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

[cntkg1]

I've been hemming and hawing myself about the passport issue. I even ordered new BC's from the city clerk because our originals were badly worn. Then I heard that the price was going up for the passports on March 8th and by sometime next year we would all need passports anyway to travel out of the continental u.s. and that BC's would no longer suffice. So we scrapped up $180.00 and went to the post office today along with 9 other people!!! We live in a small village and was I ever surprised to see all those people getting passports. There was actually some guy there trying to get his by March 12th!! Oh well, glad I got mine.

 

[DIS NURSE]

To the above replyer, "macphrsn"......refer to my reply #18 (DIS NURSE) for the picture taking options.....the costliest is at the post office itself. We all just piled in the car tonight and headed out to Cost-Co for our pix. It was soooooo slick! And a mere $4.95 each for the two pictures you are required to submit with all the paperwork. I, too, had the experience of, "the word is out," rush with several people in line talking about the increased fees as of March 8th and that STARTING AS SOON AS 6 MONTHS FROM NOW A PASSPORT WILL BE THE REQUIREMENT TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF YOUR COUNTRY'S BOARDERS!

And, Hey, if we all have our way....we want to keep up our expensive habits and cruise every year anyway, right?

So the more we travel, the more we can justify the $$.
The more we justify the $$, the more we travel.
Oh, those extra shifts at the hospital are better and better for my mental health, don't 'ya think?

DIS NURSE from Oregon

 

[Hollyster2]

I belong to AAA and they take passport photo's for free.

 

[tbck1993]

My husband and my passports expire at the end of the year so we'll have to renew soon too; and, we too, are planning on getting them for our kids before our cruise. Thanks for everyone's info on the March 8 date. I didn't know!!!

 

[HooKooDooKu]

I belong to AAA and they take passport photo's for free.

#$@ $@!% #@*&@%#

I wished I'd known that before shelling out the money at WalMart.

At least I did talk the lady into a "group" discount... basiclly we paid for DW and me and she did DS for free.

Also glad we got ours submitted before the news of this increase was released so that we avoided the rush.

 

[debm]

We got ours today! DH and I and all 4 kids. Got our pics at Walgreens for $7.99. It was half the cost of the other places I had called. (We don't have Costco close by.) Well, the 2 year old did NOT want his picture taken. I hope it is going to be OK. She had to do it 3 times! He kept putting his hands over his eyes and saying, "Don't see me! Don't see me!" Then when we got to the PO there was no line but the supervisor gave me a hard time for not having an appointment. Now, nowhere on any of their signs advertising their passport service M-F 9-4 does it say that you need an appointment if you have 6 people! But she ended up being very nice and we got out of there in about 45 minutes. But with my DS11 feeling like he is going to vomit, my DS2 running around and my DS9 with Down syndrome who is VERY active trying to organize their box display and run their automated stamp machines it felt like 4 hours!! At least my daughter was very patient. DH was able to leave a bit early to take DS9 back to school. Once she got all our IDs copied for the kids and he signed everything he left about 10 minutes before I did. I had to write the checks. Luckily I had enough checks in the checkbook. 7 checks total!! Hope everyone else has success too! I'm just glad it is over. This gave me a deadline that I had to get them done. Been sitting in my "to do" file for 6 months!!

 

[Tylerandalliesmom]

I was pleasantly surprised when we went to CVS (a drugstore on the east coast) and used the Kodak Picture maker machine. I asked the clerk how much it would be for the three of us she said 6.99. I thought not too bad - $6.99 each.She put all our pictures on one sheet and it was $6.99 for all three of us! I love a deal!

 

[DonnettaR]

So am I understanding correctly, that we need passports for the west coast cruises?

 

[musicgirl]

Just remember that at immigration at St. Thomas, having a passport is not going to get you through immigration faster than a bc. Everyone that can pass through the general immigration (ie: US citizens) go to the theater and you all wait in line. There is not a line that is for only passports. We were right behind a family with passports and they didn't go through any faster than we did.

No one leaves the ship until everyone has passed through. We had early excursions and went to the earlier time, but I don't remember having to worry about having our excursion tickets as documentation.

Getting on and off at St. Martin and St. Thomas was a breeze.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

So am I understanding correctly, that we need passports for the west coast cruises?

