Passport Advice
 

Hi - Our family of 4 leaves for Exuma exactly 11 weeks from this Friday, the day we will submit our passport applications. They are supposed to arrive within 10 - 12 weeks. My question - I get the impression you can go in and expedite your application after the fact, so does it make sense to do it non-expedited and save the $240 total fee, and then expedite as it gets closer if we have to? Hope that question makes sense - it would be $600 for all 4 of us to apply and expedite - ugh...

There's a big backlog due to the new travel regulations. Average turnaround time is 6 to 8 weeks. Visit the passport web-site for further information and guidance.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

Thanks - this is actually the site I got the 10 - 12 week quote from. Where did you hear 6 - 8 weeks? That would work great for us! My question is whether I can choose to expedite as the trip gets closer, rather than right when I apply.

The 6 to 8 week average turnaround time comes from reports made recently by poster on other travel sites. The thing is, everyone's experience is different and if you are up against a deadline you should do everything you can to expidite your passport request or you might find yourself cancelling your trip.

Just an FYI - We applied for ours - as of tomorrow 14 weeks ago and it is "still being processed" - Do the expedited if leaving in 11 weeks.

We just reapplied in person for our son's passport and we were told to give it 12 weeks.

I actually "lied" on his application, on the question that asks when is the next trip. I put in 3 weeks earlier than the actual trip... meaning 12 weeks before the trip, and the woman noticed the date right away. She then recommended we expedite. I told her the trip was really later that month. She thought it was fine then. If you haven't filled in the date part yet, I would advise you do that. The people from that office recommended we do that the first time we ever went through them. I don't know that it really makes a difference, but hey, why not.

My advice, do yourself a favor and expedite. $600?! Definitely "ugh". :-(

jennreyiw: That sucks.

I think it's mainly that I was put on the back burner - I didn't think about saying my vacation was sooner than it is. Since it's not until October they probably figure they have plenty of time to get us taken care of.

Oh well - as long as it gets here before October :)