Tips On Applying For A Passport For Minors On The Internet

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:37:24 EST

Summer vacation is the time of yearwhere families look to go somewhere special and create lastingmemories. Many families will choose to vacation outside the U.S. and inorder for this to happen, all family members must have a passport inhand and this includes the children. A passport for minors can beobtained but will require some forethought and planning well before thetrip is scheduled to take place.

All of the children within the family, no matter their age, musthave their own passport and this even includes the infants. Theapplication process must be completed in person with both of theparents or guardians present. This is a requirement for any minor 16years of age or younger, without exception. The parents or guardiansmust show proof of their relationship to the minor along with providinga copy of their own identification to submit with the minor’sapplication.

There are a wide variety of locations that take in-personapplication for minor passports and they are a Passport AcceptanceFacility, a U.S. Regional Passport Office or any U.S. Embassy orConsulate office. The child will need some form of photo identificationif they possess it and if not the parent or guardian will be requiredto provide theirs in person. It is a good idea when applying in personto have photocopies of any identification and a written parentalconsent form on hand.

As with everything else in life, there is a fee that accompaniesthe application but the good news is that the minor’s fee is normallylower than an adult fee when applying for a passport. The fee includesa passport charge and a processing charge that will be needed at thetime of application. There are different accepted methods of payment ateach location and the correct one may be determined once there.

Should the trip be coming sooner than the standard 4 to 6-week waittime, there is available an expedited service for an extra fee that canget the passport returned in 2 to 3 weeks time. There are, however,other options in the form of an online service provider than canexpedite a passport in as little as one to two business days, shouldthe need arise. This of course, comes at an additional fee above andbeyond what is needed to pay the government.

There is one other item of identification that will need to beprovided when applying in person and that is two identical colorphotos. The photos need to meet the government’s requirements forpassport photos and should be done professionally. Vending machinephotos are not acceptable but there are options such as localphotographers that can do this for a small charge.

Passport renewals for minors fall into two categories, one is ifthey are still under 16 and the other is if they are over 16 but thepassport was issued while they were under the age limit. If the minoris still under 16 when the renewal comes due, they must appear again inperson to affect the renewal. Should the minor have passed the age of16 when the renewal comes up,

they are eligible to complete the processby mail. They will be required to fill out the renewal application,return the old passport, pay the fee and again, provide two newpictures in either case.

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Tips On Applying For A Passport For Minors On The Internet