Why bother with a passport?

[seaulater]

Just wanted to add a quick note.....Costco sells passport photos for only $5 a person

My digital camera works just fine and I can print out two pictures for 29 cents.

Just used it to renew my DH passport. Just follow the rules on the application and the picture was just as good as what you would pay for at Costco's or Kinko's.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I would go along with Disney's recommendation. It makes travel so much easier. Personally, I just feel better having one. When I used just my birth certificate I got hassled in Mexico (I am of Mexican heritage), when I used my Passport, I had no problems at all. I think cruise lines should just switch to accepting passports rather than birth certificates. It would make it easier on everyone all around.

 

[jrabbit]

I can either carry and keep track of 1 passport, or I can carry and keep track of a birth certificate, driver's license, and marriage certificate to show my name change. I would rather have just the one document. In the event it gets lost,in the long run it would be less hassle to replace than the other 3 documents which need to be reissued in specific states and counties.

As others have stated you should take your passport AND driver's license (or other photo id). You leave your passport in your room. You can (maybe should) take a copy of the first page of your passport with you when you go ashore (just in case).

Final note: If you are not a US citizen DCL will hold your passports for the duration of the cruise. I believe that is one of the reasons Foreign passengers have to get up earlier and go to a differnt location than US citizens.

LissaFrom SJ
Long story short, my children flew on without me, and I had to go to MVA to get a new license (happy picture with tears AND a straw hat in freezing November weather!!!).

You really need to post that picture for us - not the whole DL just the picture - it's gotta be one of the best DL photos in the country.

 

[G00fyDad]

The cruise(not sure. Never been on DCL) may have trouble and have to port somewhere outside the US. If it does then you will have to have a passport. However, that is only if it happens and IF you dont want to stay cramped in the building that you deboard into. If you stay in there you will not need one.

 

[Greysword]

I would like add a coupel points.

Should you be in trouble in a foreign country, you will get a much better and faster reposnse from the State Department consulate or American Ambassador, should you need their services.

Even if you do not have the passport on you during shore excursions, you will be in their database if you have a passport already. This could be vital in today's turbulent world.

This is added to the previous idea that should the ship have to leave you behind for any reason (medical, missed ships movement, falling overboard, anything) then you can get to the American Embassy and get help returning to the US.

Although normally we are talking about fairly inoccuous places (like St Martin, St Thomas, the Bahamas, etc), Panama is someplace you would like to be covered. There is a Navy base on one side of the canal, should you need help, BTW.

Yes, this all sounds like doom and gloom. I feel it is important to CYA, especially when in a land where the customs, ideology, and respect for foreigners (especially Americans) can be much different than ours.

 

[tvguy]

Both parents don't have to be present. There is a form the absentee parent can complete and then take it with you to the passport facility.

As of January 1, 2004 BOTH parents must be present. They changed the law. My wife went to the Post Office with the absentee form from me that we printed off the Internet. They said it was not longer acceptable. Don't think this has to do with September 11th, but with a problem with non-custodial parents illegally taken children out of the country.

 

[dcandmc]

Both parents DO NOT need to be present. The rules have recently been tightened up, but one parent and the child, with the proper documentation, can still appear before the passport agent without the other parent. The below was copied 10 minutes ago from the Department of State's passport web site. The major change is that the document that substantiates the non-appearing parent's permission must be notarized.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Present Parental Application Permission Documentation
(for minors under age 14)

1. Both parents must appear together and sign or

2. One parent appears, signs, and submits second parent's notarized Form DS-3053, Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 14 , authorizing passport issuance for the child or submits a notarized , written statement of consent from the non-appearing parent (including the child's name and date of birth, as well as parent's identification information or a copy of his/her ID) authorizing passport issuance for the child

 

[LoveMyBaby]

People keep mentioning birth certificates and driver's licenses... as a married woman, when I have left the country, even to Mexico without a passport, in addition to those 2 documents I also needed my marriage certificate. The name on my birth certificate does not match the name on my driver's license. I needed the 3rd document to verify the name change. That's just a big pain in the butt, if you ask me. Much easier to have a passport. Sure, it costs money, but it also lasts for 10 years. What is that? About $7 per year per person? Big deal.

 

[tvguy]

Both parents DO NOT need to be present. The rules have recently been tightened up, but one parent and the child, with the proper documentation, can still appear before the passport agent without the other parent. The below was copied 10 minutes ago from the Department of State's passport web site. The major change is that the document that substantiates the non-appearing parent's permission must be notarized.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Present Parental Application Permission Documentation
(for minors under age 14)

1. Both parents must appear together and sign or

2. One parent appears, signs, and submits second parent's notarized Form DS-3053, Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 14 , authorizing passport issuance for the child or submits a notarized , written statement of consent from the non-appearing parent (including the child's name and date of birth, as well as parent's identification information or a copy of his/her ID) authorizing passport issuance for the child

Must have either changed again, or the guy at our Passport office made a mistake. A notarized form makes a whole more more sense if the parents live in different cities. However, having around here finding a notary anymore is tough. My wife had to have a form notarizied, our bank doesn't do it anymore......and the first 6 places listed under Notary in the phone book don't do it anymore. Finally found a Notary at the UPS store.

 

[Lynderella]

I applied for my minor son's passport in June, without my husband present. We used the form and had no problems. Check out the passport agency website.

 

[two-foxes]

Must have either changed again, or the guy at our Passport office made a mistake. A notarized form makes a whole more more sense if the parents live in different cities. However, having around here finding a notary anymore is tough. My wife had to have a form notarizied, our bank doesn't do it anymore......and the first 6 places listed under Notary in the phone book don't do it anymore. Finally found a Notary at the UPS store.

Just for future reference, AAA provides notary services. If that is not possible, some city and county offices will provide them.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I can't believe your bank wouln't notorize for you! They must have notaries in banks. Ours just won't notorize during peak times (lunch).

 

[njdrumrun]

As of January 1, 2004 BOTH parents must be present. They changed the law. My wife went to the Post Office with the absentee form from me that we printed off the Internet. They said it was not longer acceptable. Don't think this has to do with September 11th, but with a problem with non-custodial parents illegally taken children out of the country.

incorrect....
i got my daughters passport november 2004...i had the signed form and they took it.

maybe the guy was having a bad day and took it out on you??