Passport Questions

[ugadog99]

My daughter has an opportunity to travel to Scotland with her high school drama group this August (leaving August 3rd). I know it's time to start the passport process, but I have a bit of a dilemma. My daughter's father was killed in a car accident before she was born. That was almost sixteen years ago and several moves ago. I have turned the house upside down and cannot find his death certificate anywhere. The US Passport website says a death certificate must be presented if both parents aren't available for minors under 16, but when I printed the form to complete the application, it says a written statement can be provided explaining the second parent's unavailability. I do have several documents showing that he is deceased but not the actual death certificate. All of these rules apply to minors under 16. I had planned on getting the passport done this week before the rates increase. However, that may mean I will need to spend about 2 hours driving to the county where he died and paying to get another certified death certificate. My daughter turns 16 on March 30. So, would it just be better to wait until then to apply for the passport? I know the fee increase will have taken effect by then, but with the hassle of going to get and pay for the death certificate, it kind of balances out. My biggest concern is the passport not getting here in time. Do I need to worry about that? There are 17 weeks plus six extra days between March 30 and the date they leave. That should be plenty of time, shouldn't it? Secondly, I have to submit to her drama teacher the exact name that will be on the passport as it has to match the documents from the travel agent. I'm assuming that is her full name, correct? Can you tell I've never done this? Thanks!!

 

[HeatherH]

I would definitely WAIT until she is 16! Passports at that age last TEN years rather than FIVE. And you do only need ONE parent then, and that saves the hassle.

You will have NO problem getting the passport in time if you wait. My 16-year-old just got hers in TWO weeks...most folks are saying it's taking about three weeks with NON-EXPEDITED service.

Definitely not worth the hassle to do it now. You will pay the higher price, that's true, but if it evens out the other costs, and it's less of a hassle...AND the passport will be valid longer...I think the scales tip in favor of waiting.

 

[AKL_Megs]

My daughter has an opportunity to travel to Scotland with her high school drama group this August (leaving August 3rd). I know it's time to start the passport process, but I have a bit of a dilemma. My daughter's father was killed in a car accident before she was born. That was almost sixteen years ago and several moves ago. I have turned the house upside down and cannot find his death certificate anywhere. The US Passport website says a death certificate must be presented if both parents aren't available for minors under 16, but when I printed the form to complete the application, it says a written statement can be provided explaining the second parent's unavailability. I do have several documents showing that he is deceased but not the actual death certificate. All of these rules apply to minors under 16. I had planned on getting the passport done this week before the rates increase. However, that may mean I will need to spend about 2 hours driving to the county where he died and paying to get another certified death certificate. My daughter turns 16 on March 30. So, would it just be better to wait until then to apply for the passport? I know the fee increase will have taken effect by then, but with the hassle of going to get and pay for the death certificate, it kind of balances out. My biggest concern is the passport not getting here in time. Do I need to worry about that? There are 17 weeks plus six extra days between March 30 and the date they leave. That should be plenty of time, shouldn't it? Secondly, I have to submit to her drama teacher the exact name that will be on the passport as it has to match the documents from the travel agent. I'm assuming that is her full name, correct? Can you tell I've never done this? Thanks!!

Instead of the drive, you can have a copy mailed to you. Same as marriage certificates, death certificates can be mailed. My DH's cousin got married here in Michigan. When they got back to North Carolina, the certificate was nowhere to be found. If you go to the county website, and I assume this works for all or most counties, you can request, for the fee, to have a copy mailed to you.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would wait. My dd may be going to China in July, still have not gotten her the passport because the decision for acceptance has not come yet.

Plus, the passport will last longer for you at 16. Well worth the wait in my book.

As a side note, go ahead and have the death certificate mailed to you, so your dd can have it for her records if she needs it for the future.

 

[ugadog99]

Thanks, that was pretty much what I was thinking. I will have the death certificate mailed to us. By the time it gets here, it will almost be her birthday, anyway. I'll just wait until the end of the month, but I'll let her drama teacher know her full name for the travel documents now. Thanks!

 

[golfgal]

Thanks, that was pretty much what I was thinking. I will have the death certificate mailed to us. By the time it gets here, it will almost be her birthday, anyway. I'll just wait until the end of the month, but I'll let her drama teacher know her full name for the travel documents now. Thanks!

While you are requesting one certificate, you might as well get 2 or 3 copies just in case.

 

[ugadog99]

While you are requesting one certificate, you might as well get 2 or 3 copies just in case.

Very true...great idea!