Any success getting 48 page US biometric passport anyone?
Jan 10, 2010, 2:36 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: CO, USAir, United, Delta, SPG Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 10
Any success getting 48 page US biometric passport anyone?
I am planning to apply for a new passport and heard that US State Department does not issue extended (48 page) passports anymore since introduction of biometric (with chip) passports? Anybody can confirm this?
Also, if that's not true, if I do an expedited passport service - 1-2 days (through passport center), can they still give me a 48 page passport?
Also, if that's not true, if I do an expedited passport service - 1-2 days (through passport center), can they still give me a 48 page passport?
Jan 10, 2010, 3:36 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MSY
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 5,929
I am planning to apply for a new passport and heard that US State Department does not issue extended (48 page) passports anymore since introduction of biometric (with chip) passports? Anybody can confirm this?
Also, if that's not true, if I do an expedited passport service - 1-2 days (through passport center), can they still give me a 48 page passport?
Also, if that's not true, if I do an expedited passport service - 1-2 days (through passport center), can they still give me a 48 page passport?
Jan 10, 2010, 3:47 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: PDX/AUS
Programs: AA-UA-AS IHG-SPG-Carlson
Posts: 4,562
Last year, I also got a 48-pager (with chip I believe).
No problem, just stuck a note in asking for the 48-pager.
Years ago, doing the same thing,
they issued me a small one.
On query, they quickly (week) replaced with
the larger one without further fee.
No problem, just stuck a note in asking for the 48-pager.
Years ago, doing the same thing,
they issued me a small one.
On query, they quickly (week) replaced with
the larger one without further fee.
Jan 10, 2010, 3:56 pm
#4
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About 11 months ago, I renewed, and inserted a brief note asking for the larger number of pages, "due to a high amount of anticipated travel".
I didn't pay the expedite fee but did pay for express mail both ways. IIRC I received the large-number of pages-RFID-chip version about 19 days later.
I don't have the passport with me, but from memory, I think the actual number of pages is 52, not 48 (correction welcome).
I didn't pay the expedite fee but did pay for express mail both ways. IIRC I received the large-number of pages-RFID-chip version about 19 days later.
I don't have the passport with me, but from memory, I think the actual number of pages is 52, not 48 (correction welcome).
Jan 10, 2010, 4:27 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: CO, USAir, United, Delta, SPG Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 10
About 11 months ago, I renewed, and inserted a brief note asking for the larger number of pages, "due to a high amount of anticipated travel".
I didn't pay the expedite fee but did pay for express mail both ways. IIRC I received the large-number of pages-RFID-chip version about 19 days later.
I don't have the passport with me, but from memory, I think the actual number of pages is 52, not 48 (correction welcome).
I didn't pay the expedite fee but did pay for express mail both ways. IIRC I received the large-number of pages-RFID-chip version about 19 days later.
I don't have the passport with me, but from memory, I think the actual number of pages is 52, not 48 (correction welcome).
Jan 10, 2010, 6:11 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MSY
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 5,929
I didn't even have to put a note in asking for the longer version. It was pretty clear from looking at the old passport I sent back (which had 3 extra-pages inserts!) that I needed it!
No idea if it takes longer for the first passport. When I did that, it was 25 years ago and they didn't have chips!
Jan 10, 2010, 6:28 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP (One World Emerald), Hilton Gld, Marriot Slvr
Posts: 252
Figure will have to have the pleasure of adding pages/asking for a new one in the next 2 years 
Jan 10, 2010, 7:01 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MSY
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 5,929
I started out with a 48-pager last time and still had to add pages three times in ten years, so for me it wouldn't make all that much difference what I started with. But still, I'm glad I (apparently) snuck in under the wire at Philly. Maybe you just got there on a day when they were low on inventory?
Mar 16, 2010, 7:54 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: CO, USAir, United, Delta, SPG Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 10
NYC Passport Agency Gives 52-page
I just went to the NYC passport agency and they gave me 52 (not 48 anymore) page biometric passport and passport card in about 2 hrs. So they still have extended passports even though state department website is not very clear about it (they took down the page that referenced extended passport)
Mar 16, 2010, 9:32 am
#12
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Even worse, there are no instructions anywhere on the DS-82 form. I inserted a note in 1999 asking for a 48-page book, and still received a 24-page book. I did the same in 2009, with better results. It may just be luck of the draw, depending on who at the Passport processing center works on your application.
Originally Posted by pavelyur
I just went to the NYC passport agency and they gave me 52 (not 48 anymore) page biometric passport and passport card in about 2 hrs. So they still have extended passports even though state department website is not very clear about it (they took down the page that referenced extended passport)
Mar 16, 2010, 11:44 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 139
Maybe they do all passport to Brunei with 52, since it takes 4 stamps just to go across to Malaysia for a beer...
K.
Apr 8, 2010, 9:10 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA MM, SQ KrisFlyer, SPG/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,231
I just got a renewal passport with 52 pages in it.
Besides sending in my old passport with the required paperwork, I was instructed by the help line to fill out the form that requests extra pages and to enclose a note asking for extra pages and to mail that along with the passport.
Now I'm off to the US Consulate in HKG to get extra pages put in to beat the fee! ^
Update: Extra pages put in. Success! And (for the moment), for free...
Besides sending in my old passport with the required paperwork, I was instructed by the help line to fill out the form that requests extra pages and to enclose a note asking for extra pages and to mail that along with the passport.
Now I'm off to the US Consulate in HKG to get extra pages put in to beat the fee! ^
Update: Extra pages put in. Success! And (for the moment), for free...
Last edited by abraxis; Apr 9, 2010 at 3:11 am