PASSPORT PICTURES

Where do you get them? I’ve had my picture taken at mail centers and UPS but I recently discovered my Triple AAA premium membership includes passport photos. My daughter had hers taken for $5 at Triple AAA. I believe I paid $10 at UPS years ago. We once had our kids photos taken at our City Hall County Clerk office and they looked like Willy Wonka’s Oompa Lumpas BRIGHT ORANGE SKIN. No thank you.

If you’re going on a trip within the next year be sure your passport meets the guidelines for the country you are visiting. My friends went to Italy last year and were in a panic days before they were to leave. It was a rescheduled trip that was canceled during the pandemic. When they were set to go, it turned out her husband’s passport did not have the required 6 months time before expiring. They were in a frenzy to get him an expedited passport. Luckily for them the passport office in San Diego was able to provide one to them.

Isn’t this LIME GREEN passport cover cute? This is me preparing for LONDON in 2017.

My daughter is heading off to college and hers expires this summer. There are guidelines to renewing your passport if you were issued one before the age of 16. We had to fill out the DS-11 form and apply in person. You can not renew online. She also had to provide her old passport. Honestly, I wish I had pushed to get my son’s processed before he left to college. I heard it’s easier to renew than to reapply. When my daughter receives her new passport it will be good for 10 years! The cost at this writing June 2024 was $160 for BOOK and Card plus $35 to the County Clerk. All in it’s $200.

Tip Alert: pre-take your photos and pre-fillout your application. Go to your county office to process. We were able to make an appointment ahead of time and there was NO LINE. BRING a money order or your check book. You can not pay with cash or credit/debit cards.

HAPPY TRAVELING. - T*