Passport Requirements

[Keather]

I have just gotten off the phone for the second time today with Disney Cruise Line.
I almost went and booked a cruise today for October under the advise of a Disney Rep who informed me that we would not need a passport until June of 2009. Not true!
I spoke directly with a supervisor and she told me that the government keeps changing its mind and cannot decide if this is going to go through now or later, hence, everyone has to have a passport after June 1 unless our illustrious government gets there heads out of.....well you know and makes some sort of decision.
Those who are sailing before June 1 are good to go, those sailing after, well better get moving on those passports. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news....

 

[Joan1]

This subject has been beaten to death and the realization is that eventually we will all need a passport.

It is best to just get one and this way you (you used generally here) are all reay and set to go without being at the mercy of what the state department and everyone else involved decides to do.

 

[Jessieknj]

I don't think this is bad news. It's been coming and getting extended for a long time and people SHOULD be getting passports. Why would having to get a passport make you not want to book a cruise. In the next few years you will need a passport to fly domestically as well. While it is an expense they are a good thing to have.

 

[n2mm]

You can now apply for the passport cards. They are accepting applications effective Feb. 1. They are only $20 for the card and $25 for the execution fee. For a family this is affordable. Unforutnately the downside is if you have an emergency, it will not be accepted if you have to fly home from the Bahamas. For my daughter the cost would be $200 for her family of 5 compared to the $500 for them buying the standard book passport. You use the same form to order the card as the book just check the top. All of the other information is pretty much the same. We got our passports in December and it only took 9 business days to arrive. So you still have a slight risk of buying the card because of the emergency possibility. I guess it's a gamble folks will have to decide which will work better for their family.

 

[PeterandTink]

Not trying to dispute anything anyone has said...but according to the Homeland Security website they are not required til June '09..unless that site has not been updated...


http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingborders/index.shtm

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Not trying to dispute anything anyone has said...but according to the Homeland Security website they are not required til June '09..unless that site has not been updated...


http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingborders/index.shtm

Yep. The same information is also on the Customs & Border Patrol website.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will begin the transition to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative secure document requirement over the next 18 months, with implementation as early as June 1, 2009.

The State Department website is the only one that it still vague.

 

[ga9497]

You can now apply for the passport cards. They are accepting applications effective Feb. 1. They are only $20 for the card and $25 for the execution fee. For a family this is affordable. Unforutnately the downside is if you have an emergency, it will not be accepted if you have to fly home from the Bahamas. For my daughter the cost would be $200 for her family of 5 compared to the $500 for them buying the standard book passport. You use the same form to order the card as the book just check the top. All of the other information is pretty much the same. We got our passports in December and it only took 9 business days to arrive. So you still have a slight risk of buying the card because of the emergency possibility. I guess it's a gamble folks will have to decide which will work better for their family.

The other downside to these cards is that a family will eventually spend more when the passports are required. They would spend the cost of these cards and the cost of the passport. While it will seem like a savings now it won't be in a couple of years if they decide to cruise again or fly somewhere out of the U.S. and has to get a passport

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

I hate to be blunt (ok, maybe I don't), but for cruises Passport Cards are a waste of money right now. When Passports start being required (June 2009 or later), THEN Passport Cards might be a viable option for some people.

Today, for cruising, there is no advantage to the Passport Card as you get the same effect with an ID and Birth Certificate. You're able to board the ship and you can't fly home.

 

[imgraciesmom]

I applied today for my passport card, two reasons, a) our cruise in May 08, & b) we live in Michigan only about an hour from the border of Canada. I may regret not getting the passport book later on but for now the card was the best option for my family. The savings for my family of four out weighed the possibilty of maybe another cruise later on. We love our Disney vacations and will more than likely to the world over the cruise in the future.

 

[CraftyMouse]

When you think about it, the passport works out to under $10 per year. That's really not bad. Kids are a bit more expensive, but it is still less than $20 per year. IMO it's worth that much the peace of mind a passport gives you.

 

[jonesing]

The other downside to these cards is that a family will eventually spend more when the passports are required. They would spend the cost of these cards and the cost of the passport. While it will seem like a savings now it won't be in a couple of years if they decide to cruise again or fly somewhere out of the U.S. and has to get a passport

I think the passport card is a good answer to the old DL+birth cert combo that has been used in the past. Ideally, the passport book should be used for any international travel but let's face it, there are plenty of folks who pop over to Winsdor or TJ or Jaurez for an afternoon of shopping for cheap booze or all-day drinking (not that I did either during my responsible college youth ). Having to remember to carry a passport would easily quell most spontaneous trips. A dormmate told me it was easier/faster for him to go into Mexico to buy some things than it was for him to go to the other side of his own county for the same items.

Plus, you have folks like my parents who are never going to fly outside the country. Actually, they wouldn't even consider foreign travel but they see the writing on the wall...if they want to spend vacations with the grandkids they're going to have to come to us (but you know that CO is soooo ), wait for us to come out every other year or go on a cruise with us. The passport card is perfect for them.

Besides, I live in one of the scofflaw states that don't plan on implementing the RealID provisions for DLs and ID cards. DHS/TSA has said people from non-compliant states won't be able to use their state DL/ID to get through airport security (actually, they'll treat you as if you have no ID---you can still fly but you and your bags will get the full monty search). Now I have several other state and federal credentials so I'm good to go but a lot of people only have the one ID--which TSA won't accept--so the passport card comes in handy to avoid the extra delays from a more vigorous screening.

