I am panicing about my birth certificate!!-need suggestions fast

[TheWog]

Good for you, now go relax.....

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by kellib36
I was told by the state of Mass, that I couldn't get my own BC!!! Not sure exactly what I was supposed to do, but thank goodness my Mom was still around (still is!) and SHE could get it for me.
When the gal told me I wasn't allowed to get it, because of sealed records and all, I was stunned speechless......and called my Mom crying! So much for being a grownup after 40 years!!

Ahh, that was going to be my question. I need my parents to pick up my BC in CT. So this isn't a problem??
PS. I'm calling my mommmy also after 40+ years <G>

 

[Mom2Belle&PeterPan]

HURRAY Karen!!! Now, go have a fun and relaxing vacation!!!

 

[Cruise04]

Just an fyi - a lot of this has stemmed from Sept 11 - the birth certificate issue. And it's not just DCL - it's airlines too. My friend went to Mexico this spring and got her hospital certificate (she didn't realize there was a difference) and they were not going to let her on the plane to come home. After quite a few phone calls they let her on but told her to get a real one or a passport.

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by KarenB
Yahoo!! My birth certificate is now in my hand!!!!

This is what I get-worrying about everyone else except myself!!

Karen

YAY Karen, I am SO happy to read this!!!

 

[mmouse37]

Folks...this is just another example of why everyone really should invest in getting passports....travel outside of the U.S. is becoming more strict and all indications are that passports will be the only acceptable form of I.D. in the future. Many islands that only required BC before are now requiring passports. Even when I travel within the U.S. I still carry my passport to use for photo I.D. for flights.

I agree that they are a chunk of money to layout for the average family...but well worth it if you are doing any kind of traveling outside the U.S. Adult passports are good for 10 years and children's are good for 5 years.

KarenB...so glad it worked out for you...relax and enjoy your cruise!!!

MJ

 

[invaderzim]

FYI -- anyone who finds they need their birth certificate and do not live in the state they were born, go to vitalchek.com. You can get a birth certificate for any state in the country and they also offer overnight service.

We live in NJ and I got my husband's Tennessee and my Florida birth certificates through them.

 

[Memaw2Wm]

Originally posted by invaderzim
FYI -- anyone who finds they need their birth certificate and do not live in the state they were born, go to vitalchek.com. You can get a birth certificate for any state in the country and they also offer overnight service.

We live in NJ and I got my husband's Tennessee and my Florida birth certificates through them.

Unless you're in an extreme hurry use vitalchek.com's link to your *birth* state's website ... it's a lot cheaper to deal directly with your state of birth rather than paying vitalchek for their services on top of paying the state certification fee.

And I'm casting another vote for getting passports ... I got them for me, DD, DS and all three grandkids ... a bit of an investment for sure, but well worth the cost in the long run.

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by mmouse37
Folks...this is just another example of why everyone really should invest in getting passports....travel outside of the U.S. is becoming more strict and all indications are that passports will be the only acceptable form of I.D. in the future. Many islands that only required BC before are now requiring passports. Even when I travel within the U.S. I still carry my passport to use for photo I.D. for flights.

I agree that they are a chunk of money to layout for the average family...but well worth it if you are doing any kind of traveling outside the U.S. Adult passports are good for 10 years and children's are good for 5 years.

KarenB...so glad it worked out for you...relax and enjoy your cruise!!!

MJ

I agree with this. DH got a passport last year when we cruised, I already had mine. Then recently we invested the money and got passports for DSs, for our upcoming cruise. We waited till older DS turned 16 in March, then applied, because once a person is 16 years old their passport is good for 10 years, just like an adults. DS13's passport is good for 5 years. I feel it's definitely worth the money, because I've been reading similar travel articles; many islands will start requiring passports in the not too distant future.

 

[TheWog]

Barbados is an example of a Caribbean destination requiring passports for U.S. citizens to travel there (unless you are on a cruise ship which has received a special exception for the time being).

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Yeah, Karen, glad to see you won't miss out! Now back to making packing lists...
Robin M.

 

[invaderzim]

Yes, yes, I agree that passports are the way to go. And we had all intentions of getting them for this year's cruise -- until we found out it would cost over $300 for our family to get them! That was a little more than we could afford at the time.

We will, however, be sure to get them for next year's Mexican Riviera cruises, but we can plan better for that much of a chunk of money with a little more time to save.

 

[talicskai]

So glad to hear your dilemma ended happily ever after!

 

[scrapperjill]

Yea!!! I'm glad to hear everything is in order now.

And I agree it was a great post....I'm sure quite a few people attempt to us the hospital certificate...simply because they didn't realize.

Barbmouse63...more and more states are going to the paper with water seal instead of a raised seal..so as long as it is your "official" BC it'll work. I beleive the ones we recieved from Washington have the watermark...but Cali has a raised seal...sort of like a noterized mark.

I also agrree with the passports....it makes travle checks so much easer...and you don't have to worry so much about tearing, or wrinkling your official BC.

 

[KarenB]

The new PA one I just got has the raised seal, but you have to run your fingers over it.

As for the passport, for a family of 4 and no immediate plans to travel, I can understand that it is a big chunk of $$. I think that DH and I will probably get ours in the near future. DSs are 14 and a week shy of 16. We would wiat until they turn 16 to allow it to last longer. Plus we have been discussing a trip to the UK in the next year or two.

I can completely understand how a person can think a hospital certificate is okay. I really never thought about it since it allowed me to get many "official" documents all my life. It was only until I sat down and read the "fine print" that I realized it was not the right piece of paper.

Bythe way-I did sleep a bit better last night!

Karen

 

[TheWog]

Originally posted by invaderzim

We will, however, be sure to get them for next year's Mexican Riviera cruises, but we can plan better for that much of a chunk of money with a little more time to save.

Do one at a time over a few months and you won't even notice the costs that way.

 

[invaderzim]

KARENB

You should be aware that if you get your 14 and 16-year-olds done now, it would only cost like $25 or something like that. That's what happened with my DD, we waited a year too long and now she falls into the other category. 16 and under is MUCH cheaper to get. Even tough they only last 5 years, you would be saving over $100 between the two of them. Might be worth a look into.

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by invaderzim
KARENB

You should be aware that if you get your 14 and 16-year-olds done now, it would only cost like $25 or something like that. That's what happened with my DD, we waited a year too long and now she falls into the other category. 16 and under is MUCH cheaper to get. Even tough they only last 5 years, you would be saving over $100 between the two of them. Might be worth a look into.

This may have changed since the last time you checked passport fees, but now there's only a difference in price of $15. Here's the info from the passports services web site: http://travel.state.gov/newfees.html

Passport Fees
Effective August 19, 2002



Routine Services (Form DS-11)*
Non-Refundable



Passport Service
Passport
Fee*
Execution
Fee*
Total
Fees

Age 16 and over
$55 Passport Fee
$30 Execution Fee
$85 TOTAL

Under Age 16
$40 Passport Fee
$30 Execution Fee
$70 TOTAL

 

[mmouse37]

Passport prices went up within the last 18 months or so. I remember a thread about it and many people were applying for passports before the price increase.

MJ