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Nov 15 2011

U.S. Passport Requirements And Your Papers

For traveling to foreign countries, you are going to need a passport. If you have had one in the past and it is more than fifteen years old or if you have never had one before, you will need to know about the US passport requirements. Knowing what you will need in advance will save you a lot of time when you are ready to apply.

A Passport Is Important

When we go to another country, proper passports, either books or cards, are required. This also includes the countries we share borders with. Formerly this was not a requirement as we could cross freely. In order to get one, you will need to have the right documents before you begin.

Form DS-11

For your first passport, you have to apply in person at an acceptance facility or a passport agency. This could be a Post Office or library designated to accept applications. The application form, the DS-11, is available online and can be filled out on your computer or by hand.

Passport Offices

After you have filled in your application form with everything but your signature, take it to either a Post Office or an acceptance facility. At that time, they will collect your documents and verify your signature. You will also pay for the passport at this time.

Required Documents

Documents that will be required will show your citizenship. Birth certificates from your state of birth are required to be certified, including both parents’ names. If born abroad, you will need a consular report or, if naturalized, you will need a certificate of naturalization.

Alternative Documents

Early public records along with a letter of no record will work as secondary evidence if you do not have your birth certificate. Some births are not recorded in a timely manner, within a year of birth, but delayed birth certificates are available. Again, this will be secondary evidence.

Passports For Children

For children born abroad, applying for a passport will require a few more documents. A statement about the American parents residence and length of time in the States and the marriage certificate will be needed. The foreign birth certificate will need to be translated into English as well.

Photocopy Of Records

Photocopies of the required documents will also be needed. Copy on one side of the page only and be sure that nothing else is on the paper. Be sure to copy both sides of all of your documents.

Passport Versions

Paying for your passport will be based on the type you are applying for. You can choose between the book or the card. Persons under sixteen will not pay as much as an adult. And you can pay extra to receive your passport quicker.

Passport Photos

You will need to have a photo taken or can use one that has been taken within the last six months as long as it meets strict protocols. If you choose to do it yourself, make sure you understand what they require. If you use a photographer, be sure to tell them that it is a passport photo. The photographer will already know of the background colors and size requirements.

The U.S. passport requirements are all available online. As well as the complete list of documents that you will need. When you have your documents, photos and your money ready, you can go to the facility that you have chosen and make your USA passport application application. Four to six weeks later, you should receive your passport.

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Oct 12 2011

The Requirements For Acquiring A Kids Pasport

It is a legal requirement that any person, adult or child, wishing to leave or return to the United States of America have their own official passport. Even very small children need to have their own documents. A kids passport can be obtained easily providing you have the necessary identification.

Age Requirements

A minor is defined as somebody under the age of sixteen. When applying, a form must be filled out entirely in their own name. Parental consent for the application must be given at the time of application and there are various rules as to who must sign the forms on their behalf, depending on their living arrangements.

Parents Must Be Present

In order for the application to go ahead and a passport to be processed, both the child and the parents must visit an acceptance agent. They will witness the signing of the forms. If possible, both parents should be present. If this is not possible, the absent parent should send in a notarized “Statement of Consent”. Should it be a one-parent family, the single parent will be required to provide proof of a custody agreement or the death certificate of the missing parent. There is a seperate form for expedited damaged passport renewal.

If the child is being cared for by people other than their parents when they make application, a notarized statement or affidavit will need to be presented from both parents or the parent who has sole custody. If there is a custody arrangement, documentation will be needed to prove this. Any documents presented as proof will have to be less than three months old.

US Citizenship

When applying for a minor, evidence of US citizenship will need to be given with the form. Ideally, you should provide either a previous passport or their birth certificate. If they were born abroad, there are a few different documents that can be shown to prove this. If you cannot present one of these primary forms of identification, you will need to provide documentation form the secondary identification list.

Birth Certificate

In addition to the identification of the child, evidence should also be presented showing the relationship between the parents or guardian and the child. This could be the birth certificate or a report showing their birth overseas with both parent’s names present. Those that were adopted can easily provide documentation to prove this. If a name has been changed since the document was issued, proof of the legal name change should be given as well. For example, proof of marriage or divorce is considered an acceptable form of proof.

