We should hold the price down and perhaps even subsidize passports.

Far too few Americans are able to travel abroad, which may explain in part our currently atrocious foreign policy.

Posted By bob on November 6, 2007, 12:15 PM

Is this supposed to be a surprise? I know I don't doubt for a second that the Canadian government overcharges for passports. I think the costs should be locked in, and new rules put in place to have a maximum of 2% as an overcharge - so that when prices need to increase, they can stay the same for a while.

Posted By katy on November 6, 2007, 12:50 PM

Where is my refund....? We sure pay the government back if we shortchange them during tax season, they should be required to do the same!!

Posted By mike on November 8, 2007, 12:10 PM

Overcharging for passports? Just one more atrocity from the Bush regime. With a trillion dollar bill for Iraq, oil just about at $100 per barrel, this gouging of passport fees is no surprise. These &*$#@ are squeezing every dime from the American people they can, and we just go along like sheep. Inflation, recession, and more. This is just the beginning.

Posted By Michael Fagan on November 8, 2007, 12:13 PM

My family (29 in all) purchased passports this year for a family wedding. It really upsets me that our Government took advantage of us. I think they should refund the overpayment. That is the right thing to do. If we underpaid, they would not hesitate to collect.

Posted By Upset in MO on November 8, 2007, 12:15 PM

I purchased three passports for myself and 2 children,,,,It cost me $500.00......the women who processed my passport application lead me to believe I would not get it in time for my cruise _ I was in her office August 24....the Cruise is to leave Nov 25. I paid the extra 60 a person to expediate them....I got them the next week....I find it hard to believe that I would not have gotten then in time....I feel the cheated me out of $180.00.

Posted By Denise on November 8, 2007, 12:17 PM

I don't see an issue here. The gov't is like any other business - make a profit. I was a bit surprised to see the small difference - offset costs not associated with the actual product. I am okay with it.

Posted By Rick on November 8, 2007, 12:18 PM

What are we going to do about it? We will get mad, and we will rant and get more mad and than... THAN we will do nothing.

Posted By SierraNightTide on November 8, 2007, 12:20 PM

The government should give every citizen a passport for free as a means of national identification. If they want to keep track of our entering and exiting the country, they should give us the means.

And yes, they should refund the difference to everyone who paid for a passport during the time they overcharged.

Posted By Kerry on November 8, 2007, 12:20 PM

The cost doesn't bother me. The slowness does. I'm afraid to turn my passport in for renewal for fear I won't get it back in time to travel to my next destination.

Posted By Pete Rayner on November 8, 2007, 12:21 PM

Why am I now suprised...Since Geo Bush has occupied the White House and started his war, we the American people have taken it on the chin time after time. We need more Americans to travel abroad to become informal diplomats with foreign nations. Obviously our President and his staff do very little diplomatically on the world scene.

Posted By dan johns on November 8, 2007, 12:21 PM

Somehow, this doesn't surprise me. Plus, because there was such an influx of people needing passports renewed my passport became bogged down in the deluge and I needed to go to Chicago for an immediate renewal so I would have it in time for my travel. I believe I was charged extra for this as well. I'll be looking for my refund in the mail! Right!

Posted By Patty on November 8, 2007, 12:22 PM

This is yet another example of how this current administration tactics. Don't we currently pay enough in federal witholding taxes and social security and the future cost of the war that our children will pay for. I guess it would be interesting to find out how the government came up with the current cost for a passport. Did they just get out a dart board ? All those who paid the higher price deserve a refund.

Posted By M. Sullivan on November 8, 2007, 12:22 PM

I'm suprised that people let this overcharge go by. Don't they see the price & check their receips to noticed it costs them more?
If customs wanted to, they could ask to raise the price of passports (maybe they did & got shot down) As mentioned above, the price of everything else has gone up.

Posted By joe on November 8, 2007, 12:23 PM

I'd like a refund, + interest.

Posted By A on November 8, 2007, 12:24 PM

Every person should be requried to have a passport as many foreign
countries. A minimum charge should be placed on these passport, but certainly no more than the processing cost. A maximum of $25 dollars.

Posted By Stormy Kimrey on November 8, 2007, 12:25 PM

The $97 passport fee is too expensive. A family with 3 children going to Canada; cost:
Passport plus $8.00 for
pictures;
5 x $105.00= $525.00
just for the passports !!

Posted By Willem Adams on November 8, 2007, 12:26 PM

This is just half of the story. Many many people also pay the expedite fee and it is totally unnecessary. In the written material they make you think it is necessary. We did not pay it and we got a passport just as fast as a friend who did pay it. It took about 3 weeks from mail-in of application to receipt of the passport!

Posted By Steve Mather on November 8, 2007, 12:27 PM

I'm not sure about who's doing what. I thought the article was talking about the American Government when it stated "The State Department overcharged for Passports". I don't see A THING wrong with the government making a small profit for printing the passports. I definitely don't think that it should be subsidized by "all" for "the mostly affluent" to do their traveling.

Posted By Bill Wright on November 8, 2007, 12:28 PM

When traveling, especially to some out of the way countries, I have often used the US government free services. It is so nice to be in Cairo or Belize and not having to worry about paying a counselor or embassy official for services rendered. And the time in Dublin when one of our party had some difficulty because of a baggage mixup the State department handled everything for no charge saving hundreds of dollars and great agrivation. The idea that the only cost to the government from a passport holder it the physical cost of processing a passport is only true if you never use the passport. Passport fees cover such a small part of the government's cost US citizens travel they are actually a bargin.

Posted By Gordon on November 8, 2007, 12:28 PM

Dear Denise,
I'm sorry that you were in particularly gouged so bad because you had to buy so many passports for your family, and then had so many problems with it.

And Willem, thanks for doing the math on this!

And thanks to everyone else for your great, lively, smart, sane comments-- with suggestions on refunds, caps on processing costs, etc. Keep the responses coming! It's *your* government, after all.
--Sean, Blog editor

Posted By Blog Editor on November 8, 2007, 12:30 PM

This is just another example of the Bush Admin charging us extra for stuff and we never see the benefits for where all the extra money goes...The war in Iraq??? What about us here at home? What crap!

