bphman Posted December 23, 2016 #1 Share Posted December 23, 2016 FYI, we booked the Baltic cruise for July 2017 and would not have the often required 6 months left on our passports. I was reading that 2017 is going to be a busy year for passport services. I decided to renew early to avoid the rush and am happy to report that it took only two and a half weeks from the time I mailed them until I got them back. That was with regular handling and no special postal service. The DOS website stated 4 to 6 weeks so they are doing a good job. Definitely no need for expedited service. Saved a bunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron_L Posted December 23, 2016 #2 Share Posted December 23, 2016 My wife got hers in less than two weeks! We were shocked :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrieWay Posted December 23, 2016 #3 Share Posted December 23, 2016 We received ours fairly quick also, albeit two months ago. Could possibly change with exchange rates so low in Europe. There may be an increase in travel this summer and subsequently more passport requests. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easyboy Posted December 23, 2016 #4 Share Posted December 23, 2016 Right. Better to avoid the rush. Sent from my SGH-M919 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaSeaRetreat Posted December 24, 2016 #5 Share Posted December 24, 2016 I received mine yesterday after only 3 weeks. I didn't get my old one back yet. The literature said it might be mailed separately. Leaving in March for SA. I'm so glad to cross that off my list. Cynthia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lastdance Posted December 25, 2016 #6 Share Posted December 25, 2016 (edited) This is important for all of us! After our cruise in April, we also will need new passports...I just can't imagine what it would be like to be told...I am sorry, but you can't... Edited December 25, 2016 by Lastdance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beanb41 Posted December 26, 2016 #7 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Such a backward country the USA. Here in NZ we can renew on line and will have our passports in our hands within a max of 10days, normally within 3 working days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irish rover Posted December 26, 2016 #8 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Such a backward country the USA. Here in NZ we can renew on line and will have our passports in our hands within a max of 10days, normally within 3 working days New Zealand was happy to accept the help from USS SAMPSON in aid for the earthquake Wellington suffered in November. Also several US P3 Orion aircraft came in aid. The US NAVY were there and spent a lot of time in service of your country, no one accused them of "backwardness" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beanb41 Posted December 26, 2016 #9 Share Posted December 26, 2016 New Zealand was happy to accept the help from USS SAMPSON in aid for the earthquake Wellington suffered in November. Also several US P3 Orion aircraft came in aid. The US NAVY were there and spent a lot of time in service of your country, no one accused them of "backwardness" Hey Irish Rover cool your jets. My comments were directed at the US passport Office if you bothered to read my post. Had the OP been more precise in the title of the thread I probably wouldn't have bothered reading it in the first instance. It was the OP who generated concern and all I did was explain how up to date with technology our little country is . We were extremely grateful for the support of all the Nations who participated in our 75th Naval jubilee but diverted to Kaikoura to provide humanitarian aid after the earthquake. By the way I hope you had a Merry Christmas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancerOT Posted December 26, 2016 #10 Share Posted December 26, 2016 New Zealand was happy to accept the help from USS SAMPSON in aid for the earthquake Wellington suffered in November. Also several US P3 Orion aircraft came in aid. The US NAVY were there and spent a lot of time in service of your country, no one accused them of "backwardness" The ability and desire to help others in times of crisis and need are not the same as technology being backwards. There is no need to be rude. Comparing assistance during a traumatic time from a country and the same country's passport applications is like comparing apples to red meat - they are both food but that is where the similarities end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riclop Posted December 26, 2016 #11 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Good to here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bphman Posted December 26, 2016 Author #12 Share Posted December 26, 2016 I certainly didn't mean to fan the flames of war. I was just trying to state that the passport renewal process was not taking 4 to 6 weeks as stated on the DOS website. Perhaps I should have stated that 2017 is going to be one of those unique banner years where passport renewals will peak and delays can be expected so renew early. Bully for NZ to be able to handle passports for a population of 4.5 million in such a short timeframe. Maybe our screening processes are more thorough, maybe not. We do have around 314 million more people to handle. Just saying. This tit for tat is one of the reasons I hate posting here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChucktownSteve Posted December 26, 2016 #13 Share Posted December 26, 2016 (edited) Such a backward country the USA. Here in NZ we can renew on line and will have our passports in our hands within a max of 10days, normally within 3 working days Let's see: The United States' GDP is $17.9 trillion which is the highest GDP in the world. New Zealand's GDP is $174 billion which ranks 53rd in the world. There are 321M people living in the United States. This would make the United States the 3rd most populous country in the