun! (on the trip, dealing with the government is never fun :001_smile:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krista in LA Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 Yep, about $100 each. Here's a website with all the info plus a link to print out the application form so you have it all filled out ahead of time. http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beach Mom Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 At the post offices here you have to call to make a passport appointment, only certain post offices can accept and process the applications. Ours took about 5 weeks to process and we did have to have both parents there to sign the applications for the kids. A cruise to the Bahamas sounds wonderful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 (edited) We are going to the Bahamas on a cruise in November would someone please tell me how much passports are and how to go about applying for them? Thanks Susan Susan, We JUST received our passports. We've started the process in May and received them in June. Not all post office locations are passport offices, so you'll need to check. In our city, some are walk in with looooong wait times "usually" and other locations (not many) have appts. We scheduled our appt and it was FAST! You will need to have your documents and necessary items in advance of your appt. 1. Passport pictures (walmart, walgreens, etc) 2. Cash money 3. Drivers license 4. Application form completed 5. Birth certificate The birth certificate MUST be from VITAL RECORDS from your home state/county! It ***MUST**** have a "raised seal/stamp" to be accepted for passports. If you do not have this it will take additional time and cost more money to send away for them. Time/price varies. My dh and I have birth certificates from vital records, but no raised seal so they were not accepted. We jumped through hoops to get our in time. HTH. Sheryl <>< Edited June 12, 2010 by sheryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amira Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 I believe that if you are entering by sea, that you just need a passport card which is cheaper than the standard passport book. All the application stuff remains the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy in Indy Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 My dd just applied for her passport. I was floored that the PO charged us .50 to copy her DL. Seriously??? They're making $25 on the deal and can't make 2 photocopies??? Also, you must have a check, cash or debit card for the $75 fee that goes to the processing office. Get your pictures taken somewhere else. They're $4.95 at Sam's. The PO charges $15! If they run a sheet of 6, ask for the whole sheet. The gal at our PO studied the pictures intently and selected two that had exactly the same shading. She was very insistent that they had to be identical. DD leaves for Rome in 6 weeks. We're praying her passport arrives in time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swimmermom3 Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 This is timely. My youngest has a travel swim meet and needs his passport by November. We had better start now. Thanks for all the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jplain Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 (edited) I believe that if you are entering by sea, that you just need a passport card which is cheaper than the standard passport book. All the application stuff remains the same. Passport cards are most useful for those travel across the Mexican or Canadian borders frequently. In my opinion they are not cost effective for other travelers, unless you're certain that you won't be doing any non-land international travel in the next 10 years. To the OP, if it is a closed loop cruise, meaning that it begins and ends in the same US port, and travels between the US and the Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexico, or Canada, you don't need a passport at all. You can travel on driver's licenses and birth certificates, or a passport card. HOWEVER, and this is a big however, if for some reason you need to return to the US via plane, or if the ship for some reason needs to change its itinerary and return to a different port, it'll be a huge hassle. Your passport card, license, and birth certificate would not be adequate documentation for re-entering the country. You'd be delayed significantly, which could be both expensive and stressful. On our cruise to Bermuda last week, a family had to disembark in Bermuda just before the ship left Bermuda because their son was having a suspected asthma attack, and the ship's doctor was not comfortable with him remaining aboard. The child was released from the hospital that evening, and the staff helped them to find a hotel. They flew home a day or two later, but if they hadn't had passports, they'd have been delayed further while waiting for authorization to return by air. Oh, and this story is also an example of why it is important to purchase travel insurance, as travel insurance will cover the cost of return flights, hotels, medical expenses not covered by insurance, etc. If you don't have a preferred travel insurance carrier, contact Trip Insurance Store for quotes and recommendations. I'm rarely effusive about businesses, but they are fantastic. Have a great time on your cruise! Edited June 12, 2010 by jplain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 Susan, We JUST received our passports. We've started the process in May and received them in June. Not all post office locations are passport offices, so you'll need to check. In our city, some are walk in with looooong wait times "usually" and other locations (not many) have appts. We scheduled our appt and it was FAST! You will need to have your documents and necessary items in advance of your appt. 1. Passport pictures (walmart, walgreens, etc) 2. Cash money 3. Drivers license 4. Application form completed 5. Birth certificate The birth certificate MUST be from VITAL RECORDS from your home state/county! It ***MUST**** have a "raised seal/stamp" to be accepted for passports. If you do not have this it will take additional time and cost more money to send away for them. Time/price varies. My dh and I have birth certificates from vital records, but no raised seal so they were not accepted. We jumped through hoops to get our in time. HTH. Sheryl <>< I can add, since we did an application for ds last week (might as well get it done before he leaves for college in case a travel abroad opportunity arises) that the post office will need to send thew birth certificate off with the application - they told us it will be returned by mail. So - if you need to show a birth certificate for anything else, do that before sending it off with the passport app. Oh, and our postal lady told me that they have heard that the fee will go up - they did not know when or how much. That is another reason to get a passport, if one will be needed, sooner rather than later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafiki Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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