Foo - Passport fees going up.

Yes fellow tourists,after next Tuesday fees will increase @30-40%:wtf: thanks to a scheduled hosing by our State Dept.
Now we need papers to visit our frosty friends to the north also.

We've needed papers to go to Canada for over a year now. I think the old rules for going to Mexico and Canada were a lot more rational, and would love to see the paranoia reversed.

Woo hoo! I renewed earlier this year. Just in time, and I am good to go for another 10 years.

People boating from Ohio across Lake Erie to the Great White North have survived with just a drivers permit,no one is pushing it so far.
Now we know how the newly formed farce"Homeland Defense"gets its money.

It should be interesting to see what the prices will be 10 years from now when I need to renew.

If you are traveling to Canada or Mexico mostly you can get a passport card for half of what a passport book costs. It's faster at the border check too, the agent just scans the card and sends you on.
http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html


As far as increased cost, if everyone is making a huge stink about paying taxes, then we'll have to pay for these things in other ways. Call your congressman and suggest a tax increase so your passport can remain cheap.

If you are traveling to Canada or Mexico mostly you can get a passport card for half of what a passport book costs. It's faster at the border check too, the agent just scans the card and sends you on.
http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html


As far as increased cost, if everyone is making a huge stink about paying taxes, then we'll have to pay for these things in other ways. Call your congressman and suggest a tax increase so your passport can remain cheap.

I've called my congressman everthing under the sun to no avail:)

The book is cooler looking and I get neato stamps. :p

The book is cooler looking and I get neato stamps. :p

There has to be an error with your post count.
This leaves no time for even a wizz.

If you enjoy traveling than paying more is worth it. A passport can cost $200 and I will still pay so that I can go around the world and be exposed to places and things unlike my own surroundings.

There has to be an error with your post count.
This leaves no time for even a wizz.

*scratches head*
Get a new bladder. Turbo charged and all that.

Cost of producing the newer passport is expensive. I have no problem with paying to cover costs. I don't like paying more but it is better than asking that the taxpayer subsidize my travel.

People boating from Ohio across Lake Erie to the Great White North have survived with just a drivers permit,no one is pushing it so far.
Now we know how the newly formed farce"Homeland Defense"gets its money.

The Forest Service just made a notice that hiking the last 10 km of the Pacific Crest Trail, which ends north of the border, is technically a border violation because there's obviously no checkpoint out in the remote wilderness. As far as I know, they haven't made any moves to enforce it, but potentially it could be trouble, too.

I'm waiting for a certified copy of my birth certificate to arrive to go apply for mine. Hopefully it comes in time.

At least your American passports last 10 years. I need a new one every five years!

The Forest Service just made a notice that hiking the last 10 km of the Pacific Crest Trail, which ends north of the border, is technically a border violation because there's obviously no checkpoint out in the remote wilderness. As far as I know, they haven't made any moves to enforce it, but potentially it could be trouble, too.

I'm waiting for a certified copy of my birth certificate to arrive to go apply for mine. Hopefully it comes in time.

This has been published in the Seattle Times and I received an email from the Mountaineers, too. Although it is not widely-known, ICE is constantly flying surveillance drones over the border in Washington and has seeded the area with seismic and other detectors to find foot and vehicle traffic. This is because of the recent upsurge in BC Bud being brought over the border by foot and vehicles in remote or mountainous areas. So ICE probably knows when people are on the PCT, at least near the border in Washington.

At least your American passports last 10 years. I need a new one every five years!

for adults it's 10, for kids it's 5, which I guess makes sense from a matching-the-person-to-the-picture standpoint

any measure that keeps americans inside america should be applauded.

This has been published in the Seattle Times and I received an email from the Mountaineers, too. Although it is not widely-known, ICE is constantly flying surveillance drones over the border in Washington and has seeded the area with seismic and other detectors to find foot and vehicle traffic. This is because of the recent upsurge in BC Bud being brought over the border by foot and vehicles in remote or mountainous areas. So ICE probably knows when people are on the PCT, at least near the border in Washington.

