This was supposed to be a surprise!

[Billinaz]

The kids dont have to sign their passports, you do. They just need to be present to verify that its them getting it.

 

[tecdavidt]

How about this, just tell the kids that you decided to get passports because you just never know if you will ever need them with the new security law. Even my kids would have said, " OK, but someday we better use them." Kathy

 

[disneedee]

i'd go with the might go to canada sometime and then say something about needing to get the passport before the price goes up. ( didn't i hear somewhere that they were going to do some changes and the passports would cost more?) my group would believe that coming from me, anything to save $$

 

[the kabuki]

How funny this came up. I'm going through this same exact thing. Just went to the city building to pick up forms and that's when I found out the kids' have to be present. I'm thinking I'll just tell them it's something for safety/security reasons. They also told me both parents must sign the consent forms in front of a notary.

The big problem is DH, he's an Italian citizen, and you can't even imagine what I need to go through to renew his. And when I try to call for info, the employees there all have real heavy Italian accents(big surprise) so I've been having a hard time understanding them. Just got an email addy today, so I think I'll stick to that!

The only thought that came to mind was about the fees going up in Jan because of the new requirements. That I want to get them now, before they raise the prices. We are planning a possible trip to Mexico in 2006 without the kids, so that would be a good reason. As for the why I need the kids' to get theirs', well I guess the old-well it's just good to have them, since I'm doing yours' mine as well do theirs'-will have to work.

 

[Favorite Auntie]

"The travel initiative requirements will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed timeline is as follows:

December 31, 2005 – Passport or other accepted document required for all travel (air/sea) to or from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America.
December 31, 2006 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air and sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada.
December 31, 2007 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air, sea and land border crossings. "


According to that website, the dates are only proposed...I think they are still trying to decide what to do... It only takes a few months to get them, a bit longer maybe when this law goes into effect because everyone one will be applying, but I wouldn't worry about it just yet....