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heart rn
Citizen
Username: Heart_rn
Post Number: 168
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 9:41 am: | 
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Anyone know how to get a passport faster than 6 weeks? Also, anyone know anything about travel/safety to Guatamala? My daughter, 20 yrs old, wants to ge visit a friend doing missionary work there. Is is safe? Thanks for any info |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1316
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 9:46 am: |
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I don't have any experience with Guatamala, but this is from the US Government Website
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1129.html |
doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 1087
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 9:48 am: |
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passports can be expedited by mail, but the fastest is to set an appointment (details on passport site) to go in person - must be a set number of days before your flight & you must have proof that you already booked flight, I belive. We did our this way in the city - costs a bit more
I was planning a trip there at one point (about 11 years ago) & there was a state dept. warning for Guatamala, so we made other plans, but I'm sure it changes all the time...perhaps the organization through which the friend is posted could offer insight? |
doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 1088
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 10:05 am: |
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but no official travel warning
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html |
bets
Supporter
Username: Bets
Post Number: 22795
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 11:15 am: |
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Morristown was very quick, something like 3-4 weeks. |
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 1035
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 11:45 am: |
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I just applied for three of them on Friday.
For a fee - the US State Department will expedite the application for you. Read all about it on the US passport web site. |
millie
Citizen
Username: Millie
Post Number: 150
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 11:47 am: |
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The Maplewood Post Office is authorized to do the "swearing in", and you can ask to have the application expedited. I opted for expedited (2 week service) for an additional $60.00. They have forms at the P.O., or you can download. They also take the passport photos there. |
doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 1089
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 3:28 pm: |
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oh - I forgot to say that the in-person thing I did in the city was same day issuance of passport (but we were renewing expired passports - not sure if that matters) |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1142
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 11:20 pm: |
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My partner & I applied at the Main Post Office at Penn Station, and got our in about 4 weeks.
(We got them in the mail last week)
It takes longer in the summer months.
They were $67 for the Passport and $30 fee payable to the Post Office. They had to be paid separately. |
John Caffrey
Citizen
Username: Jerseyjack
Post Number: 69
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 11:28 pm: |
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Several years ago, my employer needed a quick passport and went to an office in Rockefeller Center and got one in two weeks. He had to pay extra for the service but it worked.
Contact the state department for info. about if there are dangerous conditions in any country. |
Colleen
Citizen
Username: Cbroderick
Post Number: 171
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 7:47 am: |
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While I don't know much about the safety in Guatemala today, I spent six months there 15 years ago during a very tough time in their history. We did have some problems...our bus was stoppped and robbed and we were hassled a bit in Santiago Atitlan. Fortunately, no one was hurt. I still had a wonderful time, and I wouldn't change a thing. It's a beautiful country and most of the people were wonderful! She definitely has to be smart and careful. |
LazyDog
Citizen
Username: Lazydog
Post Number: 166
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 5:52 pm: |
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Lasy yr a friend of mine drove to Philly to the passport office there and recieved passport in less than a week. They live in NYC and were told by local Gov NY couldn't do it for at least 8 weeks ! |
slipknot (slippy)
Citizen
Username: Zotts
Post Number: 262
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 6:35 pm: |
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I mailed my renewal at the beginning of the month and just got it back on Tuesday, so it was pretty quick. |
Winniegirl
Citizen
Username: Winniegirl
Post Number: 19
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 9:38 pm: |
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I spent about 10 days in guatemala about 4 years ago for a friends wedding. We visited Guatemala city, antigua, lake atitlan and chichicastenago. All were great (especially chichi) and I never felt unsafe.
I just renewed my passport in Nov and it was returned to me in 5 business days (expedited). |
User58
Citizen
Username: User58
Post Number: 408
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 12:25 pm: |
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They say 4 -6 weeks but if you go tomorrow to the post office I think maplewood does it on Saturdays you should get it in a 2-3 weeks. But there is a service that does in faster but it costs $$$. |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 1372
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 25, 2006 - 3:12 pm: |
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You can definitely get fast service for a price. I got caught by the need for 6 months of remaining time on the passport for a short notice business trip.
By the time I paid both the US government's rush charge and the passport service (expeditor's) rush charge, the fee for 4-10 day service was close to $250.
Obviously you can do it for less if you go to one of the big city passport offices yourself, but the services do exist if you are in a pinch. (If you need this, drop a note and I'll fish out the name of the service my office uses)
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Winniegirl
Citizen
Username: Winniegirl
Post Number: 23
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, February 25, 2006 - 10:14 pm: |
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I was able to get a rush renewal by sending it to the passport office myself overnight and including a prepaid express return envelope. Of course, I also paid the express fee, but it was defintily cheaper than 250 (around 100total) and I got it in five days. If you send it expedited with a return envelope, they promise to process it in two business days. |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 1374
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 25, 2006 - 11:06 pm: |
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Thanks for the hint Winniegirl...I was in a rush, so did whatever my travel department suggested, and am glad to hear there is a better way! |
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