Posted By Samantha on November 8, 2007, 12:31 PM

Jeez,they last for 10 years. That's a whopping $9.70 per year...skip Starbucks for one day per year and pay for your passport! I highly doubt a $9.70 per year charge is keeping anyone from traveling abroad and certainly doesn't rise to the level of needing to be subsidized! I see no problem with the government making a little profit from the passports, it's only 14 bucks each; may they spend it on truly worthwhile endeavours! Let us remember that traveling is a priviledge, it's the freedom to travel that is a right!

Posted By RIck on November 8, 2007, 12:32 PM

The US government is grossly overcharging its' citizens. Compaer the fees other countries charge their own citizens: the Netherlands, for example, charges its citizens 55 Euros, which translates to appx $ 74 (depressed) USD.

There's no reason our government should be penalizing the very same citizens who pay the salaries of these bureaucrats who sit back and shuffle papers.

Posted By Kim Allen on November 8, 2007, 12:33 PM

If they admit to overcharging - then a partial refund should be expected -- that's a no brainer.
WILL BUDGET TRAVEL ADVISE US OF PROCEDURES IF A REFUND IS ANNOUNCED?!
Or keep us posted?....

we shouldn't have to do anything. The gov't has the addresses of applicants--they should just cut the checks!

Posted By Corey on November 8, 2007, 12:35 PM

This is addressing Ricks's comment:
"I don't see an issue here. The gov't is like any other business - make a profit. I was a bit surprised to see the small difference - offset costs not associated with the actual product. I am okay with it. "
I guess you're OK with a mugger taking your wallet (pure profit)
Even if Gov't=business, if a store was selling something for a labeled price and then the cashier rang up a higher charge, would you be such a bleeding hart to say "Oh well, they need the money"

Posted By joe on November 8, 2007, 12:36 PM

that money should be sent back to the people who have purchased passports. the government knows who they are. it should not be a problem.

Posted By elizabeth hart on November 8, 2007, 12:37 PM

Lets see...not only overcharged...but 12 weeks to process and only 3 days or so to cash the checks....
How long are the refunds going to take ???? LOL

Posted By Charly from NJ on November 8, 2007, 12:38 PM

Based on the article, the estimated actual cost of processing is $83.00, and the "overcharge" is $14.00. I believe the additional expense should be retained and passed on to DHS for verification and identification processing at our borders and airports. Increase our National Security with these funds. Why not? The cost of refunding this overcharge will consume the overcharge, so would be pointless. It is about time our priviledges in this country be paid for by those using them, and as a traveler internationally, I will appreciate the increased security this charge buys me.

Posted By Katy Cunningham on November 8, 2007, 12:43 PM

I agree Rick - spread it out over 10 years and it's very minimal. Also, don't forget - - travel abroad is optional. If we have the money for travel abroad, we just have to budget in the passport charge. After all, we budget in airport, hotel and car rental government fees.

Posted By lorraine on November 8, 2007, 12:47 PM

What a crock of garbage! However, I am not surprised one bit considering the jokers we have in office currently. What's one more thing to overcharge the American public with?

I believe it was BT in which I learned that it's cheaper to gain a U.S. passport in another country then in our own. I guess this is why. How completely pathetic!

As for needing a passport to go to Canada, are they kidding? Believe me, if the boogie monsters want to gain access to this country they will - with or without a passport. Requiring a passport on the Canadian boarder is simply pathetic. The only "terrorist" they've caught is Cindy Sheehan - the anti-war protester! Shameful. This whole thing is down right shameful!

Posted By Gwen on November 8, 2007, 12:49 PM

Thanks to everyone for their comments. I'd like to particularly thank
Kim for pointing out the comparative cost of processing passports in the Netherlands.
Rick, for pointing out the annualized cost of passports over 10 years.
Steve, thanks for the heads-up about the misleading info that often dupes people into paying for expedited shipping charges they don't need.
And, Elizabeth, good point about how it might be very expensive to process the refunds, and that maybe the money should be directed to a cause benefiting all travelers, such as National Security.

We can't individually thank every commenter, though we try. Thanks again for posting comments.
--Sean

Posted By Blog Editor on November 8, 2007, 12:49 PM

This is typical of our gov't. and the idiotic bureaucrats. Tax(a fee for a passport is still a tax) our citizens to the hilt but give free hospital services & numerous other benefits to illegal aliens gratis. It just another insult. Wake up America, stand up for your country and your rights.

Posted By Jim Flynn on November 8, 2007, 12:50 PM

If only our government would address the mojor problems and leave the details to the worker-bees!

We can expect regular ripoffs!

Posted By Donald Nelson on November 8, 2007, 12:52 PM

I just renewed my passport, and it came very quickly (within 3 weeks.)

I refused to pay the expedited fee so I just paid $67 to get it.

I sent it by certified mail, and got it back through regular mail.

I travel frequently so it is a must have!

I don't know how I feel about the new look to the passport with the pictures on the pages.

Posted By Susie on November 8, 2007, 12:57 PM

I paid for a passpor for my 2 daughters this year for our annual family trip. I applied for the passport in early March for a trip leaving in June. I even paid to have them expedited. I did not received my youngest daughter passport until the morning of my trip and that was because I wwent to the Post Office before the opened and picked it up myself. Yes I think Bush Government should be handing out refunds to all of us they have cheated. They like to take from us. Its about time they gave back.

Posted By Lisa on November 8, 2007, 12:57 PM

Denise, I know exactly how you feel. we went to get our passports in the end of August for a mid Nov cruise and they said they would not arrive in time. We did not pay the expedited fee because I found out (on my own) that you still do not need a passport for sea travel back into the U.S. until Jan 2008. I thought if we did not receive them a week before the cruise, I would just go and pay $10.00 more per person and get another birth cert. We ended up receiving the passports in less than 4 weeks!!!!!

Posted By cathy on November 8, 2007, 12:58 PM

The issue is not if we can afford the price of a passport (we can), if it's worth it (it is), nor if the gov't needs the money (they do) the issue is that they published a price for a product/service and people are paying MORE than that. That's my definition of ripoff.

Posted By joe on November 8, 2007, 1:07 PM

I have no problem with the extra $14. Who doesn't charge a little more than the actual cost? Besides, they're good for 10 years! That's $9.60 per year. Not too bad. I do think, however, that there should be different passports at a lesser cost to used for bordering countries - and Hawaii!! And if you have a regular passport, it could be used as well.

Posted By Dottie on November 8, 2007, 1:13 PM

First of all, they should not subsidize passports. Why should I expect you to pay for my passport? You can't get something for nothing because eventually you will have to pay in one way or another. And if they were to give everybody a passport as a national identification, due to inefficiencies of government they will probably raise our taxes by about $150 to pay for what is currently $97. As far as a refund for the current price, if they first deducted the cost of them refunding the money, how much of a refund would be left? The cost of distributing the refunds has to come from somewhere!

As far as getting more Americans to travel abroad, I sometimes think that, before they issue us a passport, we should be required to take a class in how to minimize offending our hosts when traveling abroad. We tend to be very arrogant, thinking that everybody else in the world should learn English, and that our way of life is the only civilized way of life.

Posted By Duane on November 8, 2007, 1:14 PM

Why am I not surprised the the State Department overcharged us for passports. We just went through an adoption and had the unfortunate opportunity to work with the USCIS. The USCIS raised all its fees to make it more expensive to adopt and it had nothing to do with President Bush. He was not the one that choose to raise their fees, it was the USCIS. I highly doubt that he had anything to do with what the State is charging for passports.

Posted By Ceci on November 8, 2007, 1:15 PM

Yes you should have to present a PassPort any time you cross out of the U.S. As for the cost, use the money to do whatever it takes to make our passports more secure and less subject to misuse by ILEGAL ALIENS (note they are not "immigrants", they are Criminals.

Posted By Raymond L. Keith on November 8, 2007, 1:15 PM

PERHAPS JAIL TIME FOR THEFT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.

Posted By FRED on November 8, 2007, 1:16 PM

Man, I wish people would just stop complaining. $97 for a travel document for 10 yrs...not a big deal. Don't like it....move to Canada and pay $87 every 5 yrs.....freakin' whiners!!!!

Posted By Mike on November 8, 2007, 1:18 PM

I am glad that my government is finally making a 'profit' on something it handles. I consider the one-time charge for something that lasts 10 years a bargain - less than the annual cost of subscribing to one travel magazine. Travel out of the U.S. is a luxury, and as with all luxuries, you budget in the little costs that go with it. Get over it, and complain about something substantial, if you must complain. The other benefit of a passport is the fact that it is the ultimate identification document in any situation that arises, and I carry mine when I travel anywhere, even if just to the next state. It can also be used when completing the I-9 for new employment, ONE document, instead of two lesser ones. Using it screens out forged drivers licenses, voter registration cards, green cards, etc., used by illegal aliens that could mean to do us harm. All in all, a very handy tool for all.

Posted By Margaret Tajc on November 8, 2007, 1:19 PM

I just had to pay the Commonwealth of Massachusetts over $1500 to read over a permit. Since I am already paying their salary by taxes, why should I pay them anything to check a paper?? It's another way the government as figured out to line their pockets at our expense.

Posted By lyn on November 8, 2007, 1:21 PM

I'm in agreement with Rick and have the same comment, the cost of the passport over ten years is extremely reasonable. It's time that passports are mandatory (unfortunately there are security issues everywhere in the world).

Posted By Linda on November 8, 2007, 1:24 PM

They should use the additional to hire more staff to enable them to process the requests within a reasonable time frame.

Posted By erin3177 on November 8, 2007, 1:35 PM

I had to get 3 passports for my family to go to Mexico last year and was very surprised at the cost. I was expecting around $15.00 each. To put out almost $300.00 really took a chunk out of our fund for the vacation. Tell them to refund our money for being theives.

Posted By Teverly Langford on November 8, 2007, 1:49 PM

Funny how so much is being blamed on Bush. The people who handle the fees for passports are in congress. Which you voted for in '06. And changes happened immediately after.

There was plenty of notice before the passport changes came into effect- yet noone took notice. Now the offices are bogged down with requests. If you choose to pay the expedited fee for peace of mind, well, it's your choice. Plan ahead. We just purchased my daughter's passport for a trip next spring and only paid the base fee.

Posted By Jody on November 8, 2007, 1:49 PM

It cost me double to obtain a passport last month as I needed to expedite in order to receive it back in time to leave the country. I sure didn't have time to cross examine the price. And YES I definitely would like a refund (instead of perpetuating, expanding and subsidizing government pensions and retirements). Please keep us ALL posted. Thanks.

Posted By Betsy Adams on November 8, 2007, 1:50 PM

Good morning sheep! The cat was away and now the mice are having their way. Meaning, the American Public saw fit to stay away from the polls in droves so that it was easier for the crooks to steal the last election. And now that the crooks are secure in the fact that they have divided the country, fractured our image overseas, we should be surprized that we've been frisked by a thug on the "A" train on our way across town? Give me a break! Seems we got just what we deserved! Stop complaining and VOTE!

Posted By Don Nelson on November 8, 2007, 1:56 PM

To Rick:

"The gov't is like any other business - make a profit." Sorry, but in no way is it like any other business. The government has a mandated monopoly, meaning there is no and never will be competition (unless they change the rules). And they are not supposed to make a profit either. If they overcharge, there must be a reason for it; there must be accountability. Otherwise, it would be way to easy to take advantage of the public. Hmm, kind of like in this situation.

In case you are the same "Rick" that wrote, "Jeez, they last for 10 years. That's a whopping $9.70 per year...", are they allowing the public to pay over time? I don't think so. Or are you suggesting that someone who wants to travel saves up for 10 years prior to going anywhere outside the country? That's some decent planning - and patience.

Let's also not forget that there are people who are of lower income status that might want to take a drive or even a walk across either of our borders with their family (and are probably not buying drinks regularly from Starbucks either). So to drive or walk from San Ysidro to Tijuana, you will have to shell out an extra amount, say, $525 as in the "Willem Adams" case for a family of five. If you have friends or relatives whom you can stay with, the $525 may be more than all of your other expenses combined! So you've just doubled the cost of the trip. Since you are good at math, you will find that at $5.85/hr. (not including taxes taken out), the breadwinner(s) have to work more than 100 additional hours (more than 2.5 weeks) to pay for the passports alone.

