Passports received

[Jamashp]

FYI - for those thinking of getting passports.

We applied for passports for our children on January 21, 2004 (cost $40.00 check + $30.00 cash / each). We received the passports in the mail yesterday, February 17, 2004. So, they took about four weeks. We were told four to six weeks.

Overall, it was a painless process. Just know that you will need identification (passport and drivers license) as well as your child, including birth certificate. The other strange thing was we needed to give $30.00 in cash in addition to the $40.00 check.

This was all done at our county courthouse passport center in Freehold, New Jersey.

Hope this helps.

Scott

 

[jimilla]

We just got ours a few days ago. I was surprised with all the extra security that they were just sent regular mail. I thought for sure we would have to sign for them. I have to say I think that is a big flaw, I mean my Birth certificate and passport, just sitting in my mail box until I get home from work does not give me a secure feeling.

 

[susyq0210]

Do you need passports for the 4 nt trip to the Bahamas??? I hope I understood right that all we need for the kids is birth certificates! Am I right??? Suz

 

[Jamashp]

Birth certificates are just fine. We went the extra step of getting passports for the ease of traveling outside the USA. We have been a few times as a family already.

A passport is the "gold standard", but for the Disney cruise, original birth certificates work too.

Scott

 

[crisi]

We had ours expidited because I didn't get around to getting to it until just six weeks before our trip. And it took a little longer (about two weeks) for my son as we had some problems proving he is a citizen (despite sending his naturalization paperwork ) It doesn't take long, but if you suspect your paperwork is in the least unusual, better sooner than later.

(We had to write two checks - one to the local county clerk for their fee, the other to be sent to the Federal government for their fees).

Susy - everyone in your party (assuming you are all US Citizens) can travel on birth certificates - assuming they are official birth certificates. Some people (including myself) feel more comfortable leaving the country on a passport - just in case there are problems. Other people (like my son and husband) are better off with passports because their birth certificates are unusual or not proof of citizenship (my husband and son were both born abroad). Another thing to be careful of is assuming you are a citizen. There was recently a thread from a gentleman who spent his life assuming he was a US Citizen - then went to get a passport and discovered he isn't - now his congressperson's office is recommending he not leave the country or he might never get back in. If you were born here (as most of us were) that is enough. If you weren't born on US soil, you might want to check.