Travelers to pay more for passports, cards

BY ELLEN CREAGER FREE PRESS TRAVEL WRITER

Passport and passport card fees are going up by as much as 50% starting Tuesday.

Even travelers who simply need to add pages to their passports -- a service that was free -- will pay $82 now.

"I can understand the need for some increase to pay for enhanced security, but this is outrageous," said Oakland County Clerk Ruth Johnson. "People can't shop around. They are hostage to the increases."

The U.S. Department of State said the fee increases will cover the costs of producing more security-efficient passports, providing assistance to travelers around the world and operating 23 emergency passport service centers, including one that opened in Detroit last year.

No part of the fee increase will go to local agencies for processing, Johnson said.

The U.S. Passport Agency predicts it will issue 15 million passports in fiscal 2010, up sharply from five years ago, when 10 million passports were issued.

Those who apply on Monday still will pay the old fees.

For passport instructions, go to a post office or city hall, see www.travel.state.gov or call 877-487-2778.

Contact ELLEN CREAGER: 313-222-6498 or ecreager@freepress.com