world. There are 4.55M people living in New Zealand. This would make New Zealand the 124th most populous country in the world. Which country is more backward? Can you compare the volume of passport applications? Edited December 26, 2016 by ChucktownSteve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bphman Posted December 26, 2016 Author #14 Share Posted December 26, 2016 What did I start? Can I remove this thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChucktownSteve Posted December 26, 2016 #15 Share Posted December 26, 2016 (edited) What did I start? Can I remove this thing? You didn't start it. Beanb41 did when he said, "Such a backward country the USA." There was no call for that statement. Had he made his comment without that sentence, there would have been no problem comparing the turn around of his thinly populated country. :D Edited December 26, 2016 by ChucktownSteve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easyboy Posted December 26, 2016 #16 Share Posted December 26, 2016 You didn't start it. Beanb41 did when he said, "Such a backward country the USA." There was no call for that statement. Had he made his comment without that sentence, there would have been no problem comparing the turn around of his thinly populated country. :D Yup, that unsubstantiated comment started the subsequent reactions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irish rover Posted December 26, 2016 #17 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Hey Irish Rover cool your jets. My comments were directed at the US passport Office if you bothered to read my post. Had the OP been more precise in the title of the thread I probably wouldn't have bothered reading it in the first instance. It was the OP who generated concern and all I did was explain how up to date with technology our little country is .We were extremely grateful for the support of all the Nations who participated in our 75th Naval jubilee but diverted to Kaikoura to provide humanitarian aid after the earthquake. By the way I hope you had a Merry Christmas I appreciate your attempt at clarification, but the " such a backward country" comment still speaks for itself. I acknowledge many problems in the USA and the freedom to criticize is a hallowed right. I think the broad characterization troubled me. I wish you peace however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChucktownSteve Posted December 26, 2016 #18 Share Posted December 26, 2016 (edited) Google is a wonderful tool. According to the U.S. Department of State, in 2016 they issued 18,676,547 (includes 2,110,555 passport cards) https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/statistics.html The Department of Internal Affairs forecast for New Zealand estimates that they'll issue 60,180 passports 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017. https://www.dia.govt.nz/Resource-material-Information-We-Provide-Annual-Forecast-of-Passport-Issuance-Volumes MILLIONS vs. THOUSANDS????? NZ should be able to procees passports the same day if you compare volume and time to issue. That would be like comparing the number of ships they sail under all of the Carnival Cruise Lines owned to Viking River Cruises. Then saying Viking is a crappy cruise. Edited December 26, 2016 by ChucktownSteve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banjo Posted December 26, 2016 #19 Share Posted December 26, 2016 (edited) Having lived and worked on the Mississippi coast when Katrina hit, here is list of countries that helped us. Do recall the Dutch marines camping on the beach in Gulfport: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_response_to_Hurricane_Katrina Edited December 26, 2016 by Banjo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrieWay Posted December 28, 2016 #20 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChucktownSteve Posted December 28, 2016 #21 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Too bad you missed the moderator deleted posts. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrieWay Posted December 28, 2016 #22 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Too bad you missed the moderator deleted posts. :D Oh, I'm sure it got... colorful. [emoji23] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Lover Posted December 28, 2016 #23 Share Posted December 28, 2016 FYI, we booked the Baltic cruise for July 2017 and would not have the often required 6 months left on our passports. I was reading that 2017 is going to be a busy year for passport services. I decided to renew early to avoid the rush and am happy to report that it took only two and a half weeks from the time I mailed them until I got them back. That was with regular handling and no special postal service. The DOS website stated 4 to 6 weeks so they are doing a good job. Definitely no need for expedited service. Saved a bunch. There is a considerable difference between a renewal and a new passport (or replacement for one that has expired too long ago). Also, there are some new tax restrictions in effect which when fully enacted may delay issuing of passports, the impact of which has yet to be seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Lover Posted December 28, 2016 #24 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Such a backward country the USA. Here in NZ we can renew on line and will have our passports in our hands within a max of 10days, normally within 3 working days Security is a very important issue. This doesn't make the US backward. It makes us careful. I wish all countries would as, or more careful regarding the issuance of passports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChucktownSteve Posted December 28, 2016 #25 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Oh, I'm sure it got... colorful. [emoji23] I posted three pictures of the Cafe al Bacio on another thread and the mod deleted the posting. I suppose the menu was offensive to the Mod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now