Alternatives

Depending on the location you will be travelling to, it is not always necessary to get a passport issued. If you are only travelling to countries that have a border the United States like Canada, you only need to show a primary form of identification, for example a birth certificate or, for Canadians, a “Canadian Citizenship Card” can be produced.

A kids pass port is essential if you wish to take your child with you abroad at any time. It lasts for five years from the date they obtain it. Do not wait until the last minute to apply for it. There are also expedited damaged American passport renewal services.

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Sep 7 2011

Passports For Minors: The Way To Get One For Your Kid

The passport for your children is literally their ticket to see the world. To be in other countries is simply a bigger and more valuable learning experience than the classroom. Interacting with people who are not your children’s countrymen, visiting the places they may have known only from books and from television, broadens their horizons. Travel actually makes them better persons. If you want to give all this to your children, you need to give them their passports. USA Passports for minors are similar to what adults have. The only difference is how to apply for them. You will find out that it applying for a passport is not really a difficult process.

A personal appearance at the passport office is required for all applicants of all ages, even if applying for a replacement American passport. A parent or a guardian, when asked to appear at the passport acceptance center, must accompany all minors below 16 years old. Children 16 or 17 years old may show up unaccompanied by adults but they must be able to show other documents proving parental consent allowing them to travel. All applicants need a filled-up Application for a US Passport or Form DS 11 when applying. This form is free and can be downloaded from the Internet.

When you are ready to submit the passport application for your child, the document that will be asked for first is his birth certificate. The document must show the full names of the parents of the child. Other important information that must be found in the child’s birth certificate includes his full name, date of birth and place of birth. A seal of the office where the birth certificate originated must also be present.

There are other documents that will be asked for from the parent aside from birth certificates. These are proofs of identity of the adult, which may include a driver’s license or the parent’s passport. After the documents are completed, the next step is paying for the application fee.

Typical passport processing takes at least four to six weeks. This is the reason everyone is encouraged to apply for a passport early. There are times when parents and their children have to travel in the soonest possible time. The family on a rush can avail an expedited passport processing which shortens waiting time to at least two to three weeks.

Parents, take note. Get a certified copy of your child’s birth certificate now. Even if you have no plans for travelling, this vital document is important in many situations. Make sure that all required information is there and is accurate.

When our kids set foot in a foreign land, they gain deeper understanding of the world and the situation it is in. This deeper understanding is very important in these times when the people around the world are desperate for peace. Our kids will begin to appreciate their country more for bringing them up free from war, poverty, and ignorance.

International travel is one of the best gifts to give to your children. The sights of foreign lands, languages they will hardly understand, food and culture are all waiting for them. If you prepare for this early, getting USA Passports for minors should at most be a half-day of waiting for a personal appearance at the processing center. There is certainly nothing difficult about that, especially if applying for a replacement U.S. passport.

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Jun 16 2011

The Way To Apply For A Passport

The attacks of September 11, 2001, forced the United States to protect its borders stringently. You used to be able to pass between two countries with little problem, now you must apply for a pass port. Travel done by car in some areas can be done with an enhanced license. An enhanced license contains a strip that gives officials all the background information needed on the individual. The enhanced license also carries a photo ID.

Any other form of travel requires proper papers. Do not let the regulations and rules intimidate you. Carefully following the directions will get you through the entire process easily. You will have to have an original birth certificate showing the raised certified seal for a stolen pasport replacement. Birth outside the United States will call for an original certificate of citizenship or naturalization papers. No copies of papers will be accepted.

The form is a “DS-11 Application for a U. S. Passport”. Designated offices will have these forms or you can download them from the United States Department of State. It is a good idea to have more than one copy. These forms must be filled out using black ink and mistakes will get your application rejected. Do not sign the application. Signatures must be done in the presence of an official passport agent.