Finally, if you have the "freedom to travel" but the government charges too much for your passport so that you can't afford to travel, is that really freedom? It is like being held for ransom.

The passports should be free. Many lower income people would benefit and the rich and wealthy won't notice either way.

Posted By John G. on November 8, 2007, 2:01 PM

Passport fees should be a low as practical constraints will allow. A family's finances may determine whether they travel by Lear Jet or Greyhound bus, but the right to travel, by whatever means, seems pretty fundamental. The government should not make it more difficult for those with less income (or anyone else) by charging inflated prices. To those who regard agency overcharges as a form of fair profit, I will point out that the government has a monopoly on this item. You can't wait for a sale or turn to the competition for a cheaper price.

Posted By John G. on November 8, 2007, 2:04 PM

Put the excess into Social Security! Only a drop in the bucket but every bit helps.

Posted By LJA on November 8, 2007, 2:09 PM

So what? As long as the passport charge doesn't exceed US$100.00, it's probably the least of your travel expenses! Remember it just reflects the declining value of the dollar all over the world! Sincerely and Prayerfully, Mark

Posted By Mark Sowers on November 8, 2007, 2:11 PM

I agree with Rick's comment. The government didn't force you to travel abroad. If you want to travel fork it out. Stop complaining! Not happy with US government then move to third world country to see how happy you will be.

Posted By Lynn on November 8, 2007, 2:18 PM

I have NO problem paying the fee.As a naturalized citizen I have held and paid for passport in my former home country and it was not cheap even though my country was socialized.Have a hard time understanding this whining about subsidies expected for everything.

Posted By Barbro Nygren on November 8, 2007, 2:41 PM

I have had a passport since I was three, and since I have family overseas, I renew it whenever it exprires, not just when I have a trip coming up. I never know when I might need to go overseas for emergency. My passport also came in handy when my wallet was stolen, and had to get a new driver's license and new bank account.

If my relatives overseas want to visit me they need to get a passport and spend $100 on a visa they might not receive, and they only make half as much as the average American.

Bottom line: I'm not too bothered by an extra $14 for something I find so necessary.

Posted By Christina Paul on November 8, 2007, 2:56 PM

People - come on! Gov't making a profit? It's a tax for added security, but it's only being paid by those who get a passport. Wonder what that extra $100 million is being spent on? Bigger leather sofas in Dept of State offices? Hiring more Blackwater goons? Paying more bribes to get paid-for work done in Baghdad? After the last five years, the US Government has lost my trust. They'll have to earn it back. And this isn't the way to do it!

Posted By Mark Edwards on November 8, 2007, 2:58 PM

Sorry for going off-topic here, but someone else is posting under "John G."? I wrote the first item, but not the second. However, whoever the 2nd "John G." is, your comment was better than mine: not only was it in concordance, it was both concise and clearer! Kudos to you - uh, or is it me?

Posted By John G. on November 8, 2007, 3:02 PM

Interesting. Yes to passport required for Canada but everywhere. Let this be our standard for ID plus our driver license. Let's keep Clinton's suggestion out to license everyone. The $14.00 - why not consider extending the years on the passports we now have by 5 years and make it 15 and not 10? Can anyone imagine the cost to tax payers to insist on a rebate?

Posted By C Teufel on November 8, 2007, 3:13 PM

This is just one example of people being ripped off by the US Government. If someone is going from one country to another and have to pass through the USA they have to have a Tourist Visa (even though they are an international passenger) which now costs more than $110.00 plus wait in line during two trips to the consulate and if the consular officer does not approve their visa, they lose the money. This also applies to persons wanting to visit the USA. I should also state that during each trip to the consulate they will wait at least 4-5 hours. It is a disgrace and the US Government should not wonder that tourism is off as well as people having a really bad opinion of the USA - - of course, if they get to the USA, the miserable treatment by the immigration officers just confirms an already bad opinion.

Posted By B. Lilly on November 8, 2007, 3:24 PM

Typical AP grandstanding! Note that the difference is only $14, less than a full meal at any airport. Further that difference is between the charge and the "stated" cost, and "stated" here most likely is AP's way of avoiding saying "normal". The situation this summer was anything but normal, with the State Department incurring extra costs to meet the crush. If you are being badly used, it is by the AP and not the State Department.

Posted By Neal J. on November 8, 2007, 3:27 PM

The whole "hurry up and wait" thing with passports ticks me off. First, there was the "you better get($) expedited service so you receive your passport in time...mind you we paid the extra fee for our family of six. Then shortly after they came out, saying...birth certificates will be fine again because they were so back logged. I don't mind paying the passport fee, but I want my expedited charges refunded!!!

Posted By Crystal Dahlgren on November 8, 2007, 3:37 PM

Come now, folks, there's a lot to fault the Bush administration for, but blaming it for high passport fees is reaching for a very meager straw. A little planning and I do mean little defrays costs when one travels abroad, of that there is no doubt. Also, this fee is more or less a one-time extravaganza. Renewal fees are considerably less than the fee for a first passport.

Posted By Douglas Presler on November 8, 2007, 3:54 PM

Seems like the Governmental Accountability Office (GAO) should look into this. Generally, Federal agencies are not allowed to make a profit for services provided. Usually, agencies are funded with Congressional appropriations, but some agency components operate thru mechanisms called working capital funds. This may be the case with the DoS passport office. Still, WCF components work thru budgets and they shouldn't spend wildly. When they make a profit, future charges s/b adjusted accordingly. And, ultimately excess funds should go to the general fund of the Treasury - not DoS operations.

Posted By Donney on November 8, 2007, 4:06 PM

//The government should give every citizen a passport for free as a means of national identification. If they want to keep track of our entering and exiting the country, they should give us the means.//

Nothing is free with the government. This idea would either raise taxes or raise the national debt. The fee for service structure seems better to me.

Posted By Steve on November 8, 2007, 4:07 PM

To all you idiotic Bush haters, if you think that the President is personally responsible for the fees charged for passports (or any other Federal gov't fee), you don't know what you're talking about. It should comes as no surprise that the State Department, which is blatantly ANTI-Bush and which is responsible for passports, has ripped people off. Wake up, people. You're ranting against the wrong person!!

