Passport To Wedding Season
Monday, July 26th, 2010I am in the process of renewing my passport. With an 85 year old grandma living in Canada I cannot permit mine to expire. But by renewing now I am subsequently saving myself the headache and possible $60 rush fee later when I will need a passport to attend my friends’ destination wedding in Australia. Now I’m set to jet-set; I just need to check with my boyfriend and make sure he too is ready to board the plane.
In case you are not aware the U.S. Passport Office just increased the fees associated with applying for, or renewing your current passport. My renewal cost a total of $128: $110 to the passport office, $15 to Kinko’s for two color passport photos, and $3 to the post office for shipping. Fortunately for me I could renew by mail, but know that first-time applicants must apply in person.
If a couple has invited you to a destination wedding and you are planning to attend, make sure your paperwork is in order as early as possible. I would recommend that the week you get the save the date you check if see if your passport needs renewing; same goes for setting up an appointment for your first passport as this is something you do not want to save until the last minute. My hope is that when couples plan destination weddings they leave their guests ample time to have their papers all cleared. Sure you can rush the application, but this blog is a how to survive wedding season, not a how to frivolously throw cash out the window.
Also, a note to new brides going abroad for honeymoon. If you are planning to change your name but have not legally done so, do not put your new name-to-be on your plane tickets. If your legal name does not show up in the system there is a good chance that the airline might not allow you to board. Is this the way to start your honeymoon? If you are changing your name you should check out the super easy to use MissNowMrs Online Name Change Service.
For more information on passport applications, requirements and fees, visit the U.S. State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html.
