Birth Certificate VS. Passport....Here's the latest/greatest

[DIS NURSE]

I know there is a lot of reassuring info out there stating all you need is your birth certificate to board the ship...and THAT is true. But, I will let you in on what the OWNER of a St. Thomas excursion company just told me on the phone!

I have been a little concerned about making it in time to the excursions when I have read time after time that it takes a lllooonnnggg time to even get off the ship...especially at St. Maarten and St. Thomas since all the 9/11 hoopla!

The guy told me that is correct and you have a chance of missing the excursion, or it starts later than advetised, (thus lossing $$ either way) unless you disembark as easily as possible...the ONLY thing under your control to help this IS A PASSPORT! Apparently you have an easier time doing ANYTHING (planned fun to emergencies) if you and your kids have one!

Plus, if anything ever happened (natural or human induced) to the USA or the surrounding area...or the ship God forbid...that passport is your card to freedom with no questions asked!

He therefore totally convinced me that myself, DH, DD, and DS all should take the time, $, and energy to get passports before going onboard.

I just wanted to pass this on to fellow DIS'ers....of all the silly and fun details we all are concerned about planning for on these discussion boards, THIS IS A BIGGY! and it sounds like one of the best insurance policies your $$ can buy!
DIS NURSE from Oregon

 

[Tylerandalliesmom]

I just updated mine and sent in the paperwork for my two kids age 4 & 6. They were adopted from Korea. Even though I was very nervous sending their original adoption finalization paperwork to the passport agency I felt it was worth it to have that peace of mind! I also am glad we made it under the wire for the lesser fee!

Dis RN from CT

 

[Joel110]

I do think it's a good idea to have a passport. However, we were just on the Eastern Cruise in January and the only time Passports and Birth Certificates were checked is when you first check-in to receive your boarding documents and when you arrive back to Port Canaveral.

The only things you needed at St. Maarten and St. Thomas were your Key to the World Card and a photo ID for guests older than 18.

 

[disney queen]

we always travel w/our passports!

 

[debm]

what lesser fee?? I need to get six passports. Did I miss out??

 

[Aisling]

Sometime in March, the passport fees are going up. Someone out there, do you know the date?

 

[ChrisnSteph]

March 8 is when the fees go up by 12.00.

 

[debm]

I'm so glad you all told me this. I have been putting off getting these passports. It is going to cost us a bit of $$$$ since we need 6 but I really think we should have them for the Panama Canal cruise in August. So I am going to take 3 of the kids tomorrow to get our pictures and then do my other son and husband later this week. Thanks so much for the info!!

 

[Scratch42]

I'm so glad you all told me this. I have been putting off getting these passports. It is going to cost us a bit of $$$$ since we need 6 but I really think we should have them for the Panama Canal cruise in August. So I am going to take 3 of the kids tomorrow to get our pictures and then do my other son and husband later this week. Thanks so much for the info!!

Come on over and introduce yourself to your fellow "Ship of Fools"


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=560179

Scratch

 

[KimDisFan]

If your ship stops at a foreign port before St Thomas, you will need to be check by immigrtation at St. Thomas and they do this on the ship. There are several things that will effect your ability to get off the ship quickly 1. How many other ships are in port that day (only so many immigration personnel) 2. How efficient the ship is on moving people. If you have an early excursion (non ship) make sure you have your confirmation with you, this should give you access to the immigration process early. We did this on the Carnival Glory and we were off 30 minutes prior to the official embarkment time. A passport or BC and driver liscense didn't matter in this case, both took the same amount of time for this process.

 

[TheWog]

here's the link to download the forms.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

 

[debm]

My husband has a passport for traveling with the military. He says he doesn't think he should use that though. Can he get another one--a regular one like ours? We're going to get them today!!!

 

[jrabbit]

The only things you needed at St. Maarten and St. Thomas were your Key to the World Card and a photo ID for guests older than 18.

True to get OFF and ON the ship in either port. You don't go through immigration in St. Maarten. BUT in St. Thomas you do - BEFORE you can leave the ship. Here (in the WDT for US citizens) you need your passport or government issued photo id AND birth certificate.

 

[lovemygoofy]

My husband has a passport for traveling with the military. He says he doesn't think he should use that though. Can he get another one--a regular one like ours? We're going to get them today!!!

Your dh can't use his military passport because he isn't on a military mission. I tried to talk my dh into the same thing..lol. We are just getting regular passports; I told him to take his with him on deployments now and he get them stamped just like if he was visiting Iraq and Kuwait on vacation..lol

Have a nice trip.

 

[CruisingCA2005]

DH & kids got their passport pictures yesterday (I still need to get mine). We're going to get to the post office this weekend (the post office at LAX is open on weekends too) to turn in our paperwork. Trying to get ours done before 3/12.

 

[mokehil]

We are also getting our passports. These are the details I have gathered:

For children under 16-
1.Both parents and the child must be present to sign the forms in the presence of the passport offical.
(On a form I had it did state you can bring a signed note from the other parent, but after calling two different places both agents did not mention the "note" and said BOTH parents must be present.

2. They are now VERY specific on the type of paper the photos are taken on, many people have had their photos returned for improper paper. Best bet it to pay for the photos from walmart or AAA or mailboexes etc. I know many of us are capable of taking good passport photos but I am not risking it that they will be delayed because I must retake them.

3. I have never had a problem getting my official documnets back and have done it 5 times. I always request they return my expired passports too.

4. Make sure you have a original birth certificate not a copy.

I love having passports for my kids. I have used it for ID on several ocaassions when a birth certificate was needed.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

For children under 16-
1.Both parents and the child must be present to sign the forms in the presence of the passport offical.
(On a form I had it did state you can bring a signed note from the other parent, but after calling two different places both agents did not mention the "note" and said BOTH parents must be present.

The last information I heard regarding this subject was that the note had to be notorized.

Well, here's a cut-n-paste from the state department web site at the State Department web site regarding requirements for minors.


5. Present Parental Application Permission Documentation
(for minors under age 14)

1. Both parents must appear together and sign or

2. One parent appears, signs, and submits second parent's notarized Form DS-3053, Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 14 , authorizing passport issuance for the child or submits a notarized , written statement of consent from the non-appearing parent (including the child's name and date of birth, as well as parent's identification information or a copy of his/her ID) authorizing passport issuance for the child or

3. One parents appears, signs, and submits primary evidence of sole authority to apply (such as one of the following):

Child's certified U.S. or foreign birth certificate (with translation, if necessary) listing only applying parent; or
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) or Certification of Birth Abroad (Form DS-1350) listing only applying parent; or
Court order granting sole custody to the applying parent (unless child's travel is restricted by that order); or
Adoption decree (if applying parents is sole adopting parent); or
Court order specifically permitting applying parent's or guardian's travel with the child; or
Judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent; or
Death certificate of non-applying parent.
If none of the above documentation is available, the applying parent/guardian should submit a Form DS-3053: Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 14 .

NOTE:

A third-party in loco parentis applying on behalf of a minor under the age of 14 must submit a notarized written statement or affidavit from both parents or guardians authorizing a third-party to apply for a passport. When the statement or affidavit is from only one parent/guardian, the third-party must present evidence of sole custody of the authorizing parent/guardian.

 

[DIS NURSE]

Hello again...just look back at "jrabbit" (cast member)(reply #13) and we should ALL be traveling with passposts across international boarders!

I, too, have found out some more helpful info regarding getting these passports DONE BEFORE THE 8TH OF MARCH OR YOU WILL BE CHARGED SIGNIFICANTLY MORE!.....

Yes, the list of detailed requirements goes on and on...especially for children....don't pre-sign anything.

The CHEAPEST place to have passport photos taken is Cost-Co and/ or Sam's Club photo departments...only $5! Wal Mart wants $10.95 and the post office wants $15. The post office lady was the one who clued me into Cost-Co, so I know the paper quality is right and they accept theirs all the time she told me.

FYI.....we all may be familiar with the 10 year expiration of an adult passport, but I learned today that kids under 14 expire in 5 years.

This whole process is going to be costly....but I still rest my case that this is worth the safety and reassurance.

 

[jrabbit]

Hello again...just look back at "jrabbit" (cast member)(reply #13) and we should ALL be traveling with passposts across international boarders!

I'm not really a Disney CM. I'm a "DIS Cast Member". And that's just the "tag line" that you automatically get when you reach 60 or 80 posts here on the DIS. You're "Earning My Ears" ... in another 50 or 60 posts you too will be a "Cast Member".

BTW - thanks for being a nurse out here in Oregon - we need ya!!

 

[macphrsn]

Where do I go to get my picture taken for a passport? Suggesions.