Posted By Betty on November 8, 2007, 4:11 PM

Last year I got a new passport ahead of the rush, so I was able to save the extra costs. However I was furious that I had to pay $97 instead of $65 for renewal because it had been 15 or more years since my last pastport application. I believe if you can produce a old passport no matter when issued it should allow one to be renewed at the cheaper cost. To top it all off they took my old passport and sent it in with my application, and returned it with the new one. I felt very cheated.

Posted By mary erhart on November 8, 2007, 4:23 PM

My wife and I just applied and paid for our Passports today 11/8/2007 and we did the express route, well it cost us 314.00. Is that the norm. This is my forst time geting a Passport to break it down 254.00 went to the State Dept & 60.00 went to the Post Master. Even though I just applied was I overcharged. We are only going to Cancun, when we went in 1996 we did not need a PP. Bush is really putting it to us, It's a company trip so I had no choice I needed the PP.

Thanks
Brian

Posted By BRIAN on November 8, 2007, 4:33 PM

I eel that those that were overcharged should get a refund. And why does it take so long to get your passport. I have to renew in 2 years- - do you think it will get worse?

Posted By Ursula on November 8, 2007, 5:13 PM

Our government (i.e.=us)is 9 Trillion dollars in debt. Good grief-get a refund? These are the folks who raided the Social Security "Trust" fund and just kept on spending.

Posted By Mike on November 8, 2007, 5:19 PM

A passport is supposed to be good for 10 years, but I lost 13 weeks of use waiting for my renewal passport. I can renew my driver's license in less than 1/2 hour at the Motor Vehicle Registry, but Uncle Sugar doesn't seem to be smart enough to do a simple thing like that in hours or days but has to have weeks to do it. Imagine what a mess I'd have had if I actually had to travel while waiting for the renewed passport!!!!

Posted By Max E. Franck on November 8, 2007, 5:35 PM

Horray! Let the government make money. Then, may they make enough by those who use services and REDUCE overall taxes for everyone. Let's make government self supporting.

Posted By Sandy on November 8, 2007, 5:49 PM

My mom and I applied for a passport to go to Costa Rica. We both put our maiden names and our married names. She got hers and I got a denial unless I produced a reason other than my birth certificate, which was required, to prove my name change. I am 63 and she is 83. So, I had to make a special trip and spend $20 for a copy of my marriage certificate. I also got and sent in a divorce decree for another $20 in case the next time around they decided I needed to prove the other name. In speaking to them, they said it was required. But not for my mom. And we were never told this. Went back to the post office who processed it for us and they beat around the bush really well. And now the price gouging. Sheesh. I will say this, they returned a $60 check for expediting the second time around as we were nervous.

Posted By Jerrilyn on November 8, 2007, 6:23 PM

With less than 1/3 of Americans having passports, first of all would anyone care what less than 1/3 of people think. Has anyone considered that they just didn't budget appropriately. It's hard enough to plan what the public is going to do and prices have to be set before the operation has been up and running.

It seems the people upset are the people who travel "abroad" to places that previously didn't require a passport. Maybe having one from a family holiday to Mexico will encourage more Americans to take the plunge and see a part of the world that isn't as heavily influenced by or full of American tourists. The point of travel should be more than extra time in the pool - go to an indoor one for that. Travel should be a way for you to understand more about why your home is in the state it is and how your home affects the lives of others. The recognised media in the US sure won't give you the chance for that.

In terms of costs - get ones for your kids early even if you don't travel. 1. you encourage them to broaden their horizons 2. you avoid all of the expedited fees (and the potential of postal strikes that hit my first passport application) 3. getting your first passport as a teenager is the real reduced value when you have to renew earlier to get an adult version.

From an American living abroad (and catching flack for being an "ignores the real world" American).

Posted By Ness on November 8, 2007, 6:28 PM

I'd like a refund plus interest. This just doesn't suprise me as I feel gouged continually by the government. Is there nothing sacred anymore?

Posted By Linda on November 8, 2007, 7:06 PM

This past summer my husband and I needed to have additional pages added to our passports. Much to our surprise, the charge for doing this was ZERO! We were shocked. We couldn't believe that the government would do anything for free. The catch - no assurance about how long it would take to get them back and we needed them for a trip. So, they got us anyway - a $30 expediting fee for each of us. Yes, it worked, we got the passports back in under a week.

Posted By Carroll Melnyk on November 8, 2007, 7:16 PM

Boy George and his Uncle Dead Eye Dick had a steak fry for all their cronies with the extra bucks. Condy was there too.

Posted By James White on November 8, 2007, 7:18 PM

Bear in mind, this is the same government that recently raised postage rates not because the post office needed more money--indeed, they were running happily in the black--but to help balance a budget deficit spiraling out of control due to tax cuts for the rich and the war in Iraq. So, for them to turn around and quietly siphon off an extra hundred million here or there--no surprise. Sure, it's shameful to overcharge people who trust you, but this administration is hardly known for having a conscience.

Posted By Tex on November 8, 2007, 8:20 PM

I sent my passport off for a name change with my ORGINAL marriage certificate, as instructed. I received a form letter several weeks later with the information that I needed to send them an ORGINAL marriage certificate. I called the toll free number, who advised me to send an overnight letter to tell them to "look again". I spent the $25 for the overnight and within 1 week I had my new passport and my orginal marriage license returned. Not so much as a peep as to why I got the missing info form. Maybe I'll get a $25 refund for my unneeded overnight letter as well as the overcharged fees...NOT!

Posted By Laura on November 8, 2007, 8:21 PM

Just another Bush administration tactic. When are we all going to stop this???? We're supporting all of them and their ridiculous spending.

Posted By Pat M. on November 8, 2007, 8:30 PM

I am having a wry laugh at the folks who pass off the additional $14 overcharge as "small change".
Let's look at a passport and what it's worth.
It's a few pieces of paper bound into a booklet with a hard-ish cover. The paper work involved in printing the information in the passport can't take over five minutes for a skilled typist to prepare.
In my view, $83 (considering the $14 overcharge) is an outrageous price to pay for a few pieces of paper with a picture which I furnished. It's not an illuminated manuscript put together by in the middle ages and bound in calfskin, folks. We paid $65 a few years ago for our renewals, and THAT was a screwing. If it weren't the "govmint" at work, the issuers of passports could make money at $20 a pop and send it out by Fedex in the bargain. end of rant.

