U.S. gouging Americans on passport fees, senators say

[Fandango 1,439]

Expediting a passport costs more....well duh!

...and I'd hardly call $14.80 'gouging'

If you're quibbling over that, nix the int'l travel

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I always thought $97 for a passport valid for 10 years to be quite the good value for the money paid.

Me too. $9.70 a year. That's 2 Starbucks coffees a year to cut back on.

[trailmix 77]

LOL...I think most posters in this thread missed the point. According to the GAO, there is a large discrepency between the fee charged for a passport and the actual cost. We could certainly talk about other costs that seem unfair but in this case it is apples and oranges.

A government charging more than they actually 'need' for a service AND Dog using the N word - who would have thought.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Unfortunately, US is not only such country. Canada is even worse--as Canadians have to actually send their passports to Ottawa or Gatineau for replacement, then get shafted for a fee about the same as US passport base-fee (Yank passport at least has twice the validity of Canuck counterpart--so shuddup already)!

[Marilyn. 340]

I always thought $97 for a passport valid for 10 years to be quite the good value for the money paid.

A Canadian passport is $87 and is only good for 5 years (which is totally ridiculous).

and you have to jump through more hoops etc like you have to get guarantors etc...

[Amby 490]

I think $97 for 10yrs is good but I am against paying lots to just change the name on my passport and it only being good for the time left in the 10yrs. That makes me not happy!

[russ 1]

I don't see how it can be 'gouging' when the price didn't go up just before the new requirements for travel to Canada, which is when 'Gouging' just doesn't mean 'it costs a lot' but more like 'excessive increase in price due to a captive market.' In 2004, it wasn't a big deal to most Americans since most Americans don't travel places they need a passport.

No, but the turn around time is sufficiently longer that you must pay for expedited service. If you travel internationally for work (like I have for much of my life), being without a passport for several months prevents you from working. Actually, my current employer requires me to hold a valid passport at all times.

Another option for a passport renewal is to do it an embassy overseas - they usually have a very quick turnaround, often same day. My last passport was issued in less than 24 hours (in Boston at the federal building)

[eric&gen 0]

i want a refund for the difference lol.

[JODO 2]

i want a refund for the difference lol.

Don't hold your breath

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I always thought $97 for a passport valid for 10 years to be quite the good value for the money paid.

$hit you guys get a bargain next to what my UK passport renewal cost me a month or two ago - $265 for that puppy...