Other documents needed would be a drivers’ license, a military ID, or a government ID. Measuring two by two inches in size, you will need two photos taken with certain specifications. You can have them done by someone of your choice or at the application office. Cost is generally in the $10.00 to $20.00 dollar range. All papers should be sent by certified insured mail.

These new rules and regulations pertain to adults, children, and infants. It is the recommendation of the U. S. Government that all citizens get one. The tightened security at our borders has made it more difficult than ever to leave or re-enter the U. S. The average cost is $100.00 including photos.

A small minority of people can apply through the mail. These include only those that had a valid passport no more than fifteens years old with no changes required. If you got your document before the age of 16 or if you are applying for the first time, you must appear. Failure to produce an old document or if you think your documents were lost or stolen, you must also appear in person before an official agent.

Whenever you need a passport in a hurry, the best way to apply is in person. An expedited application can be submitted along with your papers. An average wait time is three to four weeks. An expedited application will take less time. Once received, your passport is good for ten years.

All of your personal documents will be returned to you when you apply for a United States passport. If lost in shipping, these documents can be difficult and costly to replace. Purchase insurance on the papers you submit when you apply for a passport. When applying for a stolen American passport replacement, you will find it much easier and cheaper to do than the first time.

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Sep 12 2010

Everything You Need To Be Aware Of Concerning Passports For Children

If you need to get a childs passport for your son or daughter, you need to know what the rules are for applying. All children, even infants, need to have a passport for traveling abroad. There are extra requirements if the child is between 16 and 18.

Children under the age of 16 must apply for their passports in person, accompanied by both of their parents/guardians. Proof of U.S. Citizenship must be supplied and will be returned. Acceptable proof includes a previous and undamaged U.S. Passport, official proof of birth or citizenship in the U.S. A social security number must also be provided.

The accompanying parents or guardians need to prove the relationship they have to the child applicant. This proof may be in the form of a foreign or U.S. birth certificate, a decree of adoption, or a court order that establishes guardianship or custody.

If any furnished documents are in another language, they must be translated. It can be formally or informally translated. Both original and English translation must be submitted with the passport application.

You cannot use previously issued passports to prove your relationship with the child. If a name has been changed since the issuing of the original documents, you need to submit proof of that legal change. For example, you can submit a copy of your marriage certificate. Also, current identification must be shown by the parents or guardians, like a drivers license, an undamaged USA passport, a naturalization certificate, or a military/government ID.

Both parents need to consent for a child below 16 years of age to get a passport. They must appear with the child when making the application. If they are not both able to appear, at least one must go as the form needs to be signed in front of the passport agent. Meanwhile, a Statement of Consent for the other parent must be turned in. This form needs to be notarized within the last three months.

If complete custody is with only one parent, that parent must go with the minor to the passport agency and sign the form before the agent. Proof of sole authority must also be furnished. This can be a birth certificate or consular report of birth abroad, which lists only the one name. Alternative proof may be an adoption decree, a court order, an incompetence declaration, or a death certificate.

If necessary, a third party may apply for the minors passport. This person must appear with a notarized statement from both parents or guardians. If there is only one parent or guardian, proof of sole custody must also be furnished.

Besides the application and evidence for identification, custody, and relationship, you must supply two photos and pay a fee. If the child is between 16 and 18, he or she will also need to show a photo id. If none is available, the photo identification of the parents or guardians can be substituted. Whichever is used, a copy must also be submitted with the application. As with any passport, a child passport should be applied for before it is a necessity.

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Sep 4 2010

Kids Passports: Their Key To The World

International travel is a great way to show your kids the world first-hand. However, just like an adult, your child will need a passport. There are some topics about passport for minors that receive many questions, and by knowing a little bit about these concepts, you can feel confident when you travel around the world with your children in tow. More →

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Jul 17 2010

Steps To Replace A Lost Or Stolen U S Passport

Many times a person has started to get things together for a trip to another country and finds they have a lost or stolen U.S. passport. This is a terrible situation. The tickets have been purchased, the reservations made and it will be impossible to get into the other country without a passport. More →

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