Passports & Birth Certificates

[allears]

We are thinking about getting passports for the family (5 of us) for our September 06 cruise. Has anyone had any trouble getting them with "short form" birth certificates. Our three children have the long form, which has our names as mother and father. But I just noticed tonight that my DW's and mine are short form, our parents are not listed. These are the only birth certificates we've ever had and we've gone on 5 cruises with them. Does anyone know if we'll have trouble using them to apply for passports?

 

[Jillpie]

My DS17 just applied for and got his passport this Winter. He applied at the town hall and they said they require the LONG form for passports. May I ask though, why do you feel the need to go to this expense for this September when they are not required yet? We are also a family of five cruising in June and can't imagine spending almost 500.00 on something we just don't need.

 

[allears]

We'll actually have the extra money right now, so we figured we get them while we can rather than next time out. Our kids all have the long form, I'm really very curious about my DW and I. Since we haven't needed the long forms to sail in the past, I'm wodering if there isn't some sort of cut off for dates, where past a certain year they don't look for long forms. Perhaps it's more important for minors than adults?

 

[mattmommy]

Also, don't get all in a tizzy like I did when they stapled my birth certificate to my passport application. I was like "I need that back". We got a passport for ds5 when he was 3 "just in case". Like maybe we'd win a trip to DL Paris or something. I would do it now to beat the crowd.

We also made 2 copies of our passports. One to leave a home and one with us, but in a separate place than our passports.

 

[allears]

Hadn't thought about beating the crowd, but that's a good idea. Really mostly figured, while we have the cash we'd best go for it.

 

[woody73]

We also made 2 copies of our passports. One to leave a home and one with us, but in a separate place than our passports.

In addition, when we travel to Europe, we scan our passports and e-mail them to ourselves as an attachment. That way, if we lose our passports, we can access the information from any internet terminal.

Woody

 

[mtt-swd]

My DH and I do not have the long form birth certificate and that was fine for our passport application. I just needed the long form for my DS 13, when we went to get our passports, they told me the cut off for the long birth certificate was the age of 14 and under.

 

[LadyZolt]

Each state has its own birth certificate form. I was born in Pennsylvania and mine just has the date, the sex, and my name. My husband was born in Oklahoma and his has his parents names and other facts. My children were born in Connecticut and Alaska. I had no problem getting my passport recently using my Pennsylvania birth certificate. Just make sure you get an official (raised seal) birth certificate from the state where you were born and I think it'll be just fine.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[mitsguy2001]

Even though it is officially not required yet, it is still a good idea to have a passport. First of all, the laws can change at any time. Secondly, a passport is a document specifically designed as proof of citizenship when travelling, so it is a good idea to have one. Also, if you bring both your passport and your birth certificate, you have a backup in case you lose one document, or if there is a problem with one document for whatever reason.

 

[bevtoy]

We are thinking about getting passports for the family (5 of us) for our September 06 cruise. Has anyone had any trouble getting them with "short form" birth certificates. Our three children have the long form, which has our names as mother and father. But I just noticed tonight that my DW's and mine are short form, our parents are not listed. These are the only birth certificates we've ever had and we've gone on 5 cruises with them. Does anyone know if we'll have trouble using them to apply for passports?

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/
We applied about 2 weeks ago. They were more concerned that its a origional sealed certificate and not a copy.........never mentioned long or short forms. They have a form you can filll out ahead of time and you need passport photos. The least expensive we found were at Walmart.

 

[TiggerKing]

Has anyone had any trouble getting them with "short form" birth certificates.

It is really hard to tell what will be done when you submit your application. When DW and I got ours 2 years ago, the post office refused to accept my application with a short form. After much pushing from me, the gentleman told me that he could send it, but it would most likely be rejected. So, I took his advice and obtained a certified long form copy for about $15 (that was with rush delivery) and had no problems. Talk to the location where you are going to submit your application and see what their experience has been.

 

[TiggerKing]

Even though it is officially not required yet, it is still a good idea to have a passport. First of all, the laws can change at any time. Secondly, a passport is a document specifically designed as proof of citizenship when travelling, so it is a good idea to have one. Also, if you bring both your passport and your birth certificate, you have a backup in case you lose one document, or if there is a problem with one document for whatever reason.

I read something interesting last week about the timing of the passports. One travel writer indicated that based on guidance received from the State Department, if you leave prior to 12/31/06, but return after that date, you will be required to have a passport to gain re-entry. I thought that was an interesting angle that many have not thought about.

 

[mickeyfan1]

It isn't short or long that makes a difference, nor is it original or copy. It is that it must be a certified copy. My BC is a copy, right out og a book, you can see where the book was placed on the copy machine. It does not have a raised seal, either. But it does have a stamp from the state saying certified. Ask at the place you are taking your application if what you have will work.

A passport is used to prove that you are entitled to return to the country of issuance. Visas are needed to visit some countries, if you need a visa for any country on a cruise, your TA or the cruise line MAY be able to tell you that, but in the end, as a passenger, you are responsible for finding out all requirements for travel.