passports and frustration!

As soon as he got gome from work today, my husband and I drove to the one and only special post office in our area that takes passport applications, after gathering all the information we needed. Imagine our surprise to learn that you can only apply for a passport between 9 and 4 Monday thru Friday, and 12-2 on Saturday. Who keeps these hours? The lady said to come on our lunch hour. Well that would be easy except my DH only gets 1/2 hour and it is at least 25 minutes each way to this special post office when there is no traffic, not to mention waiting in line. So I guess every working person in a 20 mile radius has to come on Saturday during a two hour window.

Post office person said the feds set the hours, not the post office. And they wonder why we get frustrated!

Cathy, I had a very pleasant experience in Elizabethtown, KY when I got mine in July. All the reports said that it takes a very long time to get your passport. The other two ladies paid over $100 extra to get theirs in 2 - 3 weeks. I got mine done a few days after they did their apps, I DID NOT pay the extra money, it cost me $106 for my passport with everything (including picture) and I got mine 2 days after they did. I don't rub it in!! I tried to tell them to just do it regular.

Anyhow, I googled passport applications and found a site (I don't remember now w hat it was) that had a listing of all the places that one could get a passport and whether they did pictures or not, and what their hours were. Most likely there is only one person at that site that can do passports and that's her/his hours. :(

Good luck.

Well the po person is probably right about setting the hours, but it's probably the hours that passport person can work, because they are all different depending on the post office.

I'm calmer now, thanks for listening. We have 3 months, so hopefully they will come on time. I refuse to worry about it, waste of my energy. Smiling now!

cathy, you should find a place soon and get them done. Better to be safe than sorry, it can hold up your plans. One thing not to have to worry about. Glad I could be of assistance. Happy traveling. I leave Tuesday for Honduras. Where are you going ?

We will go stand in line on Saturday, noon to 2, lol. I've finally convinced my husband that a cruise would be a perfect way to travel for me (health problems). We are doing 3 stops in the Carribean, can't remember where now, I really don't care where, just want sun in February! Have a wonderful and safe trip!

Wow, Carribean....that sounds wonderful. You too have a wonderful time. Thanks. :) Kathy

My son is going on a missions trip to Russia. His current passport expires five months after his trip. The Russian consulate will not give him a visa unless the passport expires 6 months or more after his trip. We went to our local PO for his passport renewal. They take applications from 10 to 3 so as not to hold up business shippers, etc. We paid for expedited processing, plus the photos. It came to $167 for everything and they said he should have it in 2 to 3 weeks. People getting a regular passport in our area are reported to get them in 10-12 weeks. He will still have to reapply for the visa with the renewed passport. They will probably want a special fee for that, as well.

Ken in Glassboro, NJ

What a racket!

Our Post Office closes from 12 to 1 everyday; and is closed Saturdays. Are most closed on Saturdays?
Ken I was told it was $10.00 to renew! Are the fees regional?
**jo

I don't know about passports, but speaking of PO hours...our little town seems to close the PO whenever they feel like it. I've gone several times during hours they are supposed to be open and the doors are locked. Gets frustrating. And Sat for us is 8:30 to 10am only. I don't see how the hours could be regulated. I think each one sets their own!

We are in great shape here in Ontario...if you go to one of their offices, you get your passport anywhere from 7-10 days...

Renewal fee is $67.00 and expedited fee is $60.00 = $127.00 that we paid. If you need them the PO can also take the photos (we paid $15.00 but I was told the average fee is $20). You also pay for expedited mailing both ways.

Ken in Glassboro, NJ

Our photos were taken at Walgreens for $8 each, but they goofed them up and we had to go back and have them done over. Just think of the money coming in for all of these passports, like a giant user tax so we can take a trip.