Really 6 Weeks for Extra Passport Pages?
 

I am flying to LHR March 15th but I need more passport pages. State web site says it takes 6 weeks via mail if you want to do it for free (which I do.) What are peoples experiences with this? Does it really take the full six weeks or do I need to pay the $60 to have it expedited?

Thanks

P.S. Can I go to the passport agency in Chicago to get more pages, or is that just for a new passport?

I needed extra pages before an HKG trip; I live in SFO.

I called the SF Passport Office, made an appointment for three days out, went at my appointed time, and left my passport to be added to. It was ready for pickup six hours later. Fee was $60. Easy!

I can't believe that they charge a fee at home for a service that is available for free at any embassy or consulate worldwide. Must be the good service we get from the people at home!

There was an earlier thread on this that you might want to search out. In short, the experiences have been mixed and some have received their passports back rather quickly.

In our case, we sent our passports off to have pages added last year about five weeks before leaving for a month in Turkey on a yacht (naturally pre-paid and non-refundable). http://www.thebluevoyage.com/

We had included self-addressed envelopes with priority postage on them as instructed. With no sign of the passports, we called the 800 number a week before we were leaving and were told that, yes, they had our passports and they would be returned to us within six weeks. So, I asked if we could pay on the spot to have them expedited, payment was made, and our passports arrived two business days before we left. They were sent Fedex in separate envelopes so it was a fairly costly investment.

In Turkey and the Middle East it's called baksheesh. In Latin America it's called Mordida. Here it's called paying a fee to have your passport expedited. ;)

Others may tell you they've gotten a quick turnaround. As for me, based on our experience I'd allow seven weeks before I needed the passport again if I didn't want to pay for the expedited service.

Cheers,
Fredd

My experience mirrors Fredd's. All passports requiring extra pages go to one processing office in the country. We sent in a passport, having several weeks before a trip. The calendar pages flew by, and the trip date neared. We had to track down the phone number to find where the passport was; then pay the money to have it expedited.

Now, I will simply pay the expedite fee up front or get more pages overseas. I simply can't ever be without my passport for two months.

Like the other posters have said you can pay a fee for expedited service. You should consider having double pages added if you travel often.

Thank you for your responses. I know that I can pay a fee, I was hoping that with 4 weeks I wouldn't have to pay the $60, but it sounds like I might have to. In the future I will get the xtra large passport, but thats not until 2011 when I have to get a new one.

I have posted my recent experience getting extra passport pages by mail here - post #43. :)

It took a while....
 

I had a lull in travel in Dec and Jan and sent my passport in for extra pages. My local PO gave me a form with an address. After about 2 weeks my passport was retuned with a note saying that address is no longer used for obtaining pages. Then I sent the passport off again. It took 4 1/2 week to get the passport with the new pages. I was shocked it took so long. If they say it could take 6 weeks, I would believe them.

I got mine done in the summer last year. Mailed it with no special precautions or anything. Had 6 weeks before my trip. Called them up maybe 3 weeks after I mailed it. They looked up the status and said that it was actually being mailed out that day. I was rather surprised as I imagine the summer is busy season.

That said, if you can wait until you get to LHR (and my experience is that LHR immigration guys don't really care--they'll stamp into any nook and cranny they can find), you can get it done for free at the US embassy.

Most people have been saying it takes > 3 weeks on average... it was 24 days from the time I sent ours out until we received them back.

Just one more suggestion - you could send it in asap for "free" page addition, wait until a week or so before your departure, then call, find out the status, and pay the "expedited baksheesh" if necessary. Once we'd done that the service was virtually overnight. @:-)

Happy Travels!
Fredd

You can have it done for free and in less than an hour in a US embassy abroad. We did it at the embassy in Bern, Switzerland. Just make sure though that you have space in your passport for arrival in LHR if you plan to do it this way. My husband nearly got denied entry at BRU because the customs couldn't find space for his entry stamp!

For LHR you do NOT even need a square available, they will generally stamp anywhere and favour making multiple UK stamps on one page (I've got NINE on one page, for example), just go to the UK and swing by the embassy on Grosvenor Square when you have half an hour, it will be free and quick. Please notice that every single US FT'er that travels frequently abroad gives this same advice. Don;'t mess around with it at home, just not worth the hassle.

Looks like I'll mail it in, and then if it gets close Ill pay an expedite fee. I would just go to the embassy, but I have a flight to Spain two hours after I arrive at LHR. Thanks for the help.