Planning a trip to Portugal next spring. My kid's passports expire right around then.

Being the parinoid individual I am - I am planning on applying for their new passports shortly. The stories I have heard about people having to go to the regional offices the day prior to their flight horrify me. I am so parioid - I am actually thinking of paying the expedeite fee - even though the reip is 9 months away.

Question - Am I just being irrational about the expedite fee? Is there any reasonable argument in favor if expediting for a trip 9 months away?

What country's passports are you posting about???

No reason except throwing more money away. Passport office is under incredible criticism to fix things and you would surely have their passports in a few months.

The crunch was caused by a flood of new applications which should subside and i'd think passport folks would add staff.

We are travelling the last week in March and our passports expire about 2 weeks before that.
We applied for our renewel the first week of July.
Last week we got confirmation that our apps are in the system. I don't expect to see them before Novemeber 1st.

>What country's passports are you posting about???

That is just my Ameri-centrism. USA of course!

Oh, can't help you then Good Luck!

<What country's passports are you posting about???>

could any other country have the hopelessly inept passport problem that the OP says - hopefully not.

In the blank "travel dates", enter a date sooner than actual. Word is they sort them in order of travel dates to process, and if you enter a date nine months away...

We decided to risk it back in March when we did our daughter's. No dates of travel entered, no calls made, just wanted to sit back and see how long it would take. Her passport arrived 17 weeks and 5 days after we sent it off. I would think you'd be fine with 9 months to work with!

There was a segment on a news show recently about the backlog of unprocessed passport applications taking up to 4 months, so if you're worried you'd better pay for expedited service, and even then expect it to take longer than normal. Apparently they're grossly understaffed.

Hi r,

I wouldn't pay for expedited service. Put Dec 6 as your travel date.

>><What country's passports are you posting about???>

could any other country have the hopelessly inept passport problem that the OP says - hopefully not.<<

Oh, yes, Canada, big time!!! My mother is thick in the middle of that insanity. Last Friday, she received her "rejected" application back because...her teeth were showing a bit on the picture!!!!! I think it's a case of workers finding any reason at all to lessen their work load by rejecting people for the slightest reason!

My parents now have to drive 400 miles down to L.A., luckily with an appointment, to apply for an expedited passport since they leave on Sept 7. Bear in mind that my mother's application was originally received by the Canadian passport office on 5/22. We were told just this past week that her application was rejected in June, and only due to help from a member of Parliament did we finally receive the original paperwork and the rejection reason this past Friday.

In my opinion, both the Canadian and U.S. govts are just as inadequate when it comes to this issue. Not enough foreseight to hire more people to deal with a backlog that they created!!! GRRRR!!!!

lyb, I thought someone would mention Canada. Your parents' must be getting very anxious indeed.

I suspect, though, that this may be related to their living outside Canada? My daughter just used the online passport application process in Ottawa this month and had her new passport back in less than 15 working days.

I hope it works out for your parents.

Anselm

I have good news to report, today my mom got her Canadian passport!!! Two weeks after she went down to L.A. to apply in person at the Canadian Consulat! She can now start shopping for their trip which leave for on Sept 7!!! Yeah!!! Yeah!!! Yeah!!! Yeah!!! Yeah!!! Yeah!!! Yeah!!! Yeah!!! Yeah!!!