Passports For Kids: 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 passports 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.
Everyone who travels needs a passport, from the smallest infant to the
most elderly gentleman. Also, passports are valid for children under
sixteen for only five years, while those above age sixteen can keep
those for ten years. If a passport is damaged, it will need to be
replaced. Additional passport pages can be inserted without having to
purchase a completely new passport.
In February 2008, the rules changed a little bit. Now a passport
application requires the consent of both parents or legal guardians.
While this consent isn't required for applications for children between
the ages of 16 and 18, it may be requested by the passport agent. Also,
if your child is under the age of 18, he or she is required to be
present in front of the AA, or the acceptance agent. Both parents will
need to show valid identification when applying for the child.
In order to successfully apply for your minor child, you will need to
have proof of their US citizenship. This can be done with a previously
issued passport that is not damaged, a naturalization certificate, a
certified birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or
Certification of Birth, or a certificate of citizenship.
With this done,
you will then need to prove your relationship to the child. This can be
done with a certified birth certificate with both parents' names, an
adoption decree, or a court order mandating guardianship or custody. A
birth certificate can be from another country, as long as you have
another source of proof for citizenship.
The parents or guardians will
then have to prove their identity. Previously issued passports, valid
driver's licenses, military or government employee ID, or naturalization
certificates are acceptable forms of identification. After this is done
and photocopies are made for the records, parents would then give their
consent, pay for the US
passport, and submit two identical passport photos. This completes
the process.
On another note, if you and your spouse are American citizens and you
have a baby born abroad, it needs to be reported to the US embassy or
consulate in the country. A basic American citizenship document, the
Consular Report of Birth of a Citizen of the United States of America,
will be issued, granting your child American citizenship.
Tons of revolutionary new internet services make applying for new passports and replacing old passports much more convenient. With the ease of these services, you and your children can discover the world together. The world becomes more open, and opportunities present themselves in ways that are truly unique. Simply knowing how to get a passport for kids saves you time and trouble when you're trying to prepare for a trip. Allowing your children to see the cultures and sites of the world first-hand is the sort of experience that isn't easily forgotten. And all you need is your passport application form.
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