Port Canaveral/Immigration Help?!?

[bweppner]

Hi, My family of six is on the 4/6 Magic cruise and I'm having a horrible time understanding INS Documents, etc. I have two stepchildren (11 & 12 - my wife's progeny) who are US citizens (Mom was born in the Chicago burbs). HOWEVER, my stepkids were born in Quebec. We have their Canadian birth certs, US social security cards and one expired passport. Will this get us through the Immigration/Customs area? Any suggestions on other way to prove US Citizenship? They have been living in the US for over 11 years now...

ANY suggestions would be most welcome.

 

[gottaluvdisney]

If I understand correctly your step-children are Canadian ?? If so, they are very similar to US citizenship requirements -

Proof of citizenship can be one of the following documents:
Canadian Passport
Certified Birth Certificate, accompanied by a photo ID for adts
Naturalization Certificate, accompanied by a photo ID for adts

 

[bweppner]

Thanks for the reply gottaluvdisney!
I am only worried because my wife took my last name and her two oldest (we have a total of four) my stepchildren have their natural father's last name. Being that they are only 11 & 12 we don't want any issues when we arrive at the port. So you think that Certified Birth Certificates (Canadian) and US Social Security cards should be enough? (I won't hold you accountable!)

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Although a certified Canadian BC should be sufficient for boarding your 11 & 12yo stepkids, the BC would imply that they are Canadian citizens. But you said they were U.S. citizens. Did they renounce their Canadian citizenship when they became U.S. citizens or are they dual citizens? If they're dual citizens, I believe that bringing their certified BC's from Quebec would be sufficient.

Otherwise... bring certified copies of their naturalization papers. Something to prove their U.S. citizenship.

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

I thought some more about your question after posting my previous reply and then stepping away from the 'puter...

Have you considered getting passports for your stepkids? If they had passports, there would be no question whatsoever about whether they had sufficient acceptable documents with them when you got to the port. You could hash all that out at the passport office... then it'd be clear sailing (pun intended) when you arrive at the cruise terminal.

Kids' passports are only valid for 5 years rather than 10 years for adults, but they also cost less than adults' passports.

If I were in your shoes, this is absolutely what I'd do.

 

[bweppner]

Thanks Dave!
Yes they my stepkids are US citizens because my wife (their mother) was born in the US and is a full US Citizen. They actually lived in Quebec for not even a year. We have an expired passport for our DS 11 but have not been able to locate our DD 12's passport. However, having new passports issued pronto may be our ultimate answer. I was hoping to prove their US citizenship another way, but I haven't been able to find an alternative.

Thanks again for pondering my predicament for me.

 

[ducklite]

The big problem I see is that you need to get a notorized permission from the kids father to take them out of the country! You might be denied boarding without it. I would definitely call DCL on this one.

Anne

 

[bweppner]

Are we sure about that Anne? The kids "father" lives in Quebec and has seen them once in 11 years - my wife and I want to keep it that way and would prefer NOT to communicate with him.

 

[ducklite]

No, I'm not sure, which I why I suggested you call DCL. If your wife has full custody, have her bring along the divorce papers and she should be fine. I'd just hate to see a trip ruined over paperwork.

This is some info off the Dept. of State web site:

Change in Passport Regulations

A new law, which took effect in July 2001, requires the signature of both parents prior to issuance of a U.S. passport to children under the age of 14.

Requirements:

Both parents, or the child’s legal guardians, must execute the child’s passport application and provide documentary evidence demonstrating that they are the parents or guardians; or the person executing the application must provide documentary evidence that such person has sole custody of the child; has the consent of the other parent to the issuance of the passport; or is acting in place of the parents and has the consent of both parents, of a parent with sole custody over the child, or of the child’s legal guardian, to the issuance of the passport.

Anne