moondog,

Thanks for the suggestion, but both of my international trips are very short weekend trips, where I would only be there for a few hours during the work week.

I renewed my passport in Johannesburg in early 2003. It took three days total and only US$55 in local currency. That was standard practice, and they could have done it same day if necessary. Very easy, very quick, and no hassles. They also automatically issued me with a 48 page version without even asking; they mentioned it was standard for passports issued overseas.

My father recently renewed his and it took two weeks, as it had to be done at the US national passport centres. Not sure if one can still get them issued within a few days, however.

I understand though that when the new biometric passports are issued, if one needs a passport in a hurry (i.e. when overseas or imminent travel), they will only issue a temporary passport with an expiry date dependent upon one's travel. After said travel, one will have to apply for the proper, full-term passport. Can anyone confirm this?

Wait, you all do know now that US Passports can only be issued from the US? So it still is faster to renew your passports overseas (excepting the NY Passport Office) but it will take 10 to 12 days as they have to ship it back and forth.

Overseas consulates can though, issue you emergency 1 year passports immediately.

Also, the fee has gone up to something like $67 or so as it includes a new security fee.

I just renewed mine in April here in Jakarta.

Full-term passports are not issued by local consulates anymore.

I just renewed mine earlier this summer as I was running into problems with not having 6 months prior to expiration date for an upcoming trip. Knowing the length of time it was taking to get passports renewed (after realizing I would be just inside the 6 month window), I waited until I hit that magic "2 weeks prior to travel" date and called the local passport office to set an appointment. I was able to secure an appointment for one week later. Went in for my appointment, paid the renewal & expedite fees, along with showing copies of my itinerary for international travel within two weeks. I then was told to (and did) pick up my new passport the next day with no problems.

The next day? You couldn't pick it up immediately?

Hmm... I just booked a trip to LA for just before my 2nd intl trip in Oct. So that would put me 10 days before my departure and 6 months plus 2 weeks prior to expiration. It's starting to sound like renewing in LA may be my best plan. I'll be there for 5 business days.

Will I be safe on my first trip, 7 months prior to expiration?

Nope, in Cgo it was a next day pick-up for renewal.

For your first trip in Oct, it depends on the country and if they have any restrictions such as your passport must have validity remaining of "x months" prior to expiration at the time you enter or depart the country. Check travel.state.gov for some help on specific countries.

OK, I got the phone #s for Argentine embassy (1st trip), tried calling one, got stuck in VMX..... My 2nd trip is to BCN, and per the Spanish embassy website it said just need 6 months.

Sounds like you're set for BCN. You should be fine with Argentina with >6 months left....but better safe than sorry, so I'd call unless you can find someone at the State Dept who can confirm. Good luck & see you in EZE :)

iianm, there is a us passport issuing facililty in either saipan or guam, which facilitates 48-hour turnarounds from most parts of asia.

If so, too bad Indonesia isn't on that list of most parts of Asia. I had to cancel a trip waiting for my passport.

you know, its so weird, my wife sent her passport out on Sept 1 because she had to get her married name on it.

ON the back page, the amendments, it is dated Sept 11 2005, [U](I didnt know they worked on the weekends)[/U] and it simply says the passport was amended with the new name.

It was received yesterday on Spetember 15.

So thats the turnaroundtime for an amendment.
Hope that helps.

I called the embassy in DC and she said "you're OK, you don't need a visa." Then I explained that my question was about my passport expiring in 7 months. She turned around, and asked someone, and she said "it's OK, you can go." But she didn't give me the warm fuzzies, so I think I'll call a couple of the other #s listed for Argentina, and see if they give me the same answer.

I vote for the Passport Agency as the most responsive and organized government entity - before the current rush, they used to do two week turnaround on new passports without a rush; truly amazing. Now if they can just work in my friend's immigration processing in similar time (after all, why aren't green cards processed in two weeks, vs. two years?)

I overnighted my passport to the passport agency with the expedited service fee last monday. I got it back today, overnighted back, completed.