DCL is recomending them. Reasons include that passports are just plain better AND claim that you will get through immigration in L.A. faster.

While I didn't want to spend the money for them, the final straw that said I had to get them was the trouble that would be caused if I were to lose my drivers license while at a port of call. Getting back into the U.S. would be more difficult and getting ON my plane on time would likely be out-of-the question.

With a passport, I can keep the passports in the safe in my cabin and use my drivers license getting on the boat at ports of call. Should I loose my license, a member of our party could easily retrieve the passport from our cabin AND I would still have everything I need to disimbark in LA and get on my flight home.

 

[FirstTimeCruiser]

I have another question to add to this thread. If my DS(2) has a passport that we leave on board the ship while in a port, what does he need to get back on the ship? Just the KTTW card, since he would have no other form of picture ID?
Thanks!

 

[jrabbit]

I have another question to add to this thread. If my DS(2) has a passport that we leave on board the ship while in a port, what does he need to get back on the ship? Just the KTTW card, since he would have no other form of picture ID?
Thanks!

Correct. Children do not need the photo Id. I've read here on the DIS that when you originally check in that they will put a description of those without photo id into the computer so when you leave and reboard the ship the security folks can see the description and see if it matches up to the person trying to board.

 

[DonnettaR]

Does anyone know what the new passport fees are for minors after 3/12?

 

[jrabbit]

Does anyone know what the new passport fees are for minors after 3/12?

Passport Fees

Adults (and youth age 16 and older):
$30 Processing Fee, $55 Passport Fee, $12 Security Fee (Security fee starting March 8, 2005)


Children UNDER age 16:
$30 Processing Fee, $40 Passport Fee, $12 Security Fee (Security fee starting March 8, 2005)

Yes, its March 8 NOT March 12 when the additional $12 fee get added in.

 

[Danno123]

I've been told its a good idea to make a photo copy of your passport and keep in a safe location on your trip, just incase you loose it.

 

[hopelea]

I do understand the need for passports. I will purchase one soon, but not for this trip. Financially deplited!!

My question is, if I take a ML just in case, should it be the real one or can I take a copy of it?? On our last cruise, 10/03, I didn't need my ML.

 

[jcemom]

I think I need more convincing to consider passports. Unless they were indeed to become mandatory, I just am not seeing a good enough incentive to shell out nearly $500 for something my family will use only one time in the forseeable future.

I don't see how it would speed your getting off the ship. If the entire ship has to clear before anyone is allowed off, my family has passports but the rest of the ship has BCs...I still can't get off until all the supposedly 'longer process' BC people have cleared anyway...right?

Everyone here seems so supportive of carrying passports though. What am I missing? If it doesn't become mandatory do I really need to shell out an additional $500??? That's a lot of money.

 

[Aisling]

$500 sure is a lot of money! The reason I decided to get the passports was because I just feel better leaving American soil having the protection of proof of citizenship for me and my family. But it's not NEEDED if you'd rather not spend the money. Just don't forget your birth certs. and photo IDs, and you'll be fine.

 

[DonnettaR]

We received this email today from our TA about passports.



Hi everyone!

We received the following letter from Disney Cruise Line concerning their recommendation for US citizenship documentation for the West Coast and repositioning cruises:



**************************



As your clients prepare to set sail, we would like to share some information with you that will assist them in making their vacation seamless by significantly reducing their check-in and disembarkation time.



We recommend that United States citizens bring their valid United States passport as proof of citizenship. If your client is a US citizen and does not currently hold a valid US passport, we strongly encourage them to obtain one prior to their scheduled sail date. As you may know, US passports are valid for 10 years and can help expedite the boarding process, so this is a great time for them to apply for one. Please contact your local Immigration office for questions about applying for a US passport. As a reminder, US citizens traveling without a valid passport are required to present an original, state-issued certified birth certificate along with government-issued photo identification. Children under the age of 18 are not required to present photo ID.

 

[kg66]

I have something to add to all this confusion! When we arrived at the port prior to our cruise in Feb, they kept our BC's and can only immagine if we had passports they would have kept them too. So having said that, what does it matter if a BC will suffice, to panic to get a passport. I do agree that getting a passport will make checking in much more convenient and easy, but as for at other islands, we only showed our KTTW card and photo ID. Any ideas?
Kathy