Originally Posted by hfly (Post 36686479)

Takes the same amount of time, in fact since doing away with page add ons, their stock of bigger passports has increased. I wonder how much extra money they have made out of this, I used to blow through each addition every 18 months on average, but add on pages cost nothing. The only thing saving me from having to renew every year or two are the move away by certain countries from stamping passports (UK, HK, the US itself for US citizens) Certain countries doing away with full page visas, and doing so in an E format, certain countries moving toward longer term visas (So 1 ten year China visa rather than 10+ over a ten year period, 10 year India visas etc), and second passports moving to 4 from 2 year durations. That being said even with bigger passports, I am still spending far more per decade than I was before.

Originally Posted by eng3 (Post 36686793)

I thought about the thicker book 5yrs ago but I thought I'd be ok and didnt want to have to carry around a thicker book. I only blew threw the pages because in the past 5yrs, my opportunities to visit asia have been few and far between so I visited Europe alot. The agents don't take any effort to try to fit more stamps on the existing pages first. Schengen keeps saying they are getting rid of stamps but it keeps getting delayed. Ofcourse now, it's become far more difficult to find upgrades going to europe so I've been visiting asia more.

Originally Posted by Xyzzy (Post 36686831)

I find that judicious use of a paperclip to direct an immigration where to stamp helps greatly. I just clip over all the blank pages in the back except one. Some don't like that and remove the paperclip to have a look. But they almost always see what I'm trying to do and find a place to stamp without picking the middle of some rand:Dm page.

Originally Posted by eng3 (Post 36687610)

Good idea. I saw a random "Travel blog" that suggested placing postit notes over all the spots except where you want them to stamp. That sounds like someone who has never traveled.

However, regardless, I think I'll still get the thicker book. If the paperclip trick doesnt work, I dont want to have to renew so early again

Originally Posted by Xyzzy (Post 36687896)

I always get the thicker book. 10 years is a l:cool:ng time and I know I'll fill up the smaller one.

Originally Posted by Infinite1K (Post 36688217)

With more and more countries going with e-gates for passport control and/or e-Visas if a visa is needed, it will be increasingly more difficult to get the pages stamped.

Originally Posted by eng3 (Post 36688342)

Many asian countries still stamp.
Just goto europe (schengen) and you'll get a stamp. Even after going through the e-gate, they still stamp it. Then when you leave again. I know with the new system you don't need one but that system's been delayed many times. Not quite as bad as real id. Sometimes on a single trip I may enter and exit schengen more than once and lose a whole page. If you take the train or bus across, I notice the guards take care to stamp and everyone has 8-10 stamps on a page. I guess the people that ride some of those cross frequently. But going through the airport, it's mostly 4. Once you're down to 1-2 pages, then they might start to care but it’s too late.

Originally Posted by guflyer (Post 36703538)

Does anyone know if there is a way to get a second US passport without sending in one's current US passport (this would help me as I am filling up blank pages that are set for stamps)? Can one get an appointment for this? Or is there a way to do this by sending in one's passport card and other identification, or is the only way to do this being without a passport for a couple of weeks?

Originally Posted by DualityOfNam (Post 36723855)

Timeline for renewal, routine service:

11/15/2024: Application mailed via USPS 2-day service
11/18/2024: Package received in Irving, TX, P.O. box - status online "Not Available"
11/19/2024: Status online "In Progress" - locator prefix 43 (New Orleans)
11/20/2024: Check cashed
11/21/2024: Received email notification of "In Progress" status
12/05/2024: USPS notification (with tracking number) of package shipped from "PASSPORT SERVICES/DOS HOT SPRINGS"
12/07/2024: New passport delivered to mailbox. Sender address is New Orleans. Passport issue date is 12/04/2024.
12/08/2024: Online status still "In Progress" (no further emails received from DOS)

Considering the Thanksgiving holiday break, this is an impressive processing time. Expecting the passport card and old passport in the coming days. Will update those timelines then.

Good luck to all.

Originally Posted by DualityOfNam (Post 36727045)

That's a wrap.

12/09/2024: Old passport book received. Sender address is Sterling, VA (though titled New Orleans Passport Center)
12/09/2024: New passport card received. Sender address is New Orleans, LA
12/09/2024: Online status still "In Progress" (no further emails received from DOS)

Great service!