Passport expenses too high, some say
Federal investigation finds many overcharged
Passport expenses too high, some say

By Ja’Rena Lunsford

Published: November 3, 2007

If waiting twice as long for their passports to arrive wasn't bad enough, travelers are learning they may have paid double in fees as well.

A congressional investigation into passport fees revealed the U.S. State Department may have overcharged travelers more than $100 million a year.

Travelers age 16 and up applying for a passport for the first time are charged $97, which includes a $30 processing fee. It's that fee that Congress says is too high, resulting in passengers paying even more for their trip.

In fiscal year 2007, the State Department issued 18.4 million passports, department spokesman Kurtis Cooper said.

"That is an all time record,” Cooper said. The department issued $12.1 million last fiscal year.

According to the congressional findings, the $30 processing fee — which is used to cover the cost of clerks examining and accepting passport applications in various offices — should have been about half as much. The investigation found that the U.S. Postal Service's estimated cost to handle the applications was $13.31 in 2002, and the State Department's cost was $16.20.

Members of Congress may be the only ones concerned with passport fees, though.

How much she paid in fees didn't cross Meribeth Sloan's mind when she applied for her passport this summer.

"I was so focused on getting my passport,” the Oklahoma City resident said, "I didn't really consider the fee. I was just more concerned about the turnaround.”

Marge Pittenridge doesn't think she paid too much in fees, either.

"I knew what it was going to cost when I started the whole thing,” Pittenridge said. "I don't think the (fee) is out of line.”

Although Diane Barber said the Logan County Clerk's Office has no control over the application fee — it is set by the State Department — she feels it is adequate and fair.

"There is a lot of paperwork involved and it takes a lot of time,” said Barber, deputy court clerk.

Barber said along with accepting and processing passport applications, the office spends a lot of time shredding the personal information from applicants.

"It's not a cheap process for us,” she said.

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