How much did you pay for your passport?
If your passport was issued after 2005 you probably paid $97 (adults). For children under 16 the price for a passport is $82. Steep. No question about it.
In fact, the price seemed so high that congressional investigators were recently asked to study whether a $30 portion of the passport charge was justified. According to the State Department the $30 is intended to cover the cost of clerks examining and accepting passport applications at post offices, State Department passport offices, courthouses, libraries, municipal offices and universities.
But, now it appears the State Department and Postal Service may have quietly gouged Americans out of more than $100 million. Government records show in the past year the government issued nearly 14 million new passports, and collected at least $111.4 million more in passport fees than its stated costs. Congressional investigators’ found the government’s $30 fee was roughly double the actual cost when imposed in 2002.
One lawmaker speaking out about the alleged overcharging told news reporters, “The government is charging 30 bucks just for passing something across the counter.”
According to the State Department, the remaining $67 is spent producing the passport booklet and for related costs, such as rent at passport offices, security guards and background checks.
Congressional investigators said the State Department and the Postal Service is allowed to keep any profits made from passport fees. According to the government, some of that money goes to provide free passports to relatives of dead soldiers traveling overseas to attend funeral services. But lawmakers on the rampage over the passport profits say it is “inconceivable” all the government’s profits were used for those purposes, and they have since asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for a detailed accounting of where the money went.
Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that more Americans are required to have passports because of new anti-terrorism laws. Since January travelers visiting Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda by air have needed passports — or proof they applied for passports. The requirement will take effect for land and sea travelers before June 2009.
What’s your reaction to being (allegedly) ripped off by the government?
Other Related Passport Articles:
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Holiday Travel: Important Passport Information For Parents and Children
Passports For Children–What You Need To Know
New Passport Requirements Force Deadbeat Parents To Pay Up