Chile Forum

Here's the link to the new passport fees:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/fe ... _4734.html

No word on when the fees will escalate.

I also attached the rule from the federal register. It really got me laughing. If you don't like the new passport fees, they've got a new $450 fee to renounce your US citizenship. They've increased the cost of notarials from $30 to $50. There's a whole hodgepodge of cost increases.

The most ridiculous hike just might be the $82 to add pages to a passport. Just read how they are trying to sell the increase. I suggest that if you have any need for additional pages, you get it done now while it's still free.

Wow. thanks for the link

Documentation for Renunciation of
Citizenship
The CoSS demonstrated that
documenting a U.S. citizen’s
renunciation of citizenship is extremely
costly, requiring American consular
officers overseas to spend substantial
amounts of time to accept, process, and
adjudicate cases. A new fee of $450 will
be established to help defray a small
portion of the total cost to the U.S.
Government of documenting the
renunciation of citizenship

Well, if you don't get caught by the Exit Tax, they will still find a way to nick you.

Holy Shitemeister,

Ripsigg just posted the most informative post of the month if not quarter for US citizens.

Tourist visa residents or chronic travelers should indeed get pages added ASAP. I haven't been to Santiago since November so it's time……

I wonder what's hidden in the health bill for expats when I already face a significant premium increase in my voluntary private worldwide policy just to protect against catastrophic situations.

IMO, only an idiot or sheep would register with them.

It looks like the 30 days are up in order to submit comments.
So I wrote to the email provided anyway voicing my displeasure.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before 30 days from
February 9, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may submit comments by any of the
following methods:
Persons with access to the Internet may view this notice
and submit comments by going to the regulations.gov Web site at: http:/
/www.regulations.gov/index.cfm.
Mail (paper, disk, or CD-ROM): U.S. Department of State,
Office of the Executive Director, Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S.
Department of State, Suite H1001, 2401 E Street NW., Washington, DC
20520.
E-mail: fees@state.gov. You must include the RIN (1400-
AC58) in the subject line of your message.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amber Baskette, Office of the
Executive Director, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State;
phone: 202-663-2599, telefax: 202-663-2499; e-mail: fees@state.gov.


http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#documentDetail?R=0900006480a8ffe8

BUMP

Reminder to self and others to get pages added ASAP.

This may be a stupid question, but what is the passport card? Does it replace the passport book or do you have to have both of them? Also $110 to renew your passport book is expensive =/.

On the other hand at least they give the option to renounce your citizenship

Riyko wrote:....

On the other hand at least they give the option to renounce your citizenship

......for now........

U.S.Passport book: Valid for international travel by sea, air or land.

U.S. Passport card: Valid when entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry. Not valid for international travel by air.

I suggest paying the extra $20 for a passport card when you make an application, it's a no brainer to get one for kids at just $10. Why? It's proof of citizenship and identity recognized by the federal government. If you do a lot of travelling abroad, you run the risk of losing your passport. Having a passport card would seemingly make getting your replacement passport a much easier process...

Minor Miracle!!! I got a response to my email complaining that they hadn't publicized the comment period enough:

Dear All:
Yesterday, the Department of State published a notice in the Federal Register providing additional information on the consular Cost of Service Study in relation to both proposed fee rules, RIN 1400-AC57 and 1400-AC58. See 75 Fed. Reg. 14111 (Mar. 24, 2010). As explained in the notice, the Department has reopened the comment period for a period of 15 days from today.

Sincerely,
Robert H. Kline
Acting Special Assistant
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Office of the Comptroller
U.S. Department of State

Take time to comment if you disagree with any of the proposed fees!!

Dagny wrote:

Riyko wrote:....

On the other hand at least they give the option to renounce your citizenship

......for now........

Haha that's true, the next thing we'll know is that we'll be fined by the IRS for renouncing our citizenship

For quite a while now, the IRS has the authority to tax you for the next ten years if they determine you renounced citizenship for tax reasons and you meet certain income thresholds before renouncing.

Also, there is a newer law which penalty taxes your USA assets after renouncing.

Riyko wrote:
Haha that's true, the next thing we'll know is that we'll be fined by the IRS for renouncing our citizenship

The law went into effect in 2008 and applies if an American renounces their U.S. citizenship or expatriates permanently and has assets valued over $600K. The tax is calculated on unrealized gains in retirement or savings accounts, real estate, and cash holdings world wide. It is due and payable immediately, and there is no judicial review. If you are lucky, they may offer a tube of K-Y jelly.

Wow I didn't know that lol. I guess it's a good thing to not own anything in the US if you want to renounce your citizenship