New Price Tag for US Passport Holders for 2016 – And No New Added Pages Either Posted on January 7, 2016 by Timothy Walker • 0 Comments New Price Tag for US Passport Holders for 2016 – And No New Added Pages Either – Philippines Lifestyle - Philippines Lifestyle WASHINGTON D.C. – Beginning January 1st, US travelers will no longer be able to request extra pages in their passports – instead they will have to renew their entire passport…… bummer. In years past, US travelers who used up all their pages traversing the world use to be able to add pages, a total of 24-pages in all in two sets (up to 48 pages in all). Those pages came at a cost of $82, though years ago the added pages were free. Now, starting in 2016 every holder of an American passport who runs out of pages will have to purchase an entirely new passport at the cost of $110. So, those who purchase a new passport, or hold a passport that isn’t even close to expiring and run out of pages, you are in for a shock when you have to request for a replacement passport. The State Department issued a statement on the new rules saying they are put in place “to enhance the security of the passport and to abide by international passport standards.” One has to wonder what ‘intentional standards’ they are speaking of when no other known country is using the same system to abide by the so called new rules. For those who travel much heavier than most, don’t forget that a larger 52-page passport is available at no extra charge when you apply or renew an expired passport in 2016. The standard 28-page passport is the norm, so be sure to check out the new 52-page model, it will be well worth your time. Time frames for renewing or applying for a new passport are about the same for 2016-2017. Typically a renewal takes about four to six weeks – the State Department noted that time frames can vary depending on the time of year. For those in a pinch and need a passport immediately – you can apply for a passport and receive it within just a day or two, but it will cost you dearly .
I got mine for free. :D Timed the passport renewal with a deployment to Afghanistan just right and convinced the company to dish out the extra money for the passport with extra pages.....and then got them to pay someone to hand carry the application in to the State Department in DC for a 24 hour turnaround. I think they are requiring this because they put some extra security features in the new passports. And I could have swore my first passport back in 2004 was around $150-160 USD. $110 shouldn't be a surprise for anyone.....spend a bit more and get the passport with extra pages. I'd think most people who fill up a passport with extra pages in 10 years is doing quite a bit of traveling and the price shouldn't be much of problem for them.
Guess I was just lucky. I renewed back in December 2014 and requested the 52 page passport and got it for same price as a 28 page passport. So unless I do an exorbitant amount of travel I don't have to worry about a replacement until about June of 2024
The 28 page and 52 page are both the same price, the only question is do they have the 52 page in stock at the location you apply and request it at.
Then I guess I was in luck. They had it! I was also able to do everything by mail/email and didn't even have to go to Manila to pay for it as they allow a designated proxy to do that for you. Life is good!
What they left out is the 28 page passports are being phased out and all will have 52 pages from now on. with that change it will benefit most while only a very tiny few of super travelers will be inconveinenced a bit.
