- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
Comments (5)
Print
Save/ShareMany of you expressed strong feelings about the State Department overcharging citizens for passports. Many travelers demanded refunds. Others thought that refunds were a wasteful idea. Still others thought the $97 fee is reasonable, given that a passport is valid for a decade.
ELSEWHERE ON THE BLOG About 55 readers expressed strong feelings about Erik Torkells' strong stance against the Cuba embargo.
Thanks to everyone who commented.
User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.
I agree the state as well as everyone else in big business is trying to get rich on fees from banks to government... and have you seen that birth certificates have risen about 1000% from $4.00-$10.00 to $70.-$100.00 to obtain one depending on you state?
Posted By Debbie on November 9, 2007, 1:29 PM
Passport and visa fees are almost as big a rip-off in the travel industry as airport taxes. Why should anyone ever have to pay for a tourist visa, do these countries not want tourist business?
Posted By Kerrie O'Mahony on November 9, 2007, 10:24 PM
We, paid $600+ FOR MY FAMILY OF 5 to get passports last winter to travel on a cruise to the eastern caribean for Spring Break (March). We didnt get them in time and I ended up driving to the sites of the birth certifcates,wasting my vacation days that I should have been packing, spending another ? how much more to have a certified birth certificate.
All in all, this was a huge waste of my time, cause of stress,(when i should have been on VACATION) and waste of my money. I figure the government owes me about $800 to cover my time, $500 in lost passport fees- (when we didnt really need the-last year...)Hassle charges of $50 for the makeup they confiscated as a bomb threat. $1350.00 out of my pocket, just to sail to a nearby Carribean Nation. That is the tax of being an American.
We are being ripped off for passports. Write your congressperson to complain, but in the mean-time let's just watch our way of life be destoyed @ $100/barrel Enough said?
Posted By lh on November 9, 2007, 11:00 PM
I paid $157 for my passport. Can I get a refund????
Posted By Carolyn on November 12, 2007, 3:05 PM
Hi, Carolyn,
There are no plans for the State Department to issue refunds.
Sorry to hear about your trouble.
Regards,
Sean
Blog editor
Posted By Blog Editor on November 12, 2007, 3:10 PM