 

[jonesing]

I applied today for my passport card, two reasons, a) our cruise in May 08, & b) we live in Michigan only about an hour from the border of Canada. I may regret not getting the passport book later on but for now the card was the best option for my family. The savings for my family of four out weighed the possibilty of maybe another cruise later on. We love our Disney vacations and will more than likely to the world over the cruise in the future.

But once you have either (book or card) you can get the other as a renewal by mail. I could send in for my passport card right now and only pay the $20 fee because mail renewals don't pay the $25 execution fee to the passport application facility (post office, county clerk, court etc).

If you decide later on you need the book then you can just send in your application, current card and fee by mail and they'll send you the booklet for just the cost of the booklet.

This does not apply for kids though. Kids passports (card or book) cannot be renewed by mail. So, since the application must be submitted in person, the execution fee has to be paid every time. We applied for DD0 (2 weeks) passport book and card today. Getting the card only cost an extra $10 because there is only one execution fee if applying for both card and book at the same time.

 

[Keather]

I'm sorry, I really did not make myself very clear when I started this. I am married to a wonderful man who was once married to a not so wonderful woman. When they had children it meant the world to my husband but eventually the marriage got really bad and he decided to end it. She did not persue getting child support for years (yes, I said years), however my husband helped her out faithfully by giving her money orders weekly. We thought we were being smart saving all those receipts but guess what.....She eventually did take him to court and not one of those payments counted as child support! He found himself almost $10,000 in arrears!!!! The state of CT says unless that money goes directly through them, its nothing but cash handed over as a gift. Now here we have been paying this off all these years but he is still in arrears and hence according to the State of CT he cannot renew his passport, even though his kids are all grown and married with kids of there own.
I know nobody wants to hear my sad story but there is no doubt that there is someone else lurking on here worrying over this too.
Again, I did not mean to start another passport thing but I really want to do something special with my husband and I have to be really aware of what is going on.
P.S. If anyone knows anything about the laws on all of this please chime in, any help would be appreciated.
And thanks everyone for the advise. I totally understand where your all coming from.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

I researched the most recent change to the INTELLIGENCE REFORM AND TERRORISM PREVENTION ACT OF 2004 (the change was buried in an appropriations bill). The change reads:

Such plan may not be implemented earlier than the date that is the later of 3 months after the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security make the certification required in subparagraph (B) or June 1, 2009.

The underlines are mine.

 

[jonesing]

I'm sorry, I really did not make myself very clear when I started this. I am married to a wonderful man who was once married to a not so wonderful woman. When they had children it meant the world to my husband but eventually the marriage got really bad and he decided to end it. She did not persue getting child support for years (yes, I said years), however my husband helped her out faithfully by giving her money orders weekly. We thought we were being smart saving all those receipts but guess what.....She eventually did take him to court and not one of those payments counted as child support! He found himself almost $10,000 in arrears!!!! The state of CT says unless that money goes directly through them, its nothing but cash handed over as a gift. Now here we have been paying this off all these years but he is still in arrears and hence according to the State of CT he cannot renew his passport, even though his kids are all grown and married with kids of there own.
I know nobody wants to hear my sad story but there is no doubt that there is someone else lurking on here worrying over this too.
Again, I did not mean to start another passport thing but I really want to do something special with my husband and I have to be really aware of what is going on.
P.S. If anyone knows anything about the laws on all of this please chime in, any help would be appreciated.
And thanks everyone for the advise. I totally understand where your all coming from.

Oh I get it...yeah, child support is a big big money machine for states. Some poeple have had success in getting payments made outside "the system" counted as actual child support payments but some states (like CT) have invested big in their own system and so they aren't willing to allow people do end runs around it. And many states have been lowering the threshhold at which they report arrearage to State Dept so a LOT of people have been getting snared into this trap. Best bet is to get a cruise in now while the DL+b/c works and then try to reason with the state and if that doesn't work, try an attorney and stick to domestic travel until the situation is cleared up.

 

[Keather]

You kind folks have just made a woman in tears sooo happy. Basically, it seems Disney is covering there butts, just in case. What I dont get, is why this girl I spoke with was so adament about the passport. I just hope I dont book, get there and have them turn me away. I think just to be on the cool side I will go ahead and get my passport even if he doesnt get one. But still, even if this law does not go into affect until June 09 can they turn us away?

 

[jonesing]

Passport Denial Program

http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppi/family/family_863.html
Child Support Payments and Getting a U.S. Passport
Section 51.70 (a) (8) of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations states, in part, that if you are certified to Passport Services by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to be in arrears of child support payments in excess of $2,500, you are ineligible to receive a U.S. passport . If this applies to you, Passport Services strongly recommends that you contact the appropriate State child support enforcement agency to make payment arrangements before applying for a passport.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

I just hope I dont book, get there and have them turn me away.

They won't change the rules without at least 60-90 days notice.

 

[Keather]

Yup, I knew thats what they would say. Anything to get there share of the buck.

Do they check any documentation before you arrive in port canaveral? I mean, otherwise I will be a wreck until then.

 

[jonesing]

But still, even if this law does not go into affect until June 09 can they turn us away?

No, they can't override DoS/DHS rules. If DL+b/c are still acceptable when you cruise then DCL cannot require a passport...unless, of course, there's something hinky about the birth certificate. I have my original birth "registration" document. Back then the hospital typed up two forms (with carbon paper no less! )--one form to the parents, the carbon form to county health. They of course have since gone with more modern methods but the form I have is perfectly legal and valid. Problem is some folks see the 4"x8" cardstock form and think I made it in the garage!

To stave off other problems (and to not give away my only b/c), I wound up getting a certified copy which is nothing more than the form I already have photocopied onto multicolor transcipt-like security paper. To be safe, perhaps you could suggest he get a current certified copy of his b/c?