Posted By Mack on November 8, 2007, 8:50 PM

People who don't think this is a big deal probably need to start writing checks out for their taxes instead of just having them automatically taken out by the government. You are politicians' wet dreams... stupified into willingly allowing the government to rip you off. And just so you know, the government is not like a business at all. It was never set up to be a business. But I guess you must have attended government public schools to be so clueless.

This is just one more reason I am considering running for President in 2012.

Posted By Rick W. on November 8, 2007, 9:03 PM

It continues to amaze me of the number of replies above do not have a basic understanding of our government and whom is responsible for setting fees. I'd suggest that it might be appropriate for them to learn whom is responsible before they complain about "responsibility."

Get a life folks, if you can afford to travel outside the country, you can afford an extra $14 dollars. Who knows, you might have a need for the state department services while you travel.

Posted By Hugh Renck on November 8, 2007, 9:21 PM

Evidently people don't understand the basic law of
supply and demand. If there are massive amounts of people who need something that is in short supply, there is bound to be a premium price for the said product. The one thing that seems to be the most scarce in this day and age is COMMON SENSE! That's priceless!!! But I
want what I want and I want
it now, and by the way, I AM SPECIAL!! TOO MANY COOK SPOIL THE BROTH. There are WAY too many chiefs and not enough Indians!!!

Posted By m on November 8, 2007, 10:10 PM

I had to replace my passport this summer because I lost it. I cancelled the trip I had planned because I couldn't even get though to the call center to arrange for an appointment at the passport office. To order a new passport, I went to the post office and paid for expedited service. However, my passport still took the same amount of time as regular serivce. It isn't right to pay for expedited service if you don't get it.

Posted By Robin on November 8, 2007, 11:35 PM

This is too much. Our constantly increasing sense of entitlement has caused us to now believe we should get passports at cost. Let's see, should we also get hotel rooms and airfares at cost. And if this no mark-up mentality of yours applies to only governments then perhaps we as American travelers should demand that all of these foreign governments that charge a tax to international visitors to visit there should stop doing that. After all, that is total profit and profit is bad. These same entitlement people that always believe in taxing the rich have apparently not gotten around to figuring out that this is essentially a tax on the rich. By and large the people traveling internationally are in the tax brackets higher than the ones in the middle. So essentially the government is yet again taxing achievers...this time to travel. And the entitlement people that want the rich taxed are too stupid to even see it. What a joke.

Posted By Donald on November 9, 2007, 12:12 AM

The passport is actually only $67.00!!!
There is a $30.00 processing fee to imput all your information into a database for future use. This is a "one-time" fee if you don't let your passport expire longer than 5 years after the 10 year expiration date.
I renewed my passport on time and only paid $67.00, which amounts to only $6.70 a year for 10 years!
Think about it!

Posted By sande b on November 9, 2007, 3:17 AM

Let's see. $111,000,000 overcharge, 14,000,000 passports. That looks like $7.93 each, overcharge. Who at AP did the math? Sounds like most of the people commenting on this overcharge are mad about the expediting fee (there is a solution for that.) The real cost for the passport is not for the paper, it's for the background check and the processing (but the paper is "special" and does cost something). This is what makes it worth more than a driver's license as far as identification is concerned.

Posted By Walt Gunster on November 9, 2007, 8:48 AM

Don't get too worked up about passport profits, the United States Postal Service had a one billion dollar profit last year. Make the passport office look like amateurs.

Posted By Renee on November 9, 2007, 9:04 AM

Walter,
Good for you for doing the math! Your conclusion is a fair one to draw. Investigators and the A.P. are reasonably sure that the overcharge was at least $14 back in 2002, on about 7 million passports, for an annual overcharge of about $111 million. (That's not quite $140 million because I'm rounding figures, and not every passport had to be processed the same way.] The State Department has kept its fees in place since then. And the number of passports has more than doubled since then. But what is not clear is if the cost of processing passports has remained the same.

My summary wasn't as clear as it should have been, while the findings of the AP and the Congressional investigators themselves are quite clear. When I wrote the phrase "at least" $100 million in overcharges, I was quoting the bare minimum figure that investigators feel confident was overcharged in 2002, using 2002 stated costs. I made the assumption that the annual overcharge has remained *at least* the same $100 million, though it's reasonable to think that it might be twice as much or more, given that passport volume is twice as much or more today. Investigators are still looking in to see what the per-passport overcharge has recently been. With increased volume, perhaps there were additional costs (meaning a higher overcharge per passport, or greater efficiencies, meaning a lower overcharge per passport. When I wrote, "This profit, or overcharge, may have been at least $14 per passport," I shouldn't have used the phrase "at least." Investigators may find that last year it was lower than $14, or it may be higher than $14. Just because passport volume has doubled doesn't necessarily mean that the per-fee overcharge also doubled. Only a further investigation will be sure. I didn't offer a lengthy explanation because I linked to an article with full details.
Thanks,
Sean

Posted By Blog Editor on November 9, 2007, 9:15 AM

No! Lets look to our friends in Europe. They formed the European Union recognizing that there is no point in spending billions of dollars protecting their country from the country right beside them.

Canada is our neighbor to the north, has been supportive in many wars current and past. Work closely with Canada on keeping terrorists out of North America and you will keep them out of America.

Posted By Doug Brown on November 9, 2007, 9:30 AM

We live close to the Canadian border and cross several times a year for travel, business and pleasure. Since having a passport, I have found that crossing is quicker when I get to the officer. I also feel safer, traveling to Canada and other countries with a passport since it is clear documentation of who I am and a citizen of the US. Once people get over the "shock" of having to apply for passports, this will all die down and be the norm. Families with children will get passports for their children as they are born or reach a certain age so the fee will not be for everyone all at once. In reality, if needed, there is something that everyone can give up in the course of a year to cover the less than $10.00 per year fee. A couple packs of cigarettes, 2 less trips to the fast food restaurant I could go on. Get over it. Jan

Posted By Jan on November 9, 2007, 9:31 AM

I just renewed my passport for the $67.00 fee, -took my own pictures on a white wall background for $.25, -paid $5.25 for priority mail with confirmation. -received my new passport back in the mail in 2 weeks! -being able to leave the country on a minutes notice and return..... priceless!! it is true that you can enter and return across our neighboring borders by foot or car with just a picture I.D. from the U.S til at least January 2008. However, if you should be injured or ill while in another country and need to be "airlifted" into the U.S. for emergency medical treatment....then you need a passport!!

