Info on Passport Application for Children

[peg2001]

I thought I was prepared. I had read and re-read the requirements for passport application on the state department website. I had the applications filled out, I had photos taken, I had certified copies of the birth certificates, I had my DH go with me as both parents need to be there to apply for the children, we both had photo ID, I called ahead to see if I needed an appointment at the passport office or could just stop by. . .

The passport agent took one look at everything we brought in, looked up, and asked if we had brought the children's social security cards!! Nowhere on the state department website have I seen this as a requirement. He was polite and let us process things as far as we could and will let us take the cards in later today or tomorrow BUT I was a bit irritated at having this sprung on me. It was a bit of an effort to round up all the required items and take time from the work day for all 4 of us to go to the passport office.

Can anyone confirm that this is a requirement? If it is, why doesn't the state department website make this clear?

Oh well, we have to go back anyway to give them a check. . .again, the website states that a major credit card can be used but he said he could take ONLY a personal or certified check.

Peg

 

[TootyJane]

....

Can anyone confirm that this is a requirement? If it is, why doesn't the state department website make this clear?
[/B]

Since we're going to get our passports tomorrow, I called to inquire. You do not need to bring your Social Security card(s). You just need to be sure you have filled it in on the application(s). HTH.

 

[ducklite]

My son got his passport when he was either 14 or 15, and they DID NOT ask for a SS card. We used a passport agent at a local library. We had to pay by check, one check made out to the library, the other to US Govt.

I am pretty sure that asking for it is ILLEGAL, it is actually only supposed to be used by the SSA.

Are you going through a passport agent or an actual passport office?

If it's an agency (private) I would go back and take my stuff and go elsewhere. This smells really fishy to me.

Anne

 

[CarolAnnC]

Nope, did not need Social Security cards and I just applied last month for my passports. Already have them. In fact, they did not even ask about the father of my DD's..youngest is 16, never mind about social security cards. Very strange they told you this.

 

[jlmcantwait]

Hi,
You do not need the cards, just the number. If your child is very young and does not have a number you put all zeros.
I just got off the phone with our town hall (they do passports)
they informed me of the policy.
BTW- you can have your spouse fill out a statement of consent
(I got the form off of the gov website) The non-applying parent
would sign it so they do not need to be present.
Hope that helps!

 

[jellymoon]

What if your child doesn't have a SSN yet because of an adoption in progress?

 

[jlmcantwait]

She said if they "legitimately" do not have one, put all zeros. What she was saying with out coming out and saying it is- if you just cant find it don't put all zeros, but its ok if they really do not have one.

 

[peg2001]

I appreciate the input. We went to the passport department of a US Postal Office so you would THINK they would know what the requirements are. We had all of our SS#s on the applications and he only asked for the children's cards, I had mine with me and he wasn't interested in seeing it.

My DH went back with the check and a printout from the state department website detailing what the requirements are and the agent explained that he needed 2 forms of ID for each person: the birth certificates were one form, the DL was another form for the adults, but he needed a second ID for the kids (e.g, social security cards).

Curious that not all passport offices require the same things.

Peg

 

[jlmcantwait]

I think he might need some recurrent training!!!!!

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by peg2001
My DH went back with the check and a printout from the state department website detailing what the requirements are and the agent explained that he needed 2 forms of ID for each person: the birth certificates were one form, the DL was another form for the adults, but he needed a second ID for the kids (e.g, social security cards).

Curious that not all passport offices require the same things.

Peg

Ours let me sign a form attesting to my sons identity.

Anne

 

[cindy_k]

I just got my son's new passport.
I didn't need the SS card, I didn't even bring him.

However I did have everything filled out on the form ahead of time, and he had a previous passport from when he was 3. He's 10 now.

The only question they gave me was about his father. I'm a single parent. That wound up being a non-issue because his father isn't listed on his birth certificate. The passport agent wrote "See birth certificate" in the Father's Name box.

I didn't even need a letter from his father. Which is good because his father lives 5 hours away and it would have been a pain to get it.

Good Luck... Government stuff is soo much fun.

 

[mog]

Very strange that they would all be able to have different requirements! I did not have my husband with me or have him sign any kind of consent form. I put the kids' SS #s on the form, but didn't have the cards with me. I had to sign a form attesting to their identity since they only had one form of ID (birth certificate). In fact, I didn't even have the kids with me! I just took in the forms and birth certificates and wrote out the checks!
I wonder if things have just gotten more strict since 9/11?

 

[starwood]

Does anyone know what the requirements are for the renewal of a child's passport? It used to be you could just mail the old passport with new photos but I'm not sure if that is still the case. DS's passport expires in November and I'll need a new one for August.

 

[din]

Originally posted by starwood
Does anyone know what the requirements are for the renewal of a child's passport? It used to be you could just mail the old passport with new photos but I'm not sure if that is still the case. DS's passport expires in November and I'll need a new one for August.

A child passport is not renewable. You have to apply a new one every five years, therfore you have to go to the post office or any passport agency with the documentation. As least that have been my experience. This is the first time I heard of re-newing by mail for a child.

 

[Mike Bartenhagen]

din is correct a child's passport is not renewable. My oldest daughter was one when she got her first passport and I just renewed it this week. You need to apply for a new passport. You can use the old passport as the identiifcation instead of a birth certificate.

 

[starwood]

Crud - I didn't want to make a trip to the courthouse with all those papers

Oh well DS's passport expires in November. Does he need to go with me (age 10)? Maybe I can do this while he's in school.

 

[Mike Bartenhagen]

No he dosen't. Only age 13 and over. Here is a website where I downloaded the forms so I ahd them done when I got to the courthouse.

http://travel.state.gov/passport_easy.html#easy2

 

[peg2001]

Well, I returned to the passport office the next day with the kids' social security cards and there was a different agent at the counter. He couldn't understand why I was bringing the SS cards in!! I explained 3 times that the agent working the counter the previous day insisted that I needed to bring the cards in. He finally just compared the numbers on the cards to the numbers on the applications and said I was good to go.

Peg

 

[mcnuss]

This is very, very typical at the Post Office. I had a hideous time last year getting a new passport for DD. The regs had just changed, and being the diligent lawyer that I am, I made sure not only to print the forms, but also the instructions too. They clearly stated that if one parent is "unavailable" to go in person to make the application, that parent can sign an affidavit giving permission to the other parent to process the application. (FYI - this was done as a way to - hopefully - prevent the kidnapping of the child by a non-custodial parent.) We did all this, and DH was turned away. According to the agent, my business trip did not make me "sufficiently unavailable". He told my DH that this "loophole" (his words) was intended for people whpo are really sick, or unable to travel, not for the convenience of "women who work". Needless to say, when I returned from my trip, I called this agent and tried to understand why he was re-interpreting state department regulations, I even had a copy of the actual reg in my hand. He told me, and all you working moms out there will love this one, that obviously I was not making my child a priority and that his wife is able to take time off from work to do these things, so every wife should be able to, as well. I just needed to "manage my time better". I went BALLISTIC. I called the Postmaster General's office, the State Dept, every agency remotely involved in adminstering passports. I got letters of apology from each, and I was assured that the agent would be reprimanded.

So none of these inconsistencies shock me. If you have trouble, go to the Web site and print off the ACTUAL instructions and the regs and take them with you. Don't let it go or else these idiots will keep on giving people bad info.

ABN

 

[ducklite]

Your tax dollars at work. ::::::::::::::heavy sigh:::::::::::::

Anne