Work Retreat Cruise - Don't Want to Go!

[cbg1027]

OP at least admitted she was being ridiculous, and therefore I was probably wrong in my assesment, but it was not an illogical jump. The fact that everyone "assumed" I meant infidelity is interesting though...

However you meant it, it was not something you needed to say. It was not in the least bit constructive, helpful, or kind.

How does your husband not have his birth certificate. It is your first and most vital piece of identification? You can't get most other pieces of identification without showing your birth certificate first.

I don't know how he obtained his latest driver's license because he got it before we met. Other than that, you don't need it to start a job or obtain a marriage license in Florida. His first passport he got as a teenager so his parents would have handled it. In the 5.5 years I have known DH, he has never needed his Birth Certificate until now - for a passport.

 

[bcla]

How does your husband not have his birth certificate. It is your first and most vital piece of identification? You can't get most other pieces of identification without showing your birth certificate first.

I've never personally used my birth certificate for anything, although my parents did when I was a child. I've never, ever had to use it and frankly don't have a copy (I'd have to ask my parents). I've used other documents to prove identity, work eligibility, etc. such as passports, driver licenses, SSN card, etc. Once a passport or other document is obtained, it can typically be renewed indefinitely. And often the parents keep them or possibly lose them. Not to get into the politics of it, but look at President Obama. He had to order new copies (since he had no idea where the ones kept by his mother/grandparents were), but previously he made do with passports or other identity documents.

We've only used our kid's birth certificate for two things: to obtain a passport+passport card and later for school age verification though other documents should have been sufficient. We got our kid a California ID only with the passport card. I was going to bring a copy of the birth certificate for the appointment but forgot, and I keep my kid's passport card in my wallet.

There are very few things that can only be obtained with a birth certificate. A passport is perhaps the most obvious, but once you have one the birth certificate can often be put away forever. On top of that, there are people who weren't born US citizens or maybe were born overseas as US citizens. The birth certificate has become the de facto citizenship document for most US citizens, but it's definitely not the only one. Someone with a green card alone has proof of employment eligibility as well as everything needed to obtain an SSN card and driver license. There are naturalization certificates and other documents.

 

[bcla]

I don't know how he obtained his latest driver's license because he got it before we met. Other than that, you don't need it to start a job or obtain a marriage license in Florida. His first passport he got as a teenager so his parents would have handled it. In the 5.5 years I have known DH, he has never needed his Birth Certificate until now - for a passport.

An expired passport is sufficient for passport renewal (can avoid the "acceptance fee" and don't have to go in person) if it was issued after someone turned 16 and was issued less than 15 years ago. A child passport (currently valid 5 years) can't be renewed though. However, if he can find his expired passport (even a child passport) that's still considered proof of citizenship as long as it hasn't been cancelled (usually only done when renewed).

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/information/citizenship-evidence.html

Primary (submit one)
Born in the United States? ​

• • Fully-valid, undamaged U.S. passport (can be expired)
  • U.S. birth certificate that meets the following requirements:
• • • Issued by the city, county, or state of birth
    • Lists applicant’s full name, date of birth, and place of birth
    • Lists parent(s)’ full names
    • Has the signature of the city, county, or state registrar
    • Has the date filed with registrar's office (must be within one year of birth)
    • Has the seal of issuing authority

Born outside the United States? ​

• Fully-valid, undamaged U.S. passport (can be expired)
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
• Certificate of Naturalization
• Certificate of Citizenship

My wife neglected getting her passport even when we had a trip planned. She made a trip to our closest passport agency (San Francisco) and paid an expedited fee. She went back to the office to pick it up in two days, although it was ready in one day. That may not be an option for you if it's too far away, and it costs extra.

 

[cbg1027]

@bcla Thanks for the info. I already looked all that up. I have my expired passport, but DH does not. Even if he did, it would have been over the 15 year limit. So mine is $110 to renew, and DH is $150.

 

[bcla]

@bcla Thanks for the info. I already looked all that up. I have my expired passport, but DH does not. Even if he did, it would have been over the 15 year limit. So mine is $110 to renew, and DH is $150.

Sorry. I lost track of that since it was 8 pages ago. However, you can probably renew by mail, so it would be $110 plus the cost of mailing and a photo. I have my own cheap way of making passport/visa photos.

However, it's going to be more than $150 for him if you're thinking $110 for the passport and $40 for the birth certificate. If he doesn't have a passport that's renewable, then it's processed the same as a first-time applicant. He'll need to show up in person at a "passport acceptance facility", and that costs $25 for the "execution fee". We have a pretty convenient one around here that's open on Saturdays, but most seem to be post offices or other government offices that require appointments and are rarely open on weekends.

