Todays regulations for travel are stricter than ever before and, before leaving on a trip, it is necessary to check for recent updates. Mothers and fathers who travel with children should pay special attention to requirements for receiving the child passports and realize that they are different than the standards for an adult. It may mean a few extra things to do before the trip, but it can save a lot of trouble on the date of departure.
Many parents are under the impression that young children and babies can travel without a passport, but this is inaccurate. Each child needs to have their own passport no matter what age they are, including infants. If a family arrives for a flight without proper documentation for all of the children, they will not be permitted to travel.
When obtaining a passport for the first time, the child must appear in person with both parents to begin the application process. The parents must provide all of the necessary documents and not sign anything until prompted by the acceptance agent. If one parent has sole custody of the child, they will also be required to present proof that they legally permitted to travel with the child such as a judicial declaration of incompetence of the non-applying parent.
The next thing that needs to be done is providing proof of the childs US citizenship. Parents should keep in mind that the paperwork they submit will go with the application and will come back to them with the childs pasports. Appropriate forms of proof include a naturalization certificate or an expired passport.
The parents will also be required to present evidence of their relationship to the child. This can come in the form of an adoption decree or birth certificate, among others. If the parents name has changed since the original document was issued, they will also have to present evidence of a legal name change. In addition, each parent will have to provide a copy of their own official ID.
The last vital thing for parents to do is issue consent for their child to be given a passport. In order to do this, they both have to appear with the child and sign the paperwork in front of the acceptance agent. If one parent is truly unable to appear, the appearing parent must provide a notarized statement confirming the consent of the second child.
Of course, there is a charge in order to apply for most government documents and a child passport is no different. The passport will cost sixty dollars as well as twenty-five dollars to cover the execution fee. If the passport is needed in less than six weeks, it is advised to get expedited processing, which will cost an additional sixty dollars.
The procedure to get your passport for minors is somewhat tedious, but it is imperative to follow all instructions to the letter. A single misstep could require a parent to start the entire thing again and then the passport may not be issued in time for the trip. To have any additional questions answered, contact the US Department of State.
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