Perrin Beitel Post Office/Passports (San Antonio, Alamo: credit card, how much, safe)

[skeet09]

Originally Posted by zhugeliang1

Ah, yes, well, nice thought skeet09, but in the meantime I'm going to bypass the PerrinBeitel Passport Pandemonium.

Good call!

[TXtrkgrl]

Try CIBT
We do all our Passport/Visa business with them. They are very efficient and we can have items back within the week.

It does cost a little more but I feel my time is worth it.

[zhugeliang1]

Update time. I made an appt with the Alamo Height Post Office for today. Took my kids with me because this is spring break and I didn't want to pull them out of school to get their passports. I was serviced right on time at my 1pm appt time but the guy was kind of brusque with me like he was expecting me to be totally unprepared. Well I had all the documents all ready except for one problem I think I should put here. The boys birth certificate was a short form issued from their home state. Not a long form. I had no idea because it didn't say so on our passport application form. So we are sending out for long form birth certificates to be sent in by express mail. So a warning to those applying for kids passports, make sure you have long form, full length birth certificates that take up a full page, NOT half page. I have no idea why this makes any difference. Anyway we are trying again in two weeks. The guy tried to persuade me to try Perrin Beitel next time we try again but I said no, because I'm never going to subject the kids to the PerrinBeitel Pandamonium.

[abner463]

I saw this thread and had to check it out, earlier this week I found out that the price of passports (renews and new) is going up very soon, maybe in April. DH and I both need renews by the end of the year, so we decided to hop on it now to save $70 right there, and get our kids some for the first time. So I did call around, do my internet research, and all that. I did find out that for anybody who needs a passport, there is a "passport day" coming up on Sat. 3/27. No appointments needed, just stand in line. The only problem w/ that is that the list for Texas post offices, there weren't any listed for S.A. I don't know if that is the final list of participating stations though. It does seem weird that there are 4 in Fort Worth participating, and one in Aransas Pass, but none in S.A. Just do a google search for "passport day 2010". Good luck.

[pobre]

Remember, you can renew passports by mail:
How to Renew Your U.S. Passport (http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/renew/renew_833.html - broken link) (unless it is a child's pp).
It goes to the same place. We have never had a problem (we send priority mail.) Plus, you save the PO fee!

Search for passport acceptance facilities here (by zip code, includes phone numbers :
Where to Apply for a Passport Nationwide

[zhugeliang1]

I should tell you here to call different post offices to set up an appt time. The one closest to me, the next available appt is in three months! And remember you can't do kids passports by mail. You have to go in person and they want long form birth certificates.

[pobre]

Originally Posted by zhugeliang1

And remember you can't do kids passports by mail. You have to go in person and they want long form birth certificates.

Yep, and you can't "renew" kid's pp either...you'll need an application for a new pp each time. You will also need the permission form completed and notarized if BOTH parents will not be there.

[getgoing2010]

You can also go to the Bexar County Courthouse. There is usually no line there.

[zhugeliang1]

There's usually no line at the Bexar County Courthouse? I don't see how that could be! maybe because the parking is impossible.

[skeet09]

Originally Posted by zhugeliang1

There's usually no line at the Bexar County Courthouse? I don't see how that could be! maybe because the parking is impossible.

Good resource in case you want to try the Courthouse:Parking | Downtown Alliance San Antonio. I carry the list in my glove box always; just in case!