New Schedule of Passport Fees to take Effect on July
13, 2010
On June 28, 2010, the U.S. Department of State published its Schedule of Fees for Consular Services in the Federal Register. The
schedule includes fees for passports, immigrant visas and other consular services. The changes will take effect on July 13, 2010. The
revised fees will cover actual operating expenses for the 23 domestic passport agencies.
The most significant changes are increases in standard adult passport fees from $75 to $110 and standard minor passport fees from
$60 to $80. Passport cards will increase in price from $20 to $30 ($15 for minors). The Department of State expediting fees remain $60
per application. The Department will begin charging $82 for adding extra pages to existing passports, plus applicable State Department
$60 expediting fees. The Department found that the cost of the pages themselves, having the pages placed in the book in a secure manner
by trained personnel and completing the required security checks results in a cost to the U.S. Government more than $82 per passport
book, therefore, the Department will charge the same for previously free service.
The new total cost for a new passport will be $135 and the new total cost for a renewal passport will be $110, effective July 13, 2010.
US Flights: Liquid Carry-On Rules
Make Your Trip Better Using 3-1-1
TSA and our security partners conducted extensive explosives testing since August 10, 2006 and determined that liquids, aerosols and gels, in limited quantities, are safe to bring aboard an aircraft. The one bag limit per traveler limits the total amount each traveler can bring. Consolidating the bottles into one bag and X-raying them separately from the carry-on bag enables security officers to quickly clear the items.
3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3.4 ounce (100ml) container size is a security measure.
Be prepared. Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. Practicing 3-1-1 will ensure a faster and easier checkpoint experience.
3-1-1 is for short trips. If in doubt, put your liquids in checked luggage.
Declare larger liquids. Medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint.
With certain exceptions for prescription and over-the-counter medicines, baby formula, breast milk, and juice, and other essential liquids, gels, and aerosols, the following rules apply to all liquids, gels, and aerosols you want to carry through a security checkpoint.
All
liquids, gels and aerosols must be in 3.4 ounce (100ml) or
smaller containers. Larger containers that are half-full or
toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed. Each
container must be 3.4 ounces (100ml) or smaller.
All
liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a single,
quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. Gallon size bags or
bags that are not zip-top such as fold-over sandwich bags
are not allowed. Each traveler can use only one,
quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag.
Each
traveler must remove their quart-sized plastic, zip-top bag
from their carry-on and place it in a bin or on the conveyor
belt for X-ray screening. X-raying separately will allow TSA
security officers to more easily examine the declared items.
Please
keep in mind that these rules were developed after extensive
research and understanding of current threats. They are
intended to help air travelers bring essential toiletries
and other liquids, gels and aerosols for short trips. If you
need larger amounts of liquids, gels and aerosols such as
toothpaste or shampoo, please place them in your luggage and
check them with your airline.
To ensure the health and welfare of certain air travelers, in the absence of suspicious activity or items, greater than 3.4 ounce (100ml) of the following liquids, gels and aerosols are permitted through the security checkpoint in reasonable quantities for the duration of your itinerary (all exceptions must be presented to the security officer in front of the checkpoint):
- Baby formula, breast milk, and juice if a baby or small child is traveling;
- All prescription and over-the-counter medications (liquids, gels, and aerosols) including petroleum jelly, eye drops, and saline solution for medical purposes;
- Liquids including water, juice, or liquid nutrition or gels for passengers with a disability or medical condition;
- Life-support and life-sustaining liquids such as bone marrow, blood products, and transplant organs;
- Items used to augment the body for medical or cosmetic reasons such as mastectomy products, prosthetic breasts, bras or shells containing gels, saline solution, or other liquids; and,
- Frozen items are allowed as long as they are frozen solid when presented for screening. If frozen items are partially melted, slushy, or have any liquid at the bottom of the container, they must meet 3-1-1 requirements.
You are allowed reasonable amounts over 3.4 ounces (100ml) of the items above in your carry-on baggage, but you will need to perform the following:
- Separate these items from the liquids, gels, and aerosols in your quart-size and zip-top bag.
- Declare you have the items to one of our Security Officers at the security checkpoint.
- Present these items for additional inspection once reaching the X-ray. These items are subject to additional screening.
We have also taken steps to ensure the security boarding areas after you pass through our security checkpoints. Therefore, any liquid, gel, or aerosol purchased (such as coffee or soda) in the secure area after you process through a security checkpoint is allowed aboard your plane.
Before you fly, understand everything you can and cannot bring when you travel by air by reading our list of permitted and prohibited items.
Source TSA Website: http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm