Beat Up Birth Certificate

[mickeyfan9194]

My God! I didn't know I was going to get bashed for not having a passport. So far my birth certificate has served me very well for my DCL travels, which is the only time I've been out of the country (except for Canada). No problems yet, so until I'm told I NEED one, I think I'll stick to it. I don't really care if passports are "cool", nor do I feel the need to "show off", or tell others what they have to do. When the laws change, I'll be happy to abide.

 

[Rence]

No one is bashing anyone for not having a passport.

Is a passport essential? For many travelers no.

Is a passport a good idea? Yes.

A passport has many advantages that have been discussed at length. The disadvantage is cost. Its a trade off decision that everyone needs to make for themselves.

Most of the posts on here that discuss passports start out with "Do I need a passport?" or "I have a concern about my birth certificate?" or something similar.

I feel that if you have any concerns at all, you should get a passport. If you birth certificate is "Probably" going to be OK, do you really want to get to the port knowing you will "Probably" be boarded? A passport eliminates this uncertainty.



If someone posted "My entire family has US Birth Certificates wtih raised seals that are in good condition. The names on our Birth Certificates all match the names on our other IDs with the exception of my wifes maiden name on her birth certificate vs her married name on her driver's license. Are we going to be OK?" You are going to get a Yes of course you'll be OK response.

But with the nature of the posts on this board, most of the time you are going to hear "Get a Passport" in response to questions regarding uncertainty about documentation and ID. If you are unsure at all, don't risk your trip, get a passport.

 

[TheWog]

no one is bashing anyone, I am simply stating that you never know where the future will bring you and you may not have time to obtain a passport with short notice. They would hopefully notify you as far ahead before any impletation of a change would occur, but you just never know.

Please don't bash me because my DS7 thinks he is cool to have passport. It's something neat for a young child.

 

[staceymerrill]

Can't We all Just Get Along.. ? LOL...

 

[Greysword]

Heck, it is neat for me too!! Sort of, James Bond like

A Passport is the real true life Key to the World card!!






Oh, and I guess it is like travel insurance. You don't need it, and some will not have the cost where others prefer the overall security it provides.

 

[Jillpie]

This thread is becoming comical to me. Are we really getting heated about passports here?? It must be a slow news day. When I plan a trip to Europe or the Far East, I will apply for a passport. Not until then. I don't understand the hype. It is not needed, I will not get it. Simple. A quick 5.00 to my town hall and woolaa, a birth certificate that is incredibly easy to travel with. Mickeymars, not quite sure what you mean by "the BC was not employed for travel", what the heck? My DW passes are small and plastic, but easy to lose. But do I lose them or do they fall apart? Of course not, because they are of value to me. Same with a BC. I am an adult. I will take good care of them when travelling and keep them in a safe place. Not a big deal. I just don't get the hype. Disney doesn't require a passport. Until then, I will stick with our birth certificates.

Carry on.

 

[Rence]

Jillpie,
You are an example of someone who can travel just fine with a passport on a Disney Cruise.

However if you go back to the start of this thread -- We have someone posting that they have a beat up brith certificate and another where the seal is barely detectable and the question is asked "What should I do?"

Well there are two options -- Take the Birth Certificates on the cruise and hope that they are acceptable and you are allowed on the boat.
OR
Get a passport and know that you can get on the boat.

Most of the pro-passport talk has been regarding the fact that if there is any question or concern regarding your birth certificate, get a passport and eliminate the worry.

Many other reasons for getting a passport have been listed as well, such as the potential for problems if you should happen to miss the boat in a port etc.

A passport is not required. But many things regarding the cruise are not required but are still good ideas. Each must weigh the cost/benefit of the many suggestions made on this forum. There are advantages to using a passport vs a birth certificate but there are also increased costs.

Travel Insurance is not required to take a cruise, but many feel that it is a good investment, others consider it a waste of money. A passport is much the same.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

No flames please!!!

I have young children...the only reason we have passports--we went overseas this past March.

For Aquagirl: Call the cruise line and explain your dilemma and see if they suggest a new one. Of course, if they say no and then you are denied at boarding--I don't think DCL will take responsibility for saying no b/c it is the traveler's responsibility to have documents in order.

Also--to those who order BC--when my daughters were born, I ordered extra copies, and way back when I went on my honeymoon and needed a BC for travel...I ordered extra copies. All documents are kept in a lock box at home. When a copy is taken out and used for it's purpose--it is immediately returned. But if something happens to it we have extra.

Additionally--isn't a BC required when applying for a passport. The problems with the BC that you would encounter at embarkation--I would think would present similar issues when applying for a passport.

However--BC are good to get on boats--if you already have one great.

Another pro in the Passport pool--anytime I attend/read/watch something on keeping your children safe--one of the suggestions is to get a passport for your child. That way, heaven forbid the child is kidnapped or taken by another family member--it would be more difficult for that person to get a new passport issued in the child's name.

It is a pain in the neck to get passports b/c you think well I'll never go any where else. But now that I have mine in hand--and hey if there is a good sale on some itinerary some place I only dreamed to go--I can now book it, have my passport in hand and go.

 

[Aquagirl]

Hi Lisa

Did you mean to direct your comment to someone else because I did not have a dilemma. I have a passport, I was just suggesting that a laminated raised seal birth certificate was an option. I'm not bashing I just wanted to make sure that whomever you meant to respond to had their question answered.

 

[PatriciaH]

Our travel agency strongly advises our customers to get a passport for travel. mikeymars thanks for the passportexpress link. That is a great service.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Just to add more - I too also travel with passports, they aren't needed for St. Maarten, but if I want to go to St. Barths or Anguilla for the day, I would need them, Barbados requires them now, and I am sure more will follow suit.

But on my Costco travel paperwork, they have added:

"We strongly suggest that all U.S. citizens traveling outside the U.S. carry a passport valid for 6 months after your return to the United States"

I would think for these new cruises out of the west coast, a passport would be required.

My fear has always been (since 9/11), is what if something happens and we end up somewhere we shouldn't be, or if something happens while on ship, and they want to see everyones documents, with a passport, simple, they plug you in and no problem, but with birth cert., marriage cert. and Drivers license, you could have more of a problem.

I was on a ship once and there was an immigration problem, this was probably 10 years ago, and we had to show all docs, the passport holders cleared a whole lot faster.

 

[FredS]

The only copy of my birth certificate which I had for years was as you describe. Rather poor quality photocopy with barely raised seal. It also had been stored folded and looked rough. I bit the bullet and sent off for better copies. You don't need them as often as adults, but enough that it is worth the trouble to go ahead and get copies which are not questionable.

We have passports, but I don't plan on taking them with us on our upcoming Disney Magic cruise because we don't need them. I don't see the sense of risking losing them when there is no need to haul them around with us. We all have multiple copies of our birth certificates, with raised seals and names, birthdates all matching, so no need for a passport on the DCL cruise.

I think that a travel agency which strongly recommends that all clients obtain and take a passport, period, is taking the easy way out. Instead of taking the time and effort to educate themselves and their clients, they just tell everyone to get one, regardless? Not very professional, in my opinion, when many cruisers will never go anywhere that a passport is needed, so that trouble and expense is completely wasted.

 

[CheapMom]

I am sorry- I hope I didn't offend anyone- espec. Mikeymars- with my rather flip comment about passports beings his life's passion. I just started reading his posts and they were cracking me up- I mean, this guy is into passports. Then I was reading another thread and there were all these pro passport posts- and it was him again. Really, though- his posts contained good info and he makes a great arguement- I am sure you are right- the passport is the best... but since I know that a raised seal BC is acceptable and we already have 3/5 here at the house- no way am I plunking down $$$ for 5 passports when I can just order 2 BCs for 12 dollars. We aren't planning on travelling abroad anytime soon. I am going to see about those laminated BCs like they have in CT. What an excellent idea. I hope they have it here. Oh- if it is laminated- what is the mark of authenticity- since it won't have a raised seal?

 

[PatriciaH]

Originally posted by FredS
I think that a travel agency which strongly recommends that all clients obtain and take a passport, period, is taking the easy way out. Instead of taking the time and effort to educate themselves and their clients, they just tell everyone to get one, regardless? Not very professional, in my opinion, when many cruisers will never go anywhere that a passport is needed, so that trouble and expense is completely wasted.

The travel agency I work at has been in business for over 16 years. We have many customers that have been coming to us for that long. We pride ourselves on our customer service and year after year receive letters, postcards, gifts and great thanks from our clients. That our customers take the time to personaly do these things makes me proud and speaks volumes about our customer service. All of the agents in our office have traveled the world and have educated ourselves just fine. Our customers know where they can use a birth certificate and government-issued picture I.D. and where they need a passport. Yes, we strongly recommend a passport when traveling.

 

[NancyDVC]

One more opinion.
My birth certificate does not have a raised seal. In 1949 (yes I am revealing my age here) they did not have raised seals on birth certificates in NYC. Instead my birth certificate is a 'photostat' (ageism again) of the form originally submitted to the NYC DOH on a page that has 'certifying' signatures of officials from the mayor, DOH and other city agencies. I read on the government passport site that the birth certificate can be certified.
So off I went to a local post office (in the mall), yesterday, Saturday and it was a breeze! They even had a passport photo service right there! Waiting on line took a bit longer because the 4 families in front of me were all there with kids, as per the new regulations that kids must appear in person. By the way most of the parents were annoyed that they had to bring the kids in person. I explained to the woman behind me that it was to prevent kidnapping/unauthorized removal of kids from here to overseas by anyone.
My birth certificate was acceptable. I filled out my paperwork at home after downloading the application from the passport website. And now all I have to do is wait. I was told it would take 6 weeks to receive it.
Now no more worries about what is acceptable ID!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

AQUAGIRL...

sorry--so many posts--just took a little bit of time before I confused what I was reading--

Anyway--my apologies..I missed if you mentioned a passport--but in any case--thanks for pointing that out.

 

[Aquagirl]

No problem Lisa.

Cheapmom, my laminated birth certificate does have the raised seal. I think that they emboss it after it is laminated.

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

Whew! For a minute there I thought I'd accidentally entered the debate board.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I believe it is only a matter of time before a Passport will be required, and I hope it happens soon. I hate to think of anyone stuck in a foreign country without a passport. Things happen, you need to be prepared. I LOVE my passport (yes I really do). Of course, I have travelled to Ireland and really needed it, but it also came in handy while going to Cancun (where it is not required, just a BC is, but BELIEVE ME it made it A LOT easier). I used it on my cruise this past November. Anyway, my point to all of this, is I hope it becomes a requirement someday, and that it is something that most people have, like a driver's license or State ID card.