Went to the post office this past Saturday--saw a large number of people waiting there...

I had to send a letter priority mail so I went inside to the counter. Now, as I was driving up to the building I noticed a large "Help Wanted--Apply Within" sign stretched out over the front above the entrance. Then I noticed a rather large number of people (largest number of people I've ever seen at the P.O.) standing around with what looked like applications. So I thought since P.O. employment is highly desirable, one or two openings would result in several dozen or hundreds of applicants. I figured these folks were all waiting to fill out and submit their applications. I decided to grab some lunch with my son and come back later (he's nine and gets a little antsy if he has to stand and wait a long time). This office closed at 3:30pm so I still had a couple more hours. My son and I went and ate at a nearby restaurant, then returned. The crowd was a little smaller by the time we arrived the second time, so we got in line. I waited for about 15-20 minutes (the letter had to go out that day), and when we approached the counter I asked the clerk if the large crowd was a result of the job opening(s). He said no, that they were all applying for passports. Then he said a lot of people want to leave the U.S. I didn't pursue with a follow-up question as to why, or resort to one of my quips about the present administration (US employee and all), so I finished posting my letter and left.

But has anyone else noticed an increase in the number of passport applicants at the post office lately? Are Saturdays a bit busier than other days for passport business? Or perhaps this was an isolated coincidence that so many showed up at the same time to apply.

But the P.O. clerk's remark really stuck in my mind...


edited for punctuation

and the Islands. Maybe not. Do these people know something we don't?

but the laws are starting to be stricter. I just got one this year to go to Niagra Falls and Toronto on vacation.

It was about a month ago when I had to go to the P.O. to mail a package. There was a huge line for passports, and the workers had to make an announcement about how the passport counter was closing for the day and everyone in line would have to come back the next day. I live in Pennslyvania, by the way.

I remember thinking it was strange. I don't know if all these people are leaving, or what. It's definitely odd.

to come back into the US until next January. I believe you now need it if you are flying (or maybe sailing) to re-enter. That is one of the reasons given as to why the explosion of passport renewals or new ones. I applied to renew my passport in Feb. and I still don't have it. In fact, the check was just cashed last week by the gov. The website said that what used to take 4 weeks is now taking 10 weeks to process, so I'm still waiting. Don't cha just love it that we Americans will need a passport to enter OUR country, but the illegals don't have to bother? I wonder what would happen if we tried to sneak across the border.

Don't cha just love it that we Americans will need a passport to enter OUR country, but the illegals don't have to bother?

You mean... like most other countries in the world?

It's past that time of year - but given you'll soon need a passport for Canada and Mexico, many are getting theirs in advance of their trip.

You now need a passport to fly back and forth to Mexico, next Jan. you'll need it to drive back and forth. (Actually you need one to get back in from Mexico by plane.)

I think there was a rush to get a regular passport before the switch.

From US citizens traveling there? This is just silly, imo.

It's like crossing the U.S. and needing you papers at every state border!

being affected by this recent need for US citizens too have a passport to get back into our own Country? I am lost here. Please enlighten me. I've traveled to Jamaica and Mexico by air and all I need was proof of citizenship, ie a birth certificate or in the case of Mexico a US drivers license. And now I needed a US passport just to get back into my own Country? :wtf:

and they've standardized it with a passport. I just don't see any issue. Getting a passport is easy and cheap. What's the problem?

:shrug: Color me skeptical. :eyes:

I don't trust this current malAdministrartion nor anything they do. They are UnAmerican! You should have a problem with that.

If I thought the Dems would be different perhaps it would be an issue. I'd put money on the Dems supporting RFID passports when they're in office. This isn't a "Bush thing" really.

Now if I decide to do so, I'll end up getting cavity searched because of my history of anti-war protesting, I'll end up with an RFID passport, and I'll get hassled every time I go through the airport.

At least I can fix the RFID problem by finding the tag in my passport and whacking it with a hammer - that's probably the best way to disable those things.

Well I can't speak for others but my husband and I decided to move to the Netherlands next Spring. I can no longer in good conscience support this "American Way of Life". I don't think it represents my values or beliefs and I think I will be much happier elsewhere. I do not want my entire life dominated by war, and I think the "War on Terror" will never end. I also want the peace of mind that I will always have health care and medical bills will never bankrupt me.

:rofl: Welcome to DU, btw! :hi:

I do windows!

The same massive backup is happening in Canada, where the wait has increased from 20 to 100 working days. Of course everybody has waited until the last second to apply for the passports even though the need for them has been common knowledge among those who regularly cross borders for years. I don't know about the US passport office but Passport Canada, as usual, was caught with it's pants down and was "surprised" by the volume. They still only have 2 printing presses to handle the entire volume.

My wife needed a new Canadian passport, they won't allow renewals you have to get a new one every five years and it took 16 weeks to have it returned to our US address.

ANYWHERE, and there's a backlog, and well, summer's coming on. Speaking of which, I need to get in that line, too. Thanks for the reminder. Just in case I get lucky and get to go somewhere besides the Jersey Shore this year.

Here in Buffalo - and all along the border - there are people who have relatives, vacation homes and even jobs on the other side. 90% of that casual cross-border traffic will cease to exist and end up hurting the local economy.

When is Homeland "Security" going to start looking for terrorists instead of painting law-abiding citizens as criminals?

...of painting law-abiding citizens as criminals?"

Probably never, since that would involve actual work and might even be dangerous. Much easier and safer to steal sewing scissors from little grannies at airports. And if you steal a lot of them, you might even be able to sell them for enough money to buy fine pharmaceuticals to help you through another miserable day of frisking people and stealing their stuff. Oh beautiful for spacious skies...


wp

How do you get back in? Aside from going to Mexico and hiring a coyote?

to go to Canada, Mexico or the Bahamas - so all those people going on Spring Break cruises will need passports now to re-enter the country. Also, I think those RFID chips are coming soon, so it'd probably be better to get the passport now.

:shrug:

was hosting a "passport information session" (or some other stupid wording) this past Saturday. The sign on the door said to come with a passport photo, that apps. would be available. So my guess is that the post office is pushing to get people to get their passports before they actually need them for travel or emigration, or whatever. :/

I beat the rush! :hide:

If the implication is that these long lines indicate that multitudes of people are moving to other countries due to hatred towards our current administration and its policies, I'd have to say as definitively as opinion can muster that no, not a chance whatsoever.