Rushing a passport??

BecW2be · December 2010

I need passports for myself and for Chloe. Disney told us we wouldn't need them for our cruise when we asked a month ago, but now they're telling us they'd be a good idea. The cruise we are going on is a maiden voyage for their new ship, and it's a preview cruise for media only. I guess all the activities they have planned include a helicopter ride and other stuff that we'll need a passport for. eeeeek!

Has anyone filed a rush passport application? I can't file until Monday when she returns from Hickory and I have all the notarized forms from FuckEX signed and delivered. That's 3 weeeks to the day from when we need them in hand. They're promising 2-3 week turnaround, but I'm hellishly nervous about this timeline.

Don't even get me started on DH's expired passport that he'll need renewed via the British Consulate. I think we are royally effed in the A right now.

tidetravel · December 2010

I would inquire as to the reason for the change. According to CBP regulations, if it is a closed loop cruise, (leaving and returning to the same US port of entry) you do not need a passport. A birth certificate and ID work just fine. That being said, you may be travelling to a country that is now requiring passports for cruisers, but that is highly unlikely.

K Byte · December 2010

A friend of mine had to rush order a passport for a somewhat last-minute trip to Japan (he's also a huge procrastinator so that didn't help either!) I think he was on about the same deadline as you are and he got his after about 2 1/2 to 3 weeks.

kd.joseph · December 2010

Yeah I read the same thing on expiditing a Passport 2-3 weeks. I havent done it mind you, so I'm no help. But I didnt even chance it when DH was making travel arrangements for Spain/Germany. I just told him to go without me.

And if you have to rely on FUCKEX for info....whoa. He may drag his feet on purpose. Does he know you need it like yesterday?

BecW2be · December 2010

I know we are going to Disney's private island, and we are docking in Nassau, but I told DH we don't have to leave the ship if we don't have passports. I think they were heavily suggested and DH wants to be safe. I'm fine with BCs and IDs, and I'd rather not blow the $$ on passports right now, but he's flipping out.

tidetravel · December 2010

A helicopter ride would only need a passport if they intend to fly you across international boundaries. I would get more specifics as to why they are now requiring a passport, and if it's for certain activities, tell them that you'll decline to do those particular ones.

I'd also consider demanding that they allow you to reschedule your cruise if they're going to insist that these requirements be filled 3 weeks prior to departure.

tldh · December 2010

OP - Visit your US Senator's local office. I did this when I needed a passport fast and got it.

tidetravel · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_rushing-passport?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:beb2d94b-fa77-41bf-8944-3d28c48cde0fPost:4ab55809-9a68-4f92-ad16-40c5736e380b">Re: Rushing a passport??</a>:
[QUOTE]I know we are going to Disney's private island, and we are docking in Nassau, but I told DH we don't have to leave the ship if we don't have passports. I think they were heavily suggested and DH wants to be safe. I'm fine with BCs and IDs, and I'd rather not blow the $$ on passports right now, but he's flipping out.
Posted by BecW2be[/QUOTE]

You DO NOT need a passport to travel to Nassau via a cruise - we have cruises that leave out of this port every week, and cruisers can and do travel on BCs.

Yes, it's recommended that you have them (more for emergency reasons - if you need to fly home for any reason, you need a passport to re-enter the country by air) but not required, as per the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

From the DHS website:
<h2>Traveling By Sea</h2><p class="p"><strong>How will the final WHTI requirements affect passengers going on cruises?
</strong>U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same port in the U.S.) will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present either an original or a copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by DOS, or a Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.</p><p class="p">Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport when you dock at a foreign port, depending on the islands or countries that your cruise ship is visiting. Check with your cruiseline to ensure you have the appropriate documents for the stops you’ll be making on your cruise.</p>
<a href="http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1206635771151.shtm">http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1206635771151.shtm</a>

ETA: if money is a concern right now, you can get a passport card, ($30) rather than a passport ($100), but they are only good for land and sea travel, and IMO, worthless. They're intended for people that cross the land borders on a regular basis.

