Online Passport renewal

[macphanatic]

I was helping a friend renew their passport. She's eligible for online renewal per the website. However, if you only have a passport, you can only get a passport. It doesn't look like you can apply for a passport card. However, the paper form renewal allows you to add the passport card by checking a box and paying the additional fee. You don't appear to be able to check the renew passport book and card box if you don't have a card as you need to put in the card number. Unbelievable.

[Speedy]

Yes, quite odd. Because it can glitch we go to our local deputy registrar who handles passports and everything goes smoothly.

[mrbigstuff]

I think the "RealID" fulfills the same purpose, no? That's through your state licensing division of course.

[Ombligo]

mrbigstuff wrote:
I think the "RealID" fulfills the same purpose, no? That's through your state licensing division of course.

RealID proves you are who you say you are, but it does not prove citizenship. You can use a RealID for domestic air travel, but not for crossing the border

[pqrst]

It is one of those options (passport card) that I think you need to get a face to face confirmation that you can get the card. So I’m not recommending any online application at least for the card. You should around to see if your local govt has any kind of passport office. The local registrar option in my town is only made available a few times a year. Otherwise the post office or passport office are always available.

[special]

macphanatic wrote:
I was helping a friend renew their passport. She's eligible for online renewal per the website. However, if you only have a passport, you can only get a passport. It doesn't look like you can apply for a passport card. However, the paper form renewal allows you to add the passport card by checking a box and paying the additional fee. You don't appear to be able to check the renew passport book and card box if you don't have a card as you need to put in the card number. Unbelievable.

I had both passport book and passport card in 2014 and when I renewed ONLINE in 2024, I was able to get both. It would be really strange if they let you get the book but not the card when you apply only. Sure, it's $30 more.

[Wags]

How long does it take? I’m 2 or 3 weeks into it, not hearing anything.

[special]

Wags wrote:
How long does it take? I’m 2 or 3 weeks into it, not hearing anything.

It took 10-14 days with normal processing last year in September or October.

however, now the Real ID is coming up and it's hard to get RealID appointment at my state's DMV. My guess some people get passports instead. Also Summer travel is coming up, although I doubt people travel as much as they did in 23 and 24 with all this bullshit and stock market roller coaster.

[Speedy]

I have the RealID and enhanced drivers license which is good for land crossings. Last time we drove into Mexico we stopped at the Mexican port and they told us that this type of license allows me to enter Mexico as long as I stay in the 30km exclusion zone. (It is very quaint crossing into Mexico because checks at the crossing are rare; we normally roll right through. The return north takes about an hour and a half.)

[Wags]

special wrote:
[quote=Wags]
How long does it take? I’m 2 or 3 weeks into it, not hearing anything.

It took 10-14 days with normal processing last year in September or October.

however, now the Real ID is coming up and it's hard to get RealID appointment at my state's DMV. My guess some people get passports instead. Also Summer travel is coming up, although I doubt people travel as much as they did in 23 and 24 with all this bullshit and stock market roller coaster.
I made a request to get an appointment for a real id from the dmv. Took about a week before they called me and I was told I needed my birth certificate. I can’t remember ever seeing it. That makes it difficult.