Price of US Passport May Be Going Up

[James S]

Its interesting that we pay for the US passports, yet they remain the property of the US Government...its not actually YOUR passport....its more like you rent the passport.
I don't have much complaint about the cost...I do however have lots of issues about the quality of the service.

[zeehag]

cost me over 1000 dollars in 2008 to get my expedited passport....1600 dollars, exactly.
next time wont be expedited --i did get it dang near overnite, tho, once all the hoops were jumped thru....

[markpierce]

Well, if it reflects the actual cost of processing, that' OK. If it is because of the government's monopoly over the issuance of passports, that's something else.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by zeehag

cost me over 1000 dollars in 2008 to get my expedited passport....1600 dollars, exactly.
next time wont be expedited --i did get it dang near overnite, tho, once all the hoops were jumped thru....

I don't believe you.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by James S

Its interesting that we pay for the US passports, yet they remain the property of the US Government...its not actually YOUR passport....its more like you rent the passport.
I don't have much complaint about the cost...I do however have lots of issues about the quality of the service.

Where have you been? If you think you "own" your house, why do you have to pay the government a tribute, as in property taxes? No, the government owns it and you have to pay rent. The U.S. government is also a silent partner in all businesses, taking much/most of the profits but won't share fairly in the losses.

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by markpierce

I don't believe you.

100 percent true, 1600 for expedited with a courier from the company i used 0r the expediting of th passport.e.and having to reget my NY birth certificate--all last minuet of course, as my plans werent made until last minuet. got dang near overnite delivery via courier and it was processed out of texas, instead of wash.
truth. was 1600 dollars to expedite it for passport plus expediting fees. and birth cert fees AGAIN. wont do that again. ever.
i sold a 300zxturbo collector item for that....got 2600 dollars and spent 1600 on passport. yes was exactly 1600 dollars. LOL
i reallly miss that car--was fun!!!!

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by zeehag

100 percent true, ...

Well, that's unfortunate. Normal "post office" rates for an expedited U.S. passport is something in the neighborhood of $100 (I'm old and don't remember such things precisely).

I got an expedited passport in 2002, and informed the woman (who does foreign travel frequently) I'd been dating for a couple of months that'd I'd obtained a passport. She said "Mark, where are you going?" (That was a "downer.") Long story short, we've made many foreign travels together. Last one was in November to visit Milan, a bit of Switzerland, and Venice, finishing up with a two-week cruise from Venice to New York.

In San Francisco, on the way to Alaska, with the ship returning to the Bay Area:

[zeehag]

that is sooo cool-- i will never do the passport the way i did it that time--was hurry hurry and advantage taking was extreme. cool pix--you guys look really happy--is a good thing....

if y'all are ever in a hurry for passport--watchout for the courier associated places---yipes!!!!

[Doodles]

This is a sign of the times and we probably need to get use to it. You should see some of the new IRS fees for services. Fees are a much easier way to raise revenues as opposed to raising taxes. The political fallout is much less with fees.

[savoir]

Originally Posted by markpierce

Where have you been? If you think you "own" your house, why do you have to pay the government a tribute, as in property taxes? No, the government owns it and you have to pay rent. The U.S. government is also a silent partner in all businesses, taking much/most of the profits but won't share fairly in the losses.

Passports are a bit like the greenback. If the taxpayers of the United States think they own the greenback then they better think again. They only rent it.

[High Heels]

Thanks TaoJones. Renewed mine this year because of this...

[bene505]

I see from the chart (link posted above) that passports for kids cost $105 and they only last 5 years. That's much more costly than the adult ones that last 10 years.

Regards,
Brad

[James S]

Originally Posted by markpierce

Where have you been? If you think you "own" your house, why do you have to pay the government a tribute, as in property taxes? No, the government owns it and you have to pay rent. The U.S. government is also a silent partner in all businesses, taking much/most of the profits but won't share fairly in the losses.

I haven't lived in the US for over 20 years..
I own my house.