Posted By Alan B on November 9, 2007, 9:35 AM

You think that's bad - I had to pay double to expedite the process AND I also had to send it Priority Mail and provide a return envelope, Priority Mail of course. I got my passport about a week after I mailed averything in. They can do it fast if the price is right !!!

Posted By Dan O on November 9, 2007, 11:41 AM

The American public should write their congressman and demand a refund. The government should not be using these tactics to squeeze more money out of the public. We already pay far more taxes than we should. This is truly an outrage.

Posted By Eric Vance Walton on November 9, 2007, 12:24 PM

I don't mind the $67 fee for the passport, but I was duped into paying the expedited fee (I believe I had to pay about $127) because I had exactly 6 months until my passport expired and if I travelled w/in that 6 month period, the country I was visiting may not let me enter because I would have had less than 6 mo left on the passport. That I believe is a con job. Funny how the system breaks down when you pay the posted fee ($67 - 12 to 18 wks), but everything runs smoothly when you pay the extra cash!!! It took less than two weeks when I paid the expidited fee. Right now I don't believe our gov't is on the up and up, or perhaps they never have been...

Posted By jsdiver on November 9, 2007, 1:37 PM

The government should have to refund the fee they overcharged for the passports as well as interest. If the average person would shortchange the government they would charge interest on the money owed.

There should also be a law where the government can't charge more than 1.5% above the actual cost and need voter approval to increase the cost of obtaining a passport.

Does it surprise anyone that Bush's administration overcharges americans in order to make money? Especially when one considers the cost of a mismanaged war and the always increasing price in oil/gas.

Posted By Lefty. . . on November 9, 2007, 1:45 PM

The President doesn't set the price for passports. If anything it would be Congress and who runs Congress, the group that is promising to raise taxes on us, mostly to pay for the pork they add to every bill before Congress.

Posted By Claire on November 9, 2007, 5:13 PM

A lot of people are complaining stating they cannot afford the passport yet can afford to travel overseas. I am really disappointed if you are upset over a 97 dollar fee what happens when you travel overseas and you get ripped off from local venders what are you going to do? If you want to do something positive write our government and provide a solution, so far I have read complaints, people whining and of course most foreign countries see America as a bunch of complainers but seriously what are the answers?
If you are working a minimum wage job you're never going to travel the world it's as simple as that. If you're a college student and wish to travel or study abroad then plan ahead for it your already spending X amount of dollars on your education 97 more dollars is nothing. As far as the borders are concerned, there are several solutions to that dilemma depending on your beliefs but for myself if you're an illegal in this country and you want to go back "home" don't bother coming back. Many people have come to this country through legal means and that just upsets me more and more everyday.
Some of you are spending energy complaining over 97 dollars saying that it could be better spent on your vacation. Where are you vacationing that an extra 500 dollars is going to help you immensely? I have to shake my head, 500 dollars is nothing when it comes to vacationing.
Just please plan ahead and don't plan on maxing out your credit cards to go on vacation. The dollar is dropping at a drastic rate compared to the currency of the rest of the world and we as Americans only have ourselves to blame. We buy things time and time again we cannot afford and have no idea how we are going to pay off. I am asking nicely please take care of your mortgage payments and other miscellaneous bills so the rest of us American's don't have to take a financial beating because you didn't plan ahead.

Posted By Xochi on November 9, 2007, 5:50 PM

Talk about about being innocent rubes.' Just because AP reports that "they feel people have been overcharged" does not make it true.
Since when do you believe everything you read?
Do not swallow everything you are told. Investigate and then make up your minds.

Posted By Neal on November 9, 2007, 6:55 PM

I'm not so sure that the government's motive for the outrageous passport fees is to raise money. I have the feeling it's a means of discouraging common folks from leaving the country.

Next will be the Real ID driver's license burden. It's leading to a national ID card. When will we run into checkpoints and be asked ever so politely, papers please?

Posted By Roberto Benitez on November 10, 2007, 6:41 AM

I think it is terrible that the government is overcharging. In addition, you can't be sure that the passport application will be processed in a timely manner so if you need one in 2 months you have to pay the "expidite" fee which is an excuse used to cover the fact that the government can not work in a timely manner to fulfil their obligations to the american public. Shame on the State Department. They deserver the Golden Fleese Award for this entire process.

Posted By Raymond Reeves on November 10, 2007, 1:39 PM

I have a new passport as does the other 4 members of our family. With the dollar in the toilet in Europe and even Canada there is no way I would travel there at this time.
There is also a new era of the "ugly American" around the world since this administration waged war on a country for unproven threats.

Posted By thad on November 11, 2007, 11:43 AM

Wars are expensive. The U.S. is involved in at least two wars at this time: World War IV: The War Against Islamic Fascism and The War on Drugs. I would prefer to see the War on Drugs ended.

Tamper-resistant passports are more expensive than the older versions.

I'm okay with the overcharge as long as the fee doesn't increase next fiscal year.

Posted By John in Austin on November 11, 2007, 6:58 PM

The State Department is not gouging the American public. The State Department doesn't even keep the passport fees - they go to the general revenue in the Treasury. The amount of the fee is to recover for the US government not just what it costs to issue passports, but to provide emergency services to US citizens overseas when they need them. Check out what a passport costs in other countries - the U.S. passport is one of the best bargains.

Posted By F Vogelsang on November 12, 2007, 1:30 AM

I purchased a new passport for work travel. Because I needed it right away I paid an expediter. My charges were as follows: (and this is with having a passport in the past)
100.00 expedition fee
127.00 Dept of State (passport fee)
30.00 for the post office to process it and
26.00 Fed Ex charge to send priority overnight. This is a grand total of 283.00 for a passport. Talk about being overcharged? I believe that they should refund overcharges...every little bit helps

Danielle Black

Posted By Danielle Black on November 12, 2007, 12:33 PM

To the idiots who think it's OK for the government to make a profit because it's like any other business:

Try reading a civics or a history book!!

