Part two of obtaining a Passport ID that will be in compliance with the REAL ID law which the state of PA is still out of compliance. I was thrilled with the fact that I got my birth certificates in only a week's time since I went to vital records.
I called this branch and learned there was no need to make an apt. Just come in. So I drove there. Waited a short time and was seen fairly quickly. The lady first checked my birth certificate to insure my deceased parent's names were on it and was told it was acceptable. So many people she told me had been turned away because the old certified birth certificates do not list your parents and the Department of State will not accept those copies.
She helped me with my paperwork and explained a few things in the process. If applying for a Passport ID card which is all I'll ever really need, then that would entitle me to visit Canada and Mexico. If I was on a Caribbean cruise she would recommend a passport in the event I got sick in one of their ports of call and had to be hospitalized. Passport ID cards are valid for 10 years like regular passports. She took my picture-(rules here apply as well) No smiling, Remove glasses. I felt like I was being photographed like a con.
I had my checkbook handy. Fee for the ID card is $30.00 made payable to the department of State. The remaining $40.00 which includes $15.00 for the picture and $25.00 Postal processing fee I can pay anyway I want. She then told me it would take about 4-6 weeks for me to get my Passport ID card and they will mail my birth certificate back separately. If you think I'm going to believe that then you got another thought coming. Hence I was smart to purchase a 2nd copy which I will secure among my personal effects.
Like most of the Post Offices I've been to there is only one person behind the counter so expect a wait if you plan on utilizing their services. Hopefully this card will come before my Atlanta trip this summer so I can "test" it out at the airport and with the TSA.
There has still been no update regarding the repeal of the law the Commonwealth of PA put into effect about not tampering with your driver's license to make it REAL ID compliant. Nevertheless I at least will be prepared in the event nothing happens by the end of this year. read more