• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 31 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 31st anniversary: Happy 31st Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $23,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $23 Million dollars
  • Wish you could meet up with other TUG members? Well look no further as this annual event has been going on for years in Orlando! How to Attend the TUG January Get-Together!
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    Tens of thousands of subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Need a Passport? It'll cost you more....

Passepartout

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2007
Messages
29,169
Reaction score
18,463
Location
Twin Falls, Eye-Duh-Hoe
Last edited:

PigsDad

TUG Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
10,443
Reaction score
7,643
Location
Colorado and SW Florida
Resorts Owned
HGVC Elite: SeaWorld, Surf Club, Charter Club, Valdoro
In the article, it states:
The U.S. State Department said it raised the fees after finding that the "U.S. Government was not fully covering its costs for providing these consular services."
That makes sense to me -- those who use the consular services (i.e. travelers to foreign countries) should bear the burden for the cost of those services. That is why adding additional pages to your passport is relatively expensive ($82 now). It's not that it costs $82 to add the extra paper to your passport, it is because someone who travels more would be more likely to use the consular services.

I just wish they would have pre-announced the rate increases (or maybe I missed it). We have three passports to renew this year -- ouch! Oh well...

Kurt
 

Carolinian

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
10,904
Reaction score
1,112
Location
eastern Europe
Well, for us expats, the extra pages in the passport used to be free at the consulate, but now it is $82. $0 to $82 is a big increase, but since I already have two sets of extra pages they will not give me a third, so I have to get a new passport anyway.
 

CarolF

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2007
Messages
655
Reaction score
1
Location
Australia
I'm envious, everything is so cheap in the US.

2012 Australian passport prices (new and renewed passports):

Ordinary

Adult: A$233, Child: A$117


Frequent traveller - (contains more visa pages than the Ordinary passport).

Adult: A$351, Child: A$176

:mad:

And our EU passports are now:

Adult: 32-page passport - A$280.66, 48 page passport - A$323.66

Child: (32 pages) - A$203.66

That is one heck of a total to renew them for a family.
 
Last edited:

isisdave

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
2,815
Reaction score
1,348
Location
Evansville IN
Resorts Owned
Marriott Waiohai
And adult US passports are good for 10 years ... I know Canadian ones are only valid for 5. Still it seems like a lot ... and how can extra pages cost more than $1 more when bought at original purchase... surely the manufacturer puts them in.
 

PigsDad

TUG Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
10,443
Reaction score
7,643
Location
Colorado and SW Florida
Resorts Owned
HGVC Elite: SeaWorld, Surf Club, Charter Club, Valdoro
and how can extra pages cost more than $1 more when bought at original purchase... surely the manufacturer puts them in.
You are not paying for the extra paper in your passport -- you are paying for the extra consular services that a frequent traveler is more likely to use.

The whole point of the fees for passports is to cover the costs the government incurs for providing services for those traveling outside our country. Makes sense to me.

Kurt
 

Carolinian

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
10,904
Reaction score
1,112
Location
eastern Europe
You are not paying for the extra paper in your passport -- you are paying for the extra consular services that a frequent traveler is more likely to use.

The whole point of the fees for passports is to cover the costs the government incurs for providing services for those traveling outside our country. Makes sense to me.

Kurt

As someone who lives outside the country, I can tell you that consular services are not something that are used very often and when one does, there is a big fee attached. Notarization is $50, compared to $5 back in NC or about $5 with a local notary here. Extra passport pages are $82 now, and that used to be the only fee-free service at the consulate.
 

Ken555

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
14,968
Reaction score
6,097
Location
Los Angeles
Resorts Owned
Westin Kierland
Sheraton Desert Oasis
As someone who lives outside the country, I can tell you that consular services are not something that are used very often and when one does, there is a big fee attached. Notarization is $50, compared to $5 back in NC or about $5 with a local notary here. Extra passport pages are $82 now, and that used to be the only fee-free service at the consulate.

For perspective, I haven't seen $5 notarization in over 10 years. In my area the least expensive is $10.

I agree with the earlier post re cost to assist with sustaining consular services. There are a number of hidden, and not so hidden, costs with travel. This is one of them. I don't see any reason why the US government should subsidize travels to another country beyond the basics.

Fwiw, I studied in Berlin in 1990 and crossed the border between East and West almost daily. You should see my passport! Pages and pages of East stamps...
 

pedro47

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
23,344
Reaction score
9,484
Location
East Coast
For perspective, I haven't seen $5 notarization in over 10 years. In my area the least expensive is $10.

I agree with the earlier post re cost to assist with sustaining consular services. There are a number of hidden, and not so hidden, costs with travel. This is one of them. I don't see any reason why the US government should subsidize travels to another country beyond the basics.

Fwiw, I studied in Berlin in 1990 and crossed the border between East and West almost daily. You should see my passport! Pages and pages of East stamps...

We used Naval Federal Credit Union and the notary fee is free.
 

Ken555

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
14,968
Reaction score
6,097
Location
Los Angeles
Resorts Owned
Westin Kierland
Sheraton Desert Oasis
We used Naval Federal Credit Union and the notary fee is free.

There are many ways of getting notary services at no charge. I don't pay myself, but if you were to source this need without any existing discount I doubt you'll find it for less than $10.
 

isisdave

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
2,815
Reaction score
1,348
Location
Evansville IN
Resorts Owned
Marriott Waiohai
You are not paying for the extra paper in your passport -- you are paying for the extra consular services that a frequent traveler is more likely to use.

The whole point of the fees for passports is to cover the costs the government incurs for providing services for those traveling outside our country. Makes sense to me.

Kurt

I don't think so. Consulates charge for everything, and it's pretty hefty. And we pay for immigration inspection in our ticket fees.

I travel abroad about once every other year. I have never been to a US consulate overseas. Can I get a passport with just SIX visa pages for half price, since I won't be using many consular services? Or a discount on renewal for being a non-frequent-traveler who uses fewer consular services? I thought not.
 

PigsDad

TUG Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
10,443
Reaction score
7,643
Location
Colorado and SW Florida
Resorts Owned
HGVC Elite: SeaWorld, Surf Club, Charter Club, Valdoro
I don't think so. Consulates charge for everything, and it's pretty hefty. And we pay for immigration inspection in our ticket fees.

I travel abroad about once every other year. I have never been to a US consulate overseas. Can I get a passport with just SIX visa pages for half price, since I won't be using many consular services? Or a discount on renewal for being a non-frequent-traveler who uses fewer consular services? I thought not.
You obviously didn't read the article then. It is not about the expense incurred by a single individual, but the average cost to have the consular services in place, ready to help, in every country. The new passport fees are set to come close to covering the cost incurred by our government to provide the infrastructure needed for the consular offices, staff, etc.

Why shouldn't people who travel more pay more? And your last question is just silly -- obviously there needs to be a minimum size of the passport and that is what they have chosen. If you don't like it, don't get one.

Kurt
 
Last edited:

Passepartout

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2007
Messages
29,169
Reaction score
18,463
Location
Twin Falls, Eye-Duh-Hoe
So whats this card thing and is it worth an extra thirty bucks on top of the 110?

Passport card is unnecessary for the vast majority. It's only useful for crossing the border by car or walking. Not flying or entry by cruiser.

Jim
 

Carolinian

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
10,904
Reaction score
1,112
Location
eastern Europe
I don't think so. Consulates charge for everything, and it's pretty hefty. And we pay for immigration inspection in our ticket fees.

I travel abroad about once every other year. I have never been to a US consulate overseas. Can I get a passport with just SIX visa pages for half price, since I won't be using many consular services? Or a discount on renewal for being a non-frequent-traveler who uses fewer consular services? I thought not.

Our US consul here where I work jokes that the only thing free he used to be able to do for US citizens was to put extra pages in their passports and now even that is not free. You are right on the money.

Few Americans abroad, whether tourists or expats ever use a consulate and when they do, they pay through the nose for the privelege.

I think some here just aren't aware of what a consulate does and does not do. Many of their services are, in fact, for locals who are travelling to the US or have something else they are doing with reference to the US, and the locals also pay for all such services. Nobody gets a free ride.
 

x3 skier

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2006
Messages
5,354
Reaction score
2,385
Location
Ohio and Colorado
Resorts Owned
Steamboat Grand, The West,
Raintree and, formerly, The Allen House
So whats this card thing and is it worth an extra thirty bucks on top of the 110?

I got one "free" without asking when I signed up for Global Entry. The only thing I use it for is ID abroad since I usually leave my passport in the hotel safe. Also might be useful if I lost my passport to get a replacement but a paper copy would suffice as well.

It's really meant for those who cross the US/Canada border frequently along with a few other special cases and don't want or need a passport for other reasons.

Cheers
 

x3 skier

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2006
Messages
5,354
Reaction score
2,385
Location
Ohio and Colorado
Resorts Owned
Steamboat Grand, The West,
Raintree and, formerly, The Allen House
As someone who lives outside the country, I can tell you that consular services are not something that are used very often and when one does, there is a big fee attached. Notarization is $50, compared to $5 back in NC or about $5 with a local notary here. Extra passport pages are $82 now, and that used to be the only fee-free service at the consulate.


Back when I carried a Red (diplomatic) Passport, I used the Embassy and consular offices for a quick fix for a hunger for some American food or booze from the Commisary. The Embassy in Paris had a pretty big one in the basement, IIRC. ;)

Wouldn't mind paying a supplemental fee to have that privilege again.:D

Cheers
 

Carolinian

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
10,904
Reaction score
1,112
Location
eastern Europe
Back when I carried a Red (diplomatic) Passport, I used the Embassy and consular offices for a quick fix for a hunger for some American food or booze from the Commisary. The Embassy in Paris had a pretty big one in the basement, IIRC. ;)

Wouldn't mind paying a supplemental fee to have that privilege again.:D

Cheers

The average American traveller or even expat will never get to those parts of the Embassy, and the consulate does not provide those services. Another thing that is helpful if you have access to the Embassy (as opposed to the consulate) is the dollar dispensing ATM's. That might be useful to travellers, but is not something they would get access to. I typically have business at the Embassy every couple of months, and have not sought to try the Commisary but do usually make use of that ATM. The Embassy ATMs are coded as US domestic, so you do not get a foreign transaction charge on any card. As to food, I will also take that which is availible at functions at the Ambassador's residence or the DCM's residence over what would be availible at the Commisary.
 

persia

newbie
Joined
Nov 18, 2007
Messages
1,179
Reaction score
6
Location
Carlingford, NSW
The only time I contacted an American consolate was just before I took Australian citizenship. I called them, the American Embassy in Canberra where we lived, said I'm American and about to swear allegiance to HM the Queen and they were rude and wanted to know why I was calling them about something that didn't concern them.
 

Talent312

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2007
Messages
17,875
Reaction score
7,741
Resorts Owned
HGVC & GTS
The only time I contacted an American consolate was just before I took Australian citizenship. I called them, the American Embassy in Canberra where we lived, said I'm American and about to swear allegiance to HM the Queen and they were rude and wanted to know why I was calling them about something that didn't concern them.

The term is "consulate" not "consolate" (unless you're looking consolation).
As for the consulate, I'd be rude too and ask: "Are you bragging or something?"
Or perhaps: "I'll alert the media."
 
Top