No longer can an adult just hop on a plane to leave the country with a baby in tow and not provide some type of proof that it is theirs. The law now requires that any citizen of the United States possess a passport when leaving the country and this goes for the little ones too. The baby passport are applied for in the same way as adult ones, by filing the proper paperwork and providing some proof of their identity.
The first requirement of all new applicants is that they make an appearance at a U.S. passport acceptance facility. The Post Office is the most common of these and number over 9000, so finding one should not be difficult. There are also secondary locations such as courthouses and libraries in some areas that serve the same function.
Not only does baby need to appear, but also if there are two parents or guardians who both have legal custody or rights for the minor, both must accompany the baby. Both will be required to sign the application form.. If one is unavailable, the other parent will have to present a State of Consent that has been signed by the non-appearing parent and notarized. If only one parent has legal custody, this parent will have to show evidence to this effect, like a signed and notarized custody order.
To save time, download the passbook application from any one of a number of online sources. Fill it out before arriving at the acceptance office, but do not sign it, the signature must be completed in front of an authorized agent. If the trip has suddenly come up and there are two weeks or less, it will be necessary to go to one of the passport centers, they are in 14 different regions, mostly in urban areas.
Be sure to bring babys paperwork when it is time to turn in the paperwork. A certified United States birth certificate is required with the names of both parents on it, if there are two parents. It also needs to show that the certificate was filed within one year of babys birth.
If the copy of the babys birth certificate is unavailable, then other forms of identification will be needed. The parents will need to have copies of either their drivers license or state issued ID cards to hand in with the rest of the paperwork. Pictures that meet the governments regulations for passport photos will also be necessary to have on hand with all the rest of the paperwork.
With children, it is best to take them to someone who specializes in passbook photos. Even with todays great digital, phone and laptop cameras, it is not always easy to get the proper photo of an infant. Take the time to make sure the picture is correct or face disappointment when being turned away at the authorized center.
The final hurdle is payment for the children passport. It is not inexpensive but at least the document is good for five years. The United States passport will cost a total of $82 but will need to be split between the Department of State and the facility issuing the paperwork. Check ahead of time online to be clear on what types of payment are acceptable, not all facilities take all types of payment.
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