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News and Events => Opinions & Editorials => Topic started by: Butterfly on July 04, 2010, 05:25:47 PM

Title: U.S. passport fees increase
Post by: Butterfly on July 04, 2010, 05:25:47 PM
U.S. passport fees increase
Questioning Transphobia
Written by Helen G
04 July, 2010


http://questioningtransphobia.wordpress.com/2010/07/04/u-s-passport-fees-increase/ (http://questioningtransphobia.wordpress.com/2010/07/04/u-s-passport-fees-increase/)


There's always a catch, isn't there? After last month's announcement by the State Department that trans people will no longer be required to have undergone surgery in order to change gender on passports comes a further announcement that passport fees are set to rise on July 13.

Via the Seattle Times and others (the State Department website's link won't open for me, for some reason):

    US passport - If you need a U.S. passport, get one soon before fees increase steeply in mid-July.
Title: Re: U.S. passport fees increase
Post by: Umbrella on July 04, 2010, 11:38:56 PM
Ugh that's especially a pain for those of us living near the border. >.< You can't cross over into Canada without a passport anymore, or at least not where I live...bleh.
Title: Re: U.S. passport fees increase
Post by: LynnER on July 04, 2010, 11:44:48 PM
I'm on the mexican border and its the same deal... *shrugs*
Title: Re: U.S. passport fees increase
Post by: Christo on July 04, 2010, 11:48:11 PM
u can get a passport card instead.  its cheaper but not valid for international travel by air.  :) :) :)


Title: Re: U.S. passport fees increase
Post by: Umbrella on July 04, 2010, 11:50:24 PM
Quote from: Chris on July 04, 2010, 11:48:11 PM
u can get a passport card instead.  its cheaper but not valid for international travel by air.  :) :) :)

Huh, well I should do that! :) I live like right ON the border, practically, so that'd be really useful. I probably should just get a passport at some point though...
Title: Re: U.S. passport fees increase
Post by: Arch on July 05, 2010, 12:01:05 AM
I delayed renewing my passport because of the announcement about new trans regulations. Then, when I called for an appointment, the earliest opening was a month away. So I'll miss the deadline by a week.

They've been kicking around this idea for a few months now...nice that they gave us so much notice when they finally rammed the increase through.
Title: Re: U.S. passport fees increase
Post by: Janet_Girl on July 05, 2010, 12:09:12 AM
Personally with the new rules I don't mind paying the higher price.  I knew it would go up by the time I was ready to leave for SRS.  Go figure.
Title: Re: U.S. passport fees increase
Post by: Michelle. on July 05, 2010, 03:56:18 AM
But Obama said my "taxes wont increase one dime."
Title: Re: U.S. passport fees increase
Post by: Cindy on July 05, 2010, 04:44:49 AM
Ah its not a tax it's a fee :laugh:

What does a US passport cost. I got an Aussie one in my male mode and it was about $250.

Cindy
Title: Re: U.S. passport fees increase
Post by: Michelle. on July 06, 2010, 12:57:38 PM
Ha Ha...

I think the new rate for a first passport is upto $130. A renewal about $110.

Considering that the exchange rate is about even now...I'll stick with the ever increasing US "fees."

Title: Re: U.S. passport fees increase
Post by: Arch on July 06, 2010, 01:26:40 PM
Interesting. I thought that renewals used to tack on the acceptance fee ($25), but now they apparently don't? Or was I just mixed up about the old fee schedule?
Title: Re: U.S. passport fees increase
Post by: Debra on July 06, 2010, 03:32:42 PM
Ugh I'm still waiting on my new BC with the correct name on it =/