How Far in advance for pass ports?

[Pumpkin_va]

i dont know if i dug deep enough in the old threads to find this so ahead of time if there is one im sorry :) This is our first cruise how far in advance before your cruise should you be getting your passport? i was at AAA the other day i noticed the cashier ask this man do you want date to be closer to your travel date? is that like pre stamped ? ( ok yes im green at this and it shows lol ):D :D :D

[Senoj84]

I would say the earlier the better so that will be one less thing you have to worry about.

[NYCFOD]

I believe the turn around time is around three weeks, but during peak times it will lengthen. I doubt that a few months in ten years time will make much difference to you. Earlier is better, you may even decide to take a quick weekend jaunt to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean where you will need your passport.

[wrp96]

If you know you're going to get a passport, there is no need to wait. Passport processing times are fairly short right now but no one can say when or if they will back up again. No matter what, the longer you give yourself to get your passport the better, that way if something comes up in the processing you have time to get it fixed (examples include incorrect or missing documents, problems with the photos, your paperwork gets lost, etc).

[barbarah33]

I would get it now - why wait? They are good for 10 years so it's not like waiting a few months is going to make much of a difference.

 

I have two friends that have just done theirs and the turn around time was less than a week for both so obviously they have no back-up at all. Usually as the end of the year gets closer they seem to get busier and take longer. And, as the other poster pointed out; why wait and leave something else to worry about?

[DonnaK]

We applied for passports on June 7. We received one on the 16th and the other 3 on the 18th. Super fast turn-around time.

[poochierebelbear]

I'd agree with others and say the earlier the better. I was reading on here where this one person was waiting and it was 2 months and they were getting ready to go on the cruise the following week. I'm cruising in December but I'm going to apply for my passport August.

[Pumpkin_va]

our cruise is May 09 seems i got a little time then thanks :D

[cruiselover57]

i dont know if i dug deep enough in the old threads to find this so ahead of time if there is one im sorry :) This is our first cruise how far in advance before your cruise should you be getting your passport? i was at AAA the other day i noticed the cashier ask this man do you want date to be closer to your travel date? is that like pre stamped ? ( ok yes im green at this and it shows lol ):D :D :D

 

The sooner the better! I'm in CA and because it's summer, passports can often take 8-10 weeks. I got mine in 10/06 and it took 4 weeks. Despite the poor economy (gas prices, airline prices, etc.), there are still a lot of people traveling out of the country so better to get it ASAP and have peace of mind! :)

 

Laurie

[Web]

"][/font[/color]] Go ahead & apply now, it's not like running to Wal- Mart to pick up a tube of toothpaste. Somethime you have to make an appointment for them to accept your documents, that can add a week or more. Also you can go ahead and get your photos taken care of.

I would advise you to go ahead and get it now.

 

* and Easy Sailing, I would not wait until August, what if you run into a problem, then get jerked around trying to set up your appointment? I felt so relieved when we got ours back. I took about two weeks to get them back - and 4 envelopes. .

[poochierebelbear]

"][/font[/color]] Go ahead & apply now, it's not like running to Wal- Mart to pick up a tube of toothpaste. Somethime you have to make an appointment for them to accept your documents, that can add a week or more. Also you can go ahead and get your photos taken care of.

I would advise you to go ahead and get it now.

 

* and Easy Sailing, I would not wait until August, what if you run into a problem, then get jerked around trying to set up your appointment? I felt so relieved when we got ours back. I took about two weeks to get them back - and 4 envelopes. .

 

"what if you run into a problem, then get jerked around trying to set up your appointment?" I'll send a bomb threat! LOL Oooo I am so kidding about that. You're right, so I'll get started on it right away! :cool:

[KLLund]

I have to laugh .. I am taking my grown children and spouses on a cruise in October .. I told them but I will not make a final payment on your cruise UNTIL you get me a passport number .. You know it took them almost no time !!! Then I thought hmmmmm .. wonder when mine expires .. and the whew .. not until 2010 but I will apply for the renewal next fall.

[imawanderlust]

We went to our local post office on a Saturday morning. By the following Friday, we had our passports in the mail. It was quick, easy, and relatively painless.

 

Caveats:

• call ahead and make an appointment. ask about how much it will be and if you can buy money orders at the post office.
  
• make sure your passport photos are good quality. Otherwise you may have to redo them. The passport specialist at the post office took pity on us and did ours gratis.
  
• make sure you have all your documents.
  
• our "specialist" said that the fed won't take certain travelers checks. we had to return the ones we just purchased at a local grocery store, and repurchase them at the P.O.