New, "More Secure" US NextGen Passport
#631
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,103
I’m out of the loop on such things for now, but I’m positive that again there will be advance, formal notice of a fee increase that will come to attention here at some point. I wish I could say that $200 passports aren’t going to be on the horizon in the next 2-4 years, but I don’t sell wishes for a reason. Even if with an inflation slowdown, we are headed toward such passport fees anyway. I really wish that enough people comes to their senses that we get out of the US WHTI nonsense requiring US citizens to have passports to fly to and from nearby countries. But this “more secure” mentality is going to be a increasingly costly endeavor for US cross-border flyers.
#632
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Boston
Posts: 249
The Passport card only has black & white photo because the picture and information is printed/burned on a laminate and then affixed to the card. I know this because the laminate on my Passport card peeled off and exposed the card. I have also seen the blanks of the Passport card.
At least, the picture and information on the NGP is burned onto a polycarbonate. I would rather have my information on a sturdy surface as opposed a cheapo laminate that can be peeled off or printed on something that can be washed away if exposed to water/excessive moisture. Granted, damaged outer covers or visa pages can render a passport useless.
At least, the picture and information on the NGP is burned onto a polycarbonate. I would rather have my information on a sturdy surface as opposed a cheapo laminate that can be peeled off or printed on something that can be washed away if exposed to water/excessive moisture. Granted, damaged outer covers or visa pages can render a passport useless.
#633
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MAD
Programs: IB+, BAEC
Posts: 3,098
The next gen US one looks like a lot of the features in my Spanish passport. But in Spain I just go to the police station, pay 30€ or something like that and they give it to me right there. I have no idea why the US makes it so complicated. When I last renewed at the US consulate in Madrid, the US one took only 4 or 5 days, so I assume there's the capacity to print on demand in the embassy as well.
#634
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,103
The next gen US one looks like a lot of the features in my Spanish passport. But in Spain I just go to the police station, pay 30€ or something like that and they give it to me right there. I have no idea why the US makes it so complicated. When I last renewed at the US consulate in Madrid, the US one took only 4 or 5 days, so I assume there's the capacity to print on demand in the embassy as well.
The turnaroud time you’re seeing is largely a function of the flight connectivity between a fulfillment center for US passports and the city hosting the US mission with ACS handling submitted/received passport applications.
Last edited by GUWonder; Jun 13, 2022 at 10:30 pm
#635
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: FRA
Posts: 229
Applicants abroad get rush passports for no extra charge because they're abroad and likely need them faster, but even in Frankfurt which is a huge mission, they print in the US and send immediately to Frankfurt (according to the status check, they printed and shipped the same day, though the consulate took a few days to sort and prepare). It's nice. I just wish they didn't issue only fat passports because I want a thin one.
#636
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: JFK LGA PBI BOI
Posts: 909
My wife and my passport expired during the pandemic. Just renewed them; I placed each renewal application with old books in their own envelope with their own separate checks in another envelope to save on postage. Inside envelopes were addressed just without postage.
The same day we both got separate priority mail envelopes back. My wife got a new-gen passport and I did not both have the same issue dates.
Just a reference point, anyway glad I have the old one, feels lighter to carry
The same day we both got separate priority mail envelopes back. My wife got a new-gen passport and I did not both have the same issue dates.
Just a reference point, anyway glad I have the old one, feels lighter to carry
#637
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,103
Applicants abroad get rush passports for no extra charge because they're abroad and likely need them faster, but even in Frankfurt which is a huge mission, they print in the US and send immediately to Frankfurt (according to the status check, they printed and shipped the same day, though the consulate took a few days to sort and prepare). It's nice. I just wish they didn't issue only fat passports because I want a thin one.
Last edited by GUWonder; Jun 14, 2022 at 1:36 pm