Job Discussion Forums

[WYSIWYG]

Has anyone had their passport renewed while overseas? Any problems?

I'll be headed to China soon, but my passport will expire in March of '06. Should I just get it renewed now and save the hassle?

[ls650]

I suppose it depends entirely on how efficient the issuing Embassy is.
I renewed my passport here in Mexico and the process is both lengthy and expensive.

EDIT: My passport is Canadian. YMMV.

My suggestion would be to renew it before you leave your home country.

[Cardinal Synn]

Yeah, what IS650 says makes sense. You usually need at least 12 months left on your passport in order to get a work visa, so you probably need to renew it before you go anyway.
Good luck on your travels

[tedkarma]

No more cost or hassle than at home. I've done it in Korea and in Saudi Arabia. Go to the embassy - tell them why and no problem. If you plan on traveling a lot - tell them you want the 50 page passport.

[Brooks]

my was done recently at the American embassy in Tokyo.
It took less than two weeks. It is for 10 years and has 48 pages.

A few years ago I had 24 pages added to my passport and I got my passport back in the mail.

The only thing I didn`t like was that now it costs $67.00 to renew.
If I had handed it in person the cost would have been higher.
It was about $20 cheaper to mail it.

I read that in the future that US passports will be changed and that the changes will start later this year. Not sure how, maybe some kind of chip will be added.

so, it turned out ok, but I found renewing my driver`s license in Japan a pain, but that`s another story.

[WYSIWYG]

I've decided to just get it done here in the US. Found some info regarding the "new" passports.

Link: http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppi/news/news_2131.html


Effective March 8, 2005, a new passport security surcharge of $12 will be collected from all passport applicants. The security surcharge was authorized by the FY 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Act (Public Law 108-447). The final schedule of fees was published in the Federal Register on February 2, 2005.

For first time applicants, this surcharge will be added to the regular passport fees of $55 (age 16 and older) and $40 (under age 16) in addition to the $30 execution fee, making total cost for routine service $97 for a ten-year passport for those age 16 and older and $82 for a 5-year passport for those under age 16.

For applicants renewing their passports, the surcharge will be added to the regular passport fee of $55 making total cost for routine service $67 .

These fees and the surcharge are non-refundable. If expedited service is requested, there is an additional charge of $60 per application. The purchase of two-way overnight delivery remains optional.

The security surcharge will fund multiple security enhancements in the U.S. passport and issuance process. The surcharge will also cover the cost of upgrading passport delivery from first class mail to Priority Mail.

Also on March 8, 2005, newly redesigned and updated forms DS-11, Application for Passport, and DS-82, Application for Passport by Mail, will be available online at travel.state.gov. The new forms will reflect the new security surcharge of $12.

[expatben]

Personally I would get it done at home. Living in the UK and getting my Canadian passport renewed is a stressful experience.

[moonraven]

Don't know which Mexico ls650 renewed his/her passport in. This was the process I followed:

I called the US embassy in Mexico City, asked for their hours and what I needed to take with me. They told me it takes a few hours for the new one to be ready and told me how much it cost.

Arrived the next day (my home base is 2 hours from the embassy), and they took my photo, collected the money from me and told me to come back in 5 days. I told them that when I called the person said the process took a few hours, and that I would come by the following morning to pick up the passport.

I went back the next morning, picked up the passport and went home. It was no big deal.

It cost the same for a passport in the embassy as in the US.

[ls650]

The same Mexico as you, Moonraven, but the process for a Canadian passport is significantly different than for an American passport.

NOTE: I've made an edit to my original post to reflect this difference.

For a Canadian passport, you�re required to get the signature of a �guarantor� on your passport application. (British passports apparently also require this, but not American ones. I don�t know about other countries.) This guarantor person must be a member of some kind of certified profession: it has to be someone such as a doctor, lawyer, notary public, etc. The guarantor certifies that he/she has known you for at least two years, and confirms that the applicant is whom he claims to be. Oh, and the guarantor has to be living in your area.

Well, this is a problem if you apply for a new passport in a country that you�ve only lived in for six months. If you don�t have a guarantor, you have to complete an additional three-page form called a �Declaration in Lieu of a Guarantor�. This document requires a certification from a notary public, a lawyer, or a judge. You must also have the notary certify one of your passport photos, and must notarize a copy of your Mexican work visa. This took four separate visits to a local notary public for me to accomplish. What was the cost? About 700 pesos ($70).

The price of the actual passport is another 900 pesos, and the Embassy will only take a certified cheque. I had to stand in line for half an hour at the local bank to get one � and then the bank gouged me an additional 200 pesos for the service fee!

Finally, I took my packet of forms, photos, certified cheque, and my old passport down to the local DHL courier to send off to the Embassy in Mexico City. The shipping charge was another 150 pesos.

The total cost was over 2000 pesos, more than twice what I would pay back in Canada to get a passport. And then there�s also the running around and general busywork to get all the various papers in order. The moral of the story is that you should make sure your passport has plenty of time to spare when you move abroad.

I would strongly recommend you renew your passport at home.

[WYSIWYG]

Ahhh...the joys of rushed service. $67 for the passport renewal...and an additional $60 for expedited service. Takes the same 5 minutes of processing either way lol.

One bonus however. I get the old one back that can serve as ID, while my new one can be safely tucked away.

[struelle]

Yeah, ls is right. I have a similar story of renewing my Canadian passport in Shanghai, although I didn't have to notarize any papers. The process was complex and costly, and it ended up messing up my visa situation. As well, the passport is not machine readable.

This isn't really a problem, but US border guards tend to notice where the passport is issued and ask me all kinds of silly questions like whether I can speak Chinese.

Steve

[Ben Round de Bloc]

Sorry that you guys from some countries have such a complicated time getting passports renewed in Mexico. I'm sure it can be frustrating. Moonraven's experience was about the same as mine, although I made 3 trips to the local US embassy. It's about 15 minutes from my house using a city bus. First, I went there to ask them what all I needed. Second, I took them what I needed. Third, I picked up my new passport. The whole process took less than a week, and I spent less than 10 minutes inside the embassy each time. Cost the same here as it would have back home but with lots less time and hassle.

[WYSIWYG]

Sent my app May 2nd...and got the passport back in the mail today. Eeesh...even passports have gone el cheapo. Flimsy things now.

It's good to have it valid until 2015 though

[spidey]

Sorry. But, I don't understand why getting your passport renewed abroad has to be such a stressfull thing. As long as you have all the criteria why should it be difficult? It is a very standard proceedure. I renewed my passport here in Japan with no problems at all. It was actually easier than when I initially applied for my original passport at home. You can actually download the necessary documents from an official website. They also provide a "Guarantor" service if you don't have someone that you have known long enough to qualify.
Plus, I was able to renew my Work Visa eventhough my passport was going to expire a little less than six months later. Again...very easy. I even got 3 years.

BTW...I'm Canadian


S