A governement creates nothing. It has no services to sell.

It is paid for by it's citizens.

It pays for nothing.
The money it prints or borrows is based on a promise of it's citizens to pay for them.

Everything is provided by the citizens who should, but often don't, limit the services it should be allowed to offer.

It is not a business.
Unfortunately many western governments have become a parasite upon the backs of it's citizens.

The federal and state governments in the USA are among the worst offenders at present.

The American sheeple again show their overwhelming ignorance of the proper functioning of government, and as usual they will complain but will do little except sit in front of their TV's.

Just like Rome before it fell.

To the person who says the US passport is a bargain, try reading a bit.

The US passport is often called the most expensive in the world, and for good reason.

Get a clue people.

Posted By Rich on November 12, 2007, 3:36 PM

First of all, Congress is the entity that created a frenzy over new passport rules, not the State Department. Congress forced the new regs on the State Department without giving the State Department extra funding and staffing to deal with the huge surge in demand. State Department employees were working 24/7 (no joke). Someone has to pay for some overtime. Passports don't process themselves. Do you want more secure borders? Then you want all of the enhanced features built into the new passports. Get over it people. You can't look at one item of the State Department's budget and call out the calvary. Talk about not reporting the whole picture...shame on you BudgetTravel...I expected better of you.

Posted By Stephanie on November 12, 2007, 8:38 PM

Everyone else expects to make a profit for the services they provide -- why not the government. They certainly know how to waste money. Let's give them credit for finally doing sometning without losing money.

Posted By Ken on November 16, 2007, 7:24 AM

We pay taxes for passport services, so we shouldn't have to pay any additional fees to use that service.

Most importantly, they shouldn't put identity-leaking RFID tags in our passports either! It's much too easy for identity thieves to steal someone's passport info with a store-bought reader.

Posted By Darlene on November 16, 2007, 4:30 PM

Thank you Stephanie, it is true about State Dept. people working literally 24/7 on this, including the diplomat folks. And yes, the new passports have a chip and other better, more secure features... which I am sure cost more.

To the person whose passport expired in 6 months and thinks it is a scam that possibly some countries will not allow him in with it and thus has to renew early and quickly... NOT A SCAM, NOT AN URBAN`MYTH!! There are a number of countries who will not allow you in if your passport is within 6 mos. of expiry. Not the govt's fault.

Posted By valerie on November 17, 2007, 6:23 PM

I agree that the fee is too high, especially for renewals. And here's something that I just discovered after visiting the state department's website: the US is no longer issuing the 48-page passport. So for frequent international travelers like myself, I will have to send in the passport several times to get extra pages sewn in. More hassle for me and more hassle for the agency. BRING BACK THE 48-Page PASSPORT!

Posted By Roseanne on November 22, 2007, 2:45 AM

2 years ago when i was going to mexico it cost my husband and myself 76.00 each, our friends this year it cost them 97.00 not even a year later so thats our government for you

Posted By sheila orr on November 22, 2007, 5:06 AM

The State Department's passport is supposed to be like a working capital fund in DOD. Shipyards and other depots are not supposed to make a profit. If they show a profit, they must lower their prices and if they show a loss, they must raise them State should lower its rates in 2008 so that by year's end, they will have a cumulative break-even position.

Posted By David Epstein on November 22, 2007, 11:52 AM

No one seems to have addressed the topic of needing additional pages in an existing passport. Apparently they are free if you want to send your passport in and wait whatever the length of time it takes. However, if you need the passport back in a timely fashion, the only guarantee is to spend $60 for expedited service -- that's for ADDITIONAL PAGES in an existing passport. Our alternative: We can take our passports to the nearest consulate (San Francisco), pay approximately $30 for parking in that area, wait in line, and STILL pay $60 to personally deliver our passports and get the additional pages on the spot. This, by the way, is not a matter of poor advance planning on our parts. We're retired and travel a lot, and we don't want to risk being without our passports for three or more months, which has apparently happened to some people. It's not that paying the fees will break the bank, but there does seem to be a fairness issue here. How much is is actually costing the government to staple a few extra pages in a couple of passports?

Posted By Dean and Barbara Osterling on November 23, 2007, 9:42 PM

A few years ago I traveled with my father and daughter to Italy. My daughter's passport was styolen while we were at the top of the Vatican She had five years remaining on a 10 year passport. She hda to get a temporary passport for $60.00 good for only one year. At the end of the year she needed a new passport for $60.00. In six year's time she shelled out $180.00 for passports! To make matters worse, there were no Americans that we could see working at the American Embassy in Rome. They basically told us too bad, so sad.

Posted By Virginia Sandroni on November 26, 2007, 1:35 PM

First, let me start by say that the so called AP report is only a version of the interpretation, of two grandstanding Senators (Dorgan and Shumer), of a General Accounting Office (GAO) report. However, this report fails to indicate that the Pasport Office "gauged" the public. Instead the report shows dissatisfaction with the way the private sector contractor calculate the fees. Second,the fee in question,the execution fee, is the portion of the total that is retained by the "acceptance facilities" - post offices, libraries, municipalities, counties, universites, etc. - to defray the cost of providing the services locally. In no way those this fee benefits the Passport Office.

As for the lady that claims that her daugther was issued a limited passport good for one year ending paying $180 in six year time I have to say that a quick visit to the Department of State website would have easily shown them how to extend that passport to its full validity for free. In other words buyer be aware. In reality what I see in these comments above is an incredible amount misinformation and lack of preparation or education on the part of the AMERICAN traveler.

Posted By Amanda Carletti on November 30, 2007, 12:01 PM

The passport overcharge is nothing compared to the ripoff for a naturalization application, which went way up in 2007. Also if you find out you won't qualify for citizenship and want to withdraw the application, they won't refund one penny of the fee you paid, which is over $500. If you stop payment on the check, they consider it a debt to the government and send it to a government collection agency. I lost over $500. Stop complaining about a $14 overcharge on a passport. I do agree that they should charge "at cost" and not a penny more or provide passports free as a national ID.

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