Yow - - our passports don't expire until July 2012; I was going to renew them when we return from Mexico next February. Does it make sense to renew them two years early?
In the big picture you'd be saving $20 since you'd lose $15 in value by renewing two years early. I'm just going to wait. Actually I have to since we cruise in a little over a week.
Who couldn't have predicted this... first pass laws that make a passport required where there was no requirement before causing millions of new passports having to be bought... then increase the cost of the passport... Thank YOU! US Department of State....
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I'd hate to have a large family who has never traveled and suddenly deciding to go to Europe. Granted that the cost isn't bad when spread over 10 years, but if you have 3 or 4 kids you are into some serious initial expenditures if everyone needs a new passport. But then, isn't trying to rationalize the cost by breaking it down to an annual thing flawed logic? You send in the application, new photo, etc., and a clerk reviews it and makes your passport. They then don't hear from you for another 10 years in most cases. What justifies charging $110? I think the fee should be more in line with renewing a drivers license...$25 dollars.
I also think you shouldn't lose time if you renew early. If I renew 6 months early my new passport should be good for 10 years and 6 months.
You guys are lucky. In Canada it's every 5 years that we have to get a new one. My family has always gotten a passport, so it's no big deal. My dad always say that no manner what county you travel to, you should have to have a passport by law. It make total sense. We do not mind paying the fees, which is about $75 for 5 years.
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