If so they ought to be able to find Bigfoot as well while their at it.

At least your American passports last 10 years. I need a new one every five years!

Not to hijack the thread, but I've wondered if you've heard this one:

Knock-knock
who's there?
Lao?
Lao who?
______ !!!!!

(what goes in the blank?)

any measure that keeps americans inside america should be applauded.

You had your chance at the colonies but were run out by hillbillies with peashooters.

Not to hijack the thread, but I've wondered if you've heard this one:

Knock-knock
who's there?
Lao?
Lao who?
______ !!!!!

(what goes in the blank?)


this better be good.

so when are they going to introduce exit visas?

If so they ought to be able to find Bigfoot as well while their at it.

Na,Bigfoot moved to Tenn and usually spotted in the hills during corn liquor season.

any measure that keeps americans inside america should be applauded.

It only keeps poor Americans inside America.

It only keeps poor Americans inside America.
Guess I'm never leaving America then...

Save up your pennies so that we can stalk Coasting.
Wait a sec...why exactly would I want to visit England? hmmm
Australia here I come!

this better be good.

I think it might get gcbc to groan. lol.

As far as increased cost, if everyone is making a huge stink about paying taxes, then we'll have to pay for these things in other ways. Call your congressman and suggest a tax increase so your passport can remain cheap.
This is what I was going to say!

It's been happening around here for a while now. People don't want to pay more taxes, but they want more stuff, so fees go up, etc, and people still complain. Nothing is free and it has to be paid for somehow...

A colleague was comparing the cost of an enhanced drivers license vs a passport for going up to Canada. EDL is less up front but you need to renew it sooner and it doesn't get you anywhere but Canada (and maybe Mexico).

Save up your pennies so that we can stalk Coasting.
Wait a sec...why exactly would I want to visit England? hmmm
Australia here I come!

Silly Data: we go to England for the beer and Indian food!

Passports are only $90 here but we have to renew them every six years (technically, but if your passport is within a year of expiring it's not advisable to travel).

It only keeps poor Americans inside America.

Ha! I'm poor but I'm still heading off to pester coasting in "Limeyville." My job will be sending me over for a bit.

A colleague was comparing the cost of an enhanced drivers license vs a passport for going up to Canada. EDL is less up front but you need to renew it sooner and it doesn't get you anywhere but Canada (and maybe Mexico).

You also have to get a new driver's license if you move to a new state.

I'm planning on paying the extra for the passport card also because I don't like using a license to operate a motor vehicle as an ID. Plus, I just moved within 100 miles of the Canadian border, so hopefully I will have some opportunities to visit every now and then.

Passports are only $90 here but we have to renew them every six years (technically, but if your passport is within a year of expiring it's not advisable to travel).

"I fought the wind across the barren waste an' crystal dooms,"
"Go for to marry the girl in Saskatoon"

You also have to get a new driver's license if you move to a new state.

I'm planning on paying the extra for the passport card also because I don't like using a license to operate a motor vehicle as an ID. Plus, I just moved within 100 miles of the Canadian border, so hopefully I will have some opportunities to visit every now and then.

Good,now I have some help keeping an armed watch on the border:twitchy:

for adults it's 10, for kids it's 5, which I guess makes sense from a matching-the-person-to-the-picture standpoint

Chinese immigration officials always do a double-take with mine. Photo is 4 years ago, with significantly more hair, no glasses, and no beard. I think my passport from 9 years ago would be pretty much useless.

Silly Data: we go to England for the beer and Indian food!

They do have Dr. Who.

Does Dr. Who have a passport?

If not, isn't he an illegal alien?

'cause when I travel internationally, the biggest expense is my 10 year passport fee, hmm, right around $13 per year at the new rate, why should hard working taxpayers help rich yuppie scum get their passports at a discount?

Good,now I have some help keeping an armed watch on the border:twitchy:

Right now I'm keeping loose surveillance on a sneaky Vancouver-area Canadian who keeps sneaking over to seduce one of my friends into an easy ticket to citizenship.