Many travelers are unaware the cost of an adult passport will go up by $35 to $135; fees for renewals, passport cards and other consulate services are also changing.
4Modified: July 9, 2010 at 5:12 am
Passport fees will increase Tuesday. But travelers aren’t rushing to application offices to avoid the steeper cost.
The U.S. Department of State announced the new fees June 28, but many remain unaware that obtaining or renewing the travel document will take a bigger bite out of their budget, travel agencies and the Oklahoma County Court Clerk’s office said.
APPLICATIONS CAN BE OBTAINED ONLINE AND PROCESSED LOCALLY
An adult passport is increasing by $35 — to $135. Passports for minors under age 16 will cost $105, up from $85. The cost to renew an adult passport will soon be $110 — a $35 increase.
Fees for other consular services, such as obtaining an immigrant visa, will change as well. Some of the sharpest increases include adding pages to a passport, which is currently free but will cost $82 as of Tuesday, and obtaining an employment-based immigrant visa — which more than doubles to $720 from $355.
There’s even a new fee for someone who wishes to formally renounce their U.S. citizenship: $450. It’s free for now.
The State Department says the revised fees cover actual operating costs for the 301 overseas consular posts, 23 domestic passport agencies and other centers that provide these services.
The adjusted fees are a result of a study conducted in June 2009 to determine the true cost of providing consular services.
Hedges said more travelers are choosing to carry a passport, even on a cruise, which doesn’t necessarily require them.
“It’s really still a bargain — even at $135,” she said.