He could also just get a passport card for now. Once he has that, he can get a regular passport any time before the 15 year window as a "renewal" by mail.

 

[cbg1027]

I was thinking $150 for DH's passport only. The BC is an additional $60. I just looked and I don't know where I got $150. It's $110 + the $25 execution fee, so $135 for the passport and $60 for the BC.

We got photos at Costco, it was only $5 each.

Basically, $315 to get the two of us passports. Oivey.

 

[bcla]

I was thinking $150 for DH's passport only. The BC is an additional $60. I just looked and I don't know where I got $150. It's $110 + the $25 execution fee, so $135 for the passport and $60 for the BC.

We got photos at Costco, it was only $5 each.

Basically, $315 to get the two of us passports. Oivey.

Then maybe just passport cards for the time being. That's all that's needed to for any surface travel in the Western Hemisphere. Those are only $30 each. You can do yours as a mail "renewal", and he can get his as a first-time applicant. That is, unless you already did it.

Once you have one, you can get a passport at any time at the renewal price. I got my passport card back when I already had a valid passport book. I sent it in using the renewal form but only checking to "renew" (really a new one) a passport card for the price then of $20. I had to send my passport, but that was returned intact and valid. I have heard of cases where they mistakenly cancelled a passport that was only sent to obtain a passport card, but that's kind of rare and they will probably provide a new passport for free to make up for such a mistake.

As for pictures, I suppose Costco does have a proper setup with a background flash to eliminate shadows. I don't have that capability, but I've never had a photo rejected by the State Dept or other US government agency. I have had a few rejected by a consulate. I use an online utility to convert a digital photo to a passport standard to be printed as a 4x6" print. I've literally gone to Costco and paid less than 30 cents for two prints.

 

[cbg1027]

Since we have to get something, I figured we would just bite the bullet and get the books so we are ready for the next 10 years. We have been wanting to travel to Europe and keep talking about it. Maybe the passports will inspire us to finally do it. (But Europe would mean no Disney for a while, so it's been hard to commit!)

 

[NHdisneylover]

You can always add in Disneyland Paris on a trip to EUrope, OP

 

[QueenIsabella]

I'm glad you seem to be embracing this. The only thing I would warn about is, ordering passports takes time. It's already mid-September. You have to send away the newly-acquired birth certificate to get your passport. You might want to wait until your Dh returns, just in case he gets stuck with no birth certificate because it's at the passport office. Obviously, this isn't a problem for you, and your Dh can take steps to expedite the passport, as others have suggested. You just need to keep this in mind. Your documents will be returned to you. My DH/DS got new passports last year, they took ~6 weeks (going the regular route).

 

[cbg1027]

I just off my passport renewal yesterday.
DH ordered his birth certificate yesterday with the expedited option so it should be here in less than a week.
Passports are supposed to be around 6 weeks, so I think we will be fine since the cruise is a bit over 9 weeks from now.

 

[cabanafrau]

I just off my passport renewal yesterday.
DH ordered his birth certificate yesterday with the expedited option so it should be here in less than a week.
Passports are supposed to be around 6 weeks, so I think we will be fine since the cruise is a bit over 9 weeks from now.

It's been a few years, but we were told six weeks for our passports last time and they arrived in less than two.

 

[Kaytie]

Basically, $315 to get the two of us passports. Oivey.

But that works out to less than ten cents a day over the life of the passport

 

[minnie56]

Okay, as others have mentioned ...he knew this going in and it's required as part of his job.
No out as far as I can see that would be wise anyway.

As for being apart ? I've been married 40 years and we have a wonderful marriage. That said , tomorrow I'm off to France with my daughters and he meets us in Nice a week later. In October, girls trip to Cabo. It's healthy to have time apart! You will both survive this !

 

[bcla]

But that works out to less than ten cents a day over the life of the passport

It's not something used every day though. It's something that's usually put away until needed. Now a passport card is a different deal. That's pretty useful as photo ID, although a lot of people concentrate on its limited use for international travel.

 

[pls5286]

While recommended, you don't need a passport for a closed loop cruise in the US. We are cruising in 9 days with just birth certificates and Driver's license.

 

[bcla]

While recommended, you don't need a passport for a closed loop cruise in the US. We are cruising in 9 days with just birth certificates and Driver's license.

Why this is still allowed rather boggles the mind. It's the only application where an adult US citizen can still use a birth certificate as a travel document to reenter the United States. The only other application I can think of is that Canada allows US citizens to enter on a US birth certificate. The US however doesn't consider that a valid travel document for an adult to enter the United States. Strange Catch 22 there.