TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Passport Update

So on 3/20 we applied for a passport renewal online for my husband. Took picture and uploaded it- super easy. Definitely easier to apply on a computer than cell phone. Today new passport arrived!!! Now no excuse why we can’t go back!!!! 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Good deal.

Kim--We both applied on 3/24. I received my passport on 3/31! Eric has yet to hear back from them. I guess they are looking at his terrorist ties!! [just kidding!!}

If you have Global Entry be sure and sync your GE to the new passport number.

Carol did you apply online too?

Yes, we both applied online, actually Eric's application was before mine.

So in all of our passport days, re-entry to the country has been fairly painless but there was one time in 2003 on our first return trip - I think it was when we could still use birth certificates - that the immigration officer held us up for about twenty minutes, in Phil, because he said another guy with my name but who was from Arizona made focused screening necessary - then when the officer resumed with us and it was May 2003 mind you and only 20 months after 9/11 - he asked if we heard the Red Sox just signed David Ortiz to a contract extension (it was his very first (of an illustrious career) year on the team and just had a blistering April hitting the baseball) - all I could think at the time was it was like a WW2 movie where the English speaking Germans masquerading as American were being screened by the American guards by asking about their baseball knowledge to verify their authenticity) seems funny now
But since then it has been an absolute breeze at least in Boston - Atlanta, and New York not so much but just because of long lines.

We too just experience painless entry in Boston last Saturday. Year before there were long lines. Hubby was in a wheelchair and the agent at the DIPLOMAT kiosk waive the chair pusher over. I could feel the stares at my back from others in those long lines. Either they were upset or wondering who this diplomat was lol.

Sxmscubaman Not familiar with syncing with global entry I had a new passport in February and went through Charlotte airport with no problem But just in case how do you sync passport and global entry Thanks in advance BISH

I can't remember but I believe you have to go into your GE account profile and update with new Passport number. It was a while back when i did it.

Yes, you just put your new passport information in your GE profile. Very easy.

So, Eric finally received his passport in the mail yesterday. Mine came on March 31. Applied at the exact same time. Regardless, glad to finally have them both in hand.

Did you opt for the Passport card too?

No. I didn't see the use for it.

We plan on using ours for domestic flights as neither of us have the Real ID drivers license and easier to carry than full passport. GE card works too.

Good Idea!

What do you do just renew and ALSO ask for the card?

Yes. Extra fee for the card.

I can't believe Washington state doesn't have real ID yet. We have it here in Florida.

I heard that ALL must have it by May 7 in order to travel domestically or use a passport. Also one cannot enter a Federal building without it.

I believe you are correct, at least on the May 7 date.

Yay! The wait can be nerve racking. Even when the trip is out a month or two.

Lancer--yes, for sure! It was such an extra bit of drama, getting pictures acceptable to the Passport office. Otherwise, we would have had our passports in hand back in December. But we have them now.

May 7th is the enforcement for WA State.

We have, but is an option. We live in a state that claims intelligence but doesn't back it up with intelligent actions.

So true.

It’s crazy. This came about after 9/11!!! Was supposed to roll out in 2005 then pushed to 2008. In CT we have had it since 2011. It was set up to be done when you renew your license. Just seems like a pretty easy thing to do and if you don’t have some of the items, then maybe you should get them. Sorry bizarre to me that so many don’t have it and some states haven’t set it up yet.

Yep.

20 years and it is not 100% implemented yet. Ohio started in 2017

I haven't bothered getting it because I have a passport and like using it.

We're with you Linda. Can't see the point

I felt like you Linda and Elaine; however, this card is good forever (or until government changes their mind) whereas a passport must be renewed over the years.

I did not get this card last year when I renewed my license because I didn't have all the paperwork necessary and as time passes I'm tinking the passport should suffice .

What does a passport renewal cost now?

"What does a passport renewal cost now?"

Currently $130 plus any additional cost for photos and/or expedited shipping.

Sorry, why would you want to have to use your passport, to travel within the US? Just another piece of documentation to carry, as one pretty much always needs their driver's license anyway. And more chance that it could get lost, stolen, etc.

That is why I have the Passport card and GE card. To get the ID license in WA State isn't cheap and not easy to get into the licensing agency to apply for it.

Huhm, ok

That is why I have the Passport card and GE card. To get the ID license in WA State isn't cheap and not easy to get into the licensing agency to apply for it.

Does AAA in Washington issue Real ID? AAA in RI does.

I have no idea what AAA would have to offer. Washington St Real ID is an enhanced driver's license. There is a rather long list of approved ID that the TSA will accept including the Passport Card and GE card. Hence I see no need in getting an enhanced drivers license when I have those others to fly domestically.

AAA is authorised to issue Real ID. They take in documentation and send it to issuing authority.

I doubt they could do the Washington St real ID that is an enhanced driver's license.

Florida's real ID is an enhanced driver's license. Initially there was some additional paperwork required, but all in all, worth it. It's required for anyone who renews their DL here.

Got out Real ID drivers license years ago. Fancy holograms and other features. But strangely, TSA scanners couldn’t read mine. They would try like 3 times and then look at me funny and let me go. Happened every time. We moved and got a new license and this one works. But I’d rather carry a card in my wallet than my passport within the USA.

When it comes to stuff like this you have top ask are the authorities “incompetent” or “intentionally incompetent”. How can it still be a choice, we believed it to be mandatory to get a license renewal.

We got our Real ID driver’s licenses through AAA. It was a very easy process, and I don’t think it cost us anything.
I believe AAA offers this service in Washington State too.

I'd like to see the link to that as it's very costly to get it through our licensing department.

In Ohio, it was the same price as a drivers license renewal. One just had to have the additional forms of ID for it to happen. It was easy if you had the proper documentation. It really was not a big deal at all.

Washington State isn't that easy and cost extra.

I didn't have to go in to renew last time with Washington State due to covid.. I will get the enhanced when I renew in 2026. It is not the cost that is an issue to me, it is the time it takes. Until then I have plenty of other ID.

Being the land of advanced companies like Amazon, Boeing and Microsoft, your state needs a lean event, it is not that hard. Might be some resistance in the gears.

Florida's Real ID is NOT and enhanced drivers license, there are only 5 states that issue Enhanced Drivers Licenses and FLorida is not one of them. Florida's Real ID has a star in the corner, Enhanced Drivers Licenses have a US flag

Well, in Carol's defense (and to get technical), a Florida (or any state) Real ID is an enhanced driver's license, but not an Enhanced Driver's License.

Enhanced Driver's Licenses are issued in some border states, to expedite border crossings for pre-screened US citizens. And Enhanced Driver's Licenses are also Real IDs. But Real IDs are not Enhanced Driver's Licenses.

I do agree with Carol that, for most people, the investment in time in getting a Real ID is worth the effort. I keep my passport locked up, unless I'm travelling internationally. No need to get it out unless absolutely necessary.

USsimonusa--OK, I guess I didn't know the difference, but my license is Real ID, which all I care about for this purpose.

I have just been renewing online here in WA ST. Just a time hassle to have to go in to get this Real ID.

Acceptable forms of approved ID for domestic air travel.
State-issued Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)
U.S. passport
U.S. passport card
DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
Permanent resident card
Border crossing card
An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs).
HSPD-12 PIV card
Foreign government-issued passport
Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
Transportation worker identification credential
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

Same in NC. We both got ours when our licenses last renewed, two or three years ago. I think we had to have our birth certificates and passports. There were several options for documentation, but those are what we used.

Real ID and enhanced drivers license are the same thing. I got mine at AAA.