Comments

  • Apparently it still takes 8 weeks, I thought it might be quicker. We have to renew next year and it’s going to be tricky between trips. We have to expedite.

  • I'll have to renew just after my next trip. Then, will have about 4 months until the following trip, so shouldn't be a problem. The 6 month leeway required for most travel is so stupid./ They should issue the passports for 10 years 6 months!

  • Cathy, good to know it’s that fast. I don’t like being without my passport!

  • This was recently written on the forum in July”. Yes, alot of empty pages!

    -New rules at South Africa's airports require travelers that are transiting through or visiting South Africa, to have FOUR CONSECUTIVE blank visa pages in your passport which lie side-by side when the passport is open (i.e. a left and a right-hand page). These must be pages marked "visa" at the top.*
    -Guests will need two additional blank visa pages in their passport for their arrival into Zambia or transit through Zimbabwe. (These two additional pages need not be consecutive with the blank four-page spread noted above that is required for entry into South Africa.)__

  • edited September 21

    Recommendation: on US Passport renewal application: OPTION either - (at the same cost $130) --- [ ] Regular book (Standard) or
    [ ] Large book (Non-Standard) "The large book is for frequent international travelers who need more visa pages"
    I have the Large book -- it has 50 pages. Get the large book for numerous visa stamps.
    Historically, years ago I had a regular / standard passport book that was running out of room; and there was an option to have additional pages sewn in by the Passport Agency for free; then there was a cost to do this; adding additional pages does not exist anymore, and if you run out of room / empty pages -- a new passport book renewal is necessary.
    Addendum: Large Passport Book -- advocacy -- was also mentioned in discussion; General: Rush My Passport,
    My timeline: renewed passport (without special handling / no expedite) 9 weeks -- June to Aug 2023.

  • I read this past week that later this year Schengen countries will no longer be stamping passports upon entry..Apparently they will be utilizing biometrics instead of current procedure. Mixed feelings in liking the stamps but we have run out of pages before expiration in the past.

  • Just came back from South Africa. All we got on entry were 2 stamps that were the size of a US quarter on one page, then one stamp (same size) upon leaving. On our way back from Zimbabwe, we changed planes in Jo'burg and got a transit stamp (same size), all were on one page.

  • edited September 21

    The Passport book system is now a combination of a legacy paper bookeepimg with visa stamps and a new electronic record. Many countries scan your electronic identification from your passport and facial take a photo when you go enter a different country. What is the future -- eye iris scans and fingerprints. Is our personal identifiable information (PII) safe? -- I am concerned because of too many data breaches. Now, Global Entry upon re-entering the USA uses facial recognition - this is techology working at its best.

  • I really like the facial recognition for Global Entry. It's really quick - you don't even have to show your passport.

  • I have gotten on International flights without showing my ticket nor my passport … just my face. I think that was in Amsterdam. On this trip the TSA system had dropped my passport, so I had no TSA Pre check. They tossed me into the regular cue even though I had documentation showing that I should have had pre-check. I think AA got it straightened out, but I won’t know until I try to get home.

  • Unless TSA precheck is on the boarding pass, they won't honor it, even if you show your Global Entry, etc. card.

  • Yes. That happened to me

  • It’s happened to me and I returned to check-in, showed them my Global Entry, and got a new boarding pass with TSA precheck printed on it. This was at Tucson airport, where the distances and lines aren’t as long as at some airports.

  • edited September 22

    Review before trip -- in each different airline electronic profile --- Global Entry: Known Traveler Number -- KTN or Pass ID #; Passport #, frequent flyer # and contact information. I carry my Global Entry card and use it at security -- as it is Federal ID; rather than my State issued Driver's license with a STAR on it (another valid option). My boarding passes are issued without an agent, prior to arriving at airport with early checkin, and have TSA approved printed on it. Obviously -- there are glitches in the system but try to avoid.

  • Even if you do all that, when you get to check in, the agent can miss putting it on. They often say it’s not on your profile when you know it is because you checked.

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