I hope this will help some of the concerns/comments from last few pages.... (note there is a specific form for non-custodial parents to complete)
DCL requirements/recommendations:
At
Disney Cruise Line, we ask that you provide your passport number at least 75 days prior to the start of your vacation in your Guest Information Form in My Online Check-In. Please be aware that it is your responsibility to acquire proper citizenship documentation (passport and/or green card).
Those without proper documentation at time of departure will be denied boarding.
US Dept of State requirements:
Present Proof of U.S. Citizenship
All documentation submitted as evidence of U.S. Citizenship will be returned with the issued passport. See Processing Times . You may prove U.S. Citizenship with any one of the following:
- Previous U.S. Passport (mutilated, altered, or damaged passports are not acceptable as evidence of U.S. citizenship.)
- Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state
NOTE: A certified birth certificate has a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar’s signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office, which must be within 1 year of your birth. Please note that some short (abstract) versions of birth certificates may not be acceptable for passport purposes.
---- These are the "requirements," while some people may get through without them, you need to be prepared for this ----
Also, proof of identity is required. While a certified copy of the marriage certificate is not "required," if they reject any of your proof of ID, the certified marriage certificate can be used to "cure" the problem.
One important note, if your last passport was
issued, not expired, more than 15 years ago or if you have never had one, you must go in person to a passport agency or passport acceptance facility.
For children under the age of 14 -
- Both parents must appear with child, or
- One parent must sign a consent to get passport form and other parent appear with child, (form on link above) or
- One parent appears with child with evidence of "sole authority to apply," e.g. divorce order with specific passport language.
Think of the following:
- Have you ever had a problem with a local zoning/planning/construction office?
- Have you ever had problems with taxing authority (e.g. IRS or local property tax)?
- Have you ever had problems with your Dept. of Motor Vehicles?
- Have you ever had a problem with any government agency?
If you can answer yes to any of those or know someone who can, remember in getting a passport, you are dealing with the same type of government employees/laws/regulations that may have caused the above issues/problems.
I hope that if you chose to wait until January, there are no issues with documentation that will cause you fits and extra (expedited) fees.
As far as getting copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc., every state has a public records office with this type of stuff and most states let you go to county/town where it was obtained originally. If you don't have copies of original marriage certificates, you will need it next time you go to renew your driver's license in most states and if they implement the REAL ID, you will need it in every state, can't hurt to start tracking down. Also, when ordering these, it is often cheaper to get a second copy with the original so you can have one in a safe or deposit box and another in your files.
From
DCL website:
On October 4, 2006, the U.S. Government extended the deadline for Guests to obtain passports for sea travel to the
Caribbean, including the Bahamas and Mexico. The deadline is now expected to be as early as January 2008. Please note, however, that recent legislative changes may permit an even later deadline depending on whether certain requirements are in place by January 1, 2008.
Important note for TOAL, Caretagena, Columbia is
not included in the Caribbean.
Therefore, passports are mandatory for EB Repo cruise.
One other consideration is that if you ever need to evacuate or return home in an emergency, if you are not close to a Caribbean port, you will need a passport (think that if you had to get off on Canal crossing....)
Did you have a great time???
Tell me what was knew and interesting???
.
