Passport Question
 

Ok. This may be a very simple question, but the last couple of pages in an American passport which say Amendments and Endorsements; can visas, and stamps be put in those pages, or not? Also, how does one go about getting pages added to an American passport.

Thanks.

Extra Passport Pages
 

To add extra pages to your passport go to travel.state.gov/passport/fri_extra.html.

good day,

in addition to sending in your passport to have extra pages added, you can request a 48-page passport when you renew.

i simply put a yellow post-it sticker saying "please issue 48-page passport. thank you" onto the renewal form and it works.

How long does this normally take without paying the expedite fee?

Six long weeks! I have space for about three more stamps on the inside back cover of my passport. But, I am not home for any six week period. There is "overnight expedited" service which takes two weeks, but you must have an airline ticket to prove that you will be leaving the USA within two weeks. I am not home for two week periods either! My next attempt is to have it done at a US embassy while overseas.

.....

I am currently in France (school). How does one get pages added into a passport at a US embassy. Do I just show up? The embassy here has so much security, I'd be suprised if you can. Again, does anyone know if you can get visas/staps put into the very last two pages of an American passport, or is that for other purpases. If so, then I am fine, if not, I need new pages pranto.

I have stamps on the last pages of my passport, but that was way before the book was full, so yes, some people will stamp it there. Visas, I don't believe, can go there.

I would call the embassy and ask, or check their website to see if they only take them in the morning, etc.

good day,

you should not have a problem. i went to the embassy in greece one morning when i had to renew my passport and went in with no delay. i was back on my way in 30 minutes.

i am a bit amazed as i look back however, because cordelli's comment about phoning to ensure they are open seems remarkably obvious in hindsight.

If you do it here you get it in 48 hours ...

LOS ANGELES Passport Agency
Federal Building
11000 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 1000
Los Angeles, CA 90024-3615
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., local time, M-F, excluding Federal holidays
Automated Appointment Number: (310) 575-5700

NOTE: Los Angeles Passport Agency serves customers who are traveling within 2 weeks (14 days), or who need foreign visas for travel. An appointment is required.

I sent mine Fedex to the National Passport Center with a prepaid Fedex return envelpe. I had my new 48 page passport in 14 days, returned to me in the Fedex envelope I provided.

Isn't there a passport center in SF? A few years ago, I brought my passport in person to the center in Philadelphia and they did it in 24 hours (with rush fee, but that's to be expected). I dropped it off one day, came back the next and it was done.

There is one in SF. I used it just last year. Dropped it off and returned the next day to pick it up. Naturally, I had to pay the expedite fee. They never did ask me to show my itinerary to show that I was leaving within a week or two. For my friend, they didn't ask either.

It takes more than a minute for sure. Among other things, they apparently have to run the passport through their database to see if you owe child support, are a fugitive, etc (in which case they would revoke it).

When I had pages added to mine in HKG (gotta love those PRC visas), it took two hours because their computer was "slow."

Thanks for the great info from all of you! I will be home next week for four days. I will be calling the SF passport agency today to try to get an appointment.

Failing that I will get a passport processed by the US Embassy in Brussels. Their website says that processing time is 10 days as the new 'state-of-the-art' passports are made at a domestic USA facility. The site says that they do issue passports for emergencies but that these passports are limited in validity.

The American Citizens Services at the Consulate in Paris has recently limited its hours and now requires that most transactions be done by mail. I thought this would be a pain, but I recently renewed a passport and it only took about a week!

For adding pages, their website says:

Passport Amendments (adding visa pages, change of legal name)

Adding visa pages to passports
This procedure must be done by mail if you live or are traveling through the Paris or Strasbourg Consular Districts. Please make sure that your passport is in good condition before having pages added to it and follow the instructions below. There is no fee for this service.

If you are traveling immediately and you have a travel ticket as proof of imminent departure, your application may be processed in person at the consular section of the embassy.

You will need to download the application form DS-19 from the following page click here, and follow the specific instructions below.

The application form (DS-19) must be completed, signed, and sent by registered mail or Chronopost with the current passport to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Paris. (See mailing address at the end of this section.)

When making this application:

* for urgent requests please send a self-addressed Chronopost return envelope,

or
* send a self-addressed registered letter envelope for the return of the passport (lettre recommandée; "destinataire / expéditeur" information must be completed on the form) with correct postage = 4 Euros postage for "sans avis de réception" return by mail or 4.50 Euros for "avec avis de réception" return by mail.

*****
The forms and more information can be found at:
http://www.amb-usa.fr/CONSUL/oas_pptamd.htm

I have always added inserts (I have a total of 5 in my current passport) from US Consulates abroad, 2x in Sofia, 2x Hong Kong and 1x Singapore. All occasions the process was quick and painless. In and out of the consulates/embassy in less than 15 minutes. The last time was in SIN about 3 or 4 months ago and I was in and out in 10 minutes...

I too have added pages while overseas which based on the general discussions seems to be the way to go (especially if you are there anyway). My experience in the Singapore consular section was quick, efficient and the whole process took about 15 minutes. Try to minimize what you bring to the consulate because this will complicate the security screening and you will have to leave the items with security anyway.

A few months ago I did exactly this. I visited the American Consulate in Paris (note: not the US Embassy, the other bldg 2 blocks away), and they added pages to my passport on the spot. It took all of 5 minutes. Perhaps they changed their policy only very recently, per Louie_LI's post, but they made no mention of a process by mail requirement.