Updated 07/12/2010 09:27 PM
Passport Prices Set to Increase
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You may have noticed longer than usual lines at the post office in the past two weeks. People have been trying to take care of their passports before a price hike that goes into effect Tuesday.
The paperwork is filed, the pictures are taken, and in four to six weeks the Coles will have their passports.
"Passport renewal before the fees go up," said Steve Cole. "We really don't have any trip plans or anything but figured now is the time to do it."
"We had been thinking about it for a couple of months since our passports expired, but I read in the newspaper yesterday that tomorrow the fees were going to change," said Anamaria Cole.
So they acted.
"My mom had to fill out sheets and give them all of our birth certificates," said Soledad Cole, 10.
They ended up saving quite a bit.
"I think it's around $120 for four of us," said Steve.
The Coles aren't the only ones. Post offices nationwide have been extremely busy in the past two weeks.
"It was about 5,400 passport applications that we've processed in the past two weeks, and 3,300 pictures," said George Niessing, retail manager for the United States Postal Service's Western New York District. "We've been pretty busy."
The reason for so much foot traffic at post offices over the past few weeks is the relatively short notice. The State Department is responsible for the price increase and only gave two weeks.
"They published the notice two weeks ago on June 28," said Niessing.
The average increase is 35 percent, money that goes directly to the State Department.
"They have to cover their costs for all of the consulates around the world," said Niessing.
In Western New York especially, having a passport is more important than ever.
"It was just frustrating not even being able to go to Canada because the license doesn't cut it anymore," said Anamaria.
The question now: What will the Coles do with the more than $100 savings?
"I was thinking Toronto," said Anamaria. "But I don't know, South America maybe?"
"I don't really speak French, but my brother took it," said Soledad. "So I wanted to go there to see the Eiffel Tower."
A whole world at their disposal, in four to six weeks.
For adults, a passport book used to cost $100, but now costs $135.
An adult passport card, which can be used for land travel, used to cost $45. It now costs $55.
It doesn't cost quite as much to renew a passport, but there is a price increase there as well. An adult renewal used to cost $75. It now costs $110 to renew a passport.
The cost for kids under the age of 16 is also going up. The passport book used to cost $85. It's now $105.
A child's passport card used to run $35. With the price increase, it's now $40.
Many people are unhappy with the passport price hike, including Monroe County Clerk Cheryl Dinolfo, who joined with other Western New York leaders to lobby against the fee increase.
“It’s unfortunate that the federal government is making it more expensive for families and employers to travel abroad. In upstate New York, traveling back and forth to Canada is not a luxury. For many of our residents, it is a necessity to visit family and friends or to conduct business. That is why I joined with Congressman Lee and my colleagues throughout the region to lobby against the fee increases. However, despite our best efforts, the State Department chose to raise the cost of a passport.
It is important to note that all of the revenue from the fee increase goes to the federal government. My office does not receive one additional dollar due to the State Department’s decision.
This past weekend my office held a special Passport Saturday where we assisted nearly 300 residents in avoiding the fee increase. I will continue such efforts to fight on behalf of taxpayers against these unfair fee increases and do whatever I can to help our families and employers keep more of their hard-earned money.”