BecW2be · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_rushing-passport?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:beb2d94b-fa77-41bf-8944-3d28c48cde0fPost:2f5e76cc-9d5e-4982-b179-3ef0417cedb6">Re: Rushing a passport??</a>:
[QUOTE] And if you have to rely on FUCKEX for info....whoa. He may drag his feet on purpose. Does he know you need it like yesterday?
Posted by kd.joseph[/QUOTE]

Well, he's also conveniently behind on child support for this month, so I pretty much have two tiny little redneck balls in my hand this morning. :) He'll get me what I need, I have no doubts. It's really just a consent form that excuses him from being present for her application submission, which I'll have notarized and a copy of his license. If he can't do that for me by Friday then I'll handle it.

My biggest concern is this is a brand new ship, and God forbid something happen and we get stuck somewhere and need to fly home rather than cruise back.

Steph0871 · December 2010

You should be fine, as long as you don't mind paying for rush shipping each way, on top of the extra fee to process it rush.

Two weeks before i was supposed to go to Costa Rica with my dad, my mom kindly notified me she had lost my passport. (Even though a month earlier, she said she had it 'in hand'... it was when I lived at college.)

I got it in about a week and a half, I think... .but it was like twice the price of a normal passport (this was also in... 2005?6? when security was insane.)

BecW2be · December 2010

Yeah, we thought about the card, but there's no time savings in that, and we plan on visiting the UK in the next year or so, so passports were on our To Do list anyway. But this is going to cost us $400, so our little $130 cheap Disney cruise is starting to swell very quickly.

Tide, you are awesome with the info! Thank you!

sister2groom · December 2010

I had my passport rushed, but that was ages ago before the new electronic ones,but I know I ALMOST had to go to the state capital to get my passport faster. Here is something that specifically applies to you. If you travel in less than 2 weeks, you schedule an appointment at a regional passport agency:

http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/npic/schedule/schedule_852.html

Anysunrise · December 2010

Well, I have no idea how it is in the US, but when I needed it rushed here, I took it right in to the passport office place in Toronto and I had it in 3 days since I didn't have to wait for the mail. No idea if taking it directly is a possibility for you, but that's what I did.

DodgersBride · December 2010

Back in 07 I had my passport rushed. I was flying to Mexico within a week. I went to the federal building here LA and was told to come back 48hrs before my flight. I paid the same fees I would have had I did the expedited passport and got it in about 5 hrs. It sucked to have to worry but I was told by different people at the airline that as long as I can prove the passport was in process I could fly.

[Deleted User] · December 2010

A girl on my month board just ordered a passport and since she's not going anywhere till July, she didn't have it rushed. They told her a few weeks, and she got them in 9 days.

So maybe they're fast right now? I wouldn't completely rely on that though. But this was like, just this week she said that.

jdgardin · December 2010

Slow day at work so I'm lurking on this board today.

I know in Michigan there are places that you can visit that can get you a passport in two days... not sure on price. You do have to go in person though.

I just had mine rushed through work and they use Expert Visa Services, Inc. and it took two days I'm not sure if you have to be associated with a company though. It cost twice what a normal one did.

If you have to have one, I wouldn't worry too much. You can get one in time if you don't mind paying the money.

marriedfilingjointly · December 2010

If it makes you feel any better, Wes didn't rush-order his and he still got it in 3 weeks. I have faith.

marriedfilingjointly · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_rushing-passport?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:beb2d94b-fa77-41bf-8944-3d28c48cde0fPost:390a5230-1a4c-4920-a12d-c41bbc2a8def">Re: Rushing a passport??</a>:
[QUOTE]Slow day at work so I'm lurking on this board today. I know in Michigan there are places that you can visit that can get you a passport in two days... not sure on price. You do have to go in person though. I just had mine rushed through work and they use Expert Visa Services, Inc. and it took two days I'm not sure if you have to be associated with a company though. It cost twice what a normal one did. If you have to have one, I wouldn't worry too much. You can get one in time if you don't mind paying the money.
Posted by jdgardin[/QUOTE]

The closest one to Bec is like 14 hours away.

Anysunrise · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_rushing-passport?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:beb2d94b-fa77-41bf-8944-3d28c48cde0fPost:28831cad-d085-4942-ad33-e9ec5f2e2ebe">Re: Rushing a passport??</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Rushing a passport?? : The closest one to Bec is like 14 hours away.
Posted by marriedfilingjointly[/QUOTE]

Ouch.

Rushing a passport??

Re: Rushing a passport??

Choose Another Board

Search Boards