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

[debm]

As far as I know they keep passports for everyone that is not an American citizen. I didn't know that you could travel from Canada without them. Our exchange student from Switzerland was required to have a passport and required to surrender it to them upon check-in. He was given a receipt to get it back at the end of the cruise. It was better that way for us--then we didn't have to worry about him losing it!!!

 

[musicgirl]

Tracey,
I'm with you. I don't foresee being out of the country other than our upcoming Western. Although, I keep saying, "This is the last one."

As long as BC are all that is required, that's what I'm taking. I bring an extra certified copy with me, of course in a different place from the 1st.

Some people will leave extras or copies of BC and DL at home with someone in case of an emergency. They could at least have it faxed.

The more I save, the more I get to spend on the cruise!!!

 

[hopelea]

After reading the news of the upcoming requirement of everyone having a passport in the near future. I just decided I would renew my old passport. Right now it is only $55 to renew. The paperwork is in the mail right now.

 

[debm]

Tracey---I too, did not want to get them because it cost us near $600 for them. That was a "chunk of change!" But now that they are ordered and processing I really do feel better about it. I think as far as people talk about "quickness" of going thru customs or security---it's true, it always took me longer because I had all 6 BC folded and in their respective envelopes. My husband's and mine are on really thin paper and I was always afraid of losing one or it getting messed up. I never let the kids do their own BCs. BUT with the passports I forsee us each holding our passport---me passing them out to DH and the kids just prior to showing them and then "bing" "bing" "bing" we've each showed them and we're done. I saw other families doing this on our last Eastern and I was fumbling with all the BCs and held everything up. Just my 2 cents. We've cruised 4 times already without passports and now that we have them we only have 1 cruise planned...Guess I'll have to make it worth our money and plan a few more cruises in the next few years!!

 

[musicgirl]

Hopelea, where does it say that is will be a requirement for the future?

 

[hopelea]

I read it on a thread. I don't know if it was this one or another one talking about passports. But, it is saying by 2008 we will have to have them to travel. Check out the recent passport threads and you will find it. Sorry I couldn't help more, but I have been reading so many threads about passports that I forgot where I read it!

 

[mmouse37]

There was a thread yesterday that talked about passports becoming mandatory for any U.S. citizen to return back into the U.S. I don't think it becomes mandatory until 2008 or so...but it will be happening.

MJ

 

[hopelea]

Thank you MJ, so glad to know I didn't just dream that
I think I have been reading too many threads about the same topic!

Hope

 

[HappyLawyer]

This is such a great thread and thanks to te op i have been debating this issue and decided just to get it to be on the safe side if i was not completely convinced before i am now

the only thing i can contribute is
if you are a college student the office that takes the pics for your student id's usually take pass port pic here it is 25.00
or walgreens for $7.99 they definitely do the pics takes 5 minutes

if this helps anyone i am glad.

just called cvs on 3/29/05 they can do your entire family on one sheet for 7.99 not per person but for an entire sheet

 

[MariaTia2]

Well we got to the Post Office today for ours. One thing I did not realize was that they would keep our orginial birth certificates. He said they would mail them back to us along with the passport in about 4 to 6 weeks. We had 3 people in line ahead of us and 3 people behind us in line at 1:30 today, 3/7. Everyone trying to get in before the price increase. Glad we made it today! But, that is normal protocal about the bc's right?

 

[DIS NURSE]

Yes, that IS their protocol to keep your originals until they send you your passport....SCARY, HUH? Ya' just hope to GOODNESS that nothing gets lost in the mail! Mine are currently in their hot little hands...and I will not rest easy until they are returned.

GOOD JOB pulling it together in time to get down their today! We all went on Friday and whew!, what a feeling of accomplishment!

DIS NURSE from Oregon

 

[pppiglet]

Well, I didn't get them before the fees went into effect, but finally broke down and made the appointment for next Thursday at the Post Office. Getting the 3 of us there at the same time was more of a problem! Thanks for posting about them keeping the birth certs. I will make sure I copy them before we go just for an emergency to ease my mind.

 

[HappyLawyer]

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

Walgreens does them,
and most college campus's take them, not sure but maybe dmv too

 

[ljt064]

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

Hi Tylerandalliesmom

I was reading the posting about getting a Passport and noticed your children were adopted from Korea. My DG (4) was adopted from Korea as well.

Funny reading your post since I was just getting her info from our strong box to ensure I had all the data for our cruise in November.

I just realized we never did the paperwork to obtain a Cert. of Citizenship from the INS. So I will be sending that in this week.

Was the Passport process easy for your kids? Anything special to know regarding adopted children?

Also when are you cruising?

Thanks!!

 

[HappyLawyer]

Hi Tylerandalliesmom

I was reading the posting about getting a Passport and noticed your children were adopted from Korea. My DG (4) was adopted from Korea as well.

Funny reading your post since I was just getting her info from our strong box to ensure I had all the data for our cruise in November.

I just realized we never did the paperwork to obtain a Cert. of Citizenship from the INS. So I will be sending that in this week.

Was the Passport process easy for your kids? Anything special to know regarding adopted children?

Also when are you cruising?

Thanks!!

since we are on the subject of adoption, do we need to bring the adoption papers in addition to their birth cert, i have an il bc for my dd do i need her papers also