kids and passports
 

at what age to childen need a passport. When we travel at the end of this year to T&C or GC, my daughter will be 1.5 yrs and my step-kids will be 8 and 10. Do they just need birth certificates?

Hi, Kristen. NIce to see your name back in these here parts. Passports aren't an age issue--if a country requires a passport for entry, it requires one for every person, newborn on up.

There have been lots of posts lately about the postponing of the passport requirement for US citizens traveling in the Caribbean. I would personally opt for getting them, regardless of whether they're required by the time of travel or not. With kids, it's about $50, as they only last 5 years.

Hope you have a great time--didn't you get married and honeymoon on GC?

Keep in mind that you should have a notarized letter from the mother of your step children stating that it's ok for them to leave the US.

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter.
If my memory serves me right, we got a passport for our son when he was 6 months old. The airport ticket agents love us for making their lives easier :-)

Hello! And thank you :-)

Yes I got married on GC. Would love to go back but also wanto try somewhere new. I was a little concerned about it being too cool in T&C but I think we should be okay based on what everyoen has told me.

Jean..I'm aware that we needed a letter from their mother, but not aware it had to be notarized. This will be fun because the woman is not easy deal with.

ejcrowe and caribtraveler...where have you been recently and/or where is your next trip planned for?

We just got passports for our kids, ages 9 and 11 (others had expired), because the ticket agents in STX are difficult if you don't have them (even thought they aren't yet required). But it was not cheap. With pictures taken at the post office, it cost me almost $200 for the two passports! Still glad I did it.

ejcrowe: re: "didn't you get married and honeymoon on GC?". I thought the same thing when I saw Kristen's post. We need to be on that thread I've seen on one of the boards "You know you've been on Fodors too long when ..." :-)
Kristen1206: Minor correction. We got our son's passport when he was 9 months old.
Last year, we went to Curacao, Mexico, Florida and Vegas. Vegas was a hot date with just me and the husband :-)
This year we're going to GC in about 13 weeks (I swear I'm not counting), Atlanta for an April weekend for another hot date. Kidding. It's actually a friend's wedding and we'll attempt to make it a hot date. Jamaica in August and still deciding which island to go to for our anniversary trip in Sept/Oct. Turks and Caicos is actually on my "very long" list for that trip.
Do enjoy the baby (I know you do). It's the best thing that can ever happen to you and your husband. :-)

Caribtraveler...

sounds like a fun year!! And we are enjoying Elizabeth sooo much!! I can't imagine my life without her. Can't wait for her to experience the carribbean!

So where will you be satying in GC?

We are going to GC this month Jan 06 with our kids 5 & 3 and were informed that passports are required now for the kids. Birth Certificates are no longer accepted to Mexico or the Carribean from what I understand...there was a big memo from the Dept of Homeland Security that came with our travel documents from the travel agent.Hope that helps M

Kristen, it gives me a big smile to see that you're posting here again. I also remember well your trip to Anguilla and the pretty pictures you posted there. And your post about which island had the whitest sand of the ones you'd collected bottles from. Caribtraveler, you're right--I've been addicted to this forum for WAY too long.

Don't know the last time you chimed in here, Kristen, but my husband and I took our 13 year old granddaughter to Tortola in July and then my mother to Antigua in August for her 70th birthday. My husband had some health issues that disrupted much of our 2005 plans for travel. We're heading to Vieques in May with another 13 year old. I'm beginning to regret that whole suggestion of taking each of his grandkids on a special trip for their 13th birthday. Well, not really, but it does mean that for 3 trips down there in a row that we're traveling with other people instead of just a romantic getaway. If we're able to, we'll take a week away together someplace down there in the fall.

Hi Ejcrowe!

I have been lurking here but only posting now and then. But now that I have another trip to plan I'm back! yay :-)

My bottles of sand all displayed on the windowsill in my kitchen above the sink. I can't wait to compare T&C sand if we go there which I am thinking we will.

I remember you talking about your trips with the the grandkids! This trip will be an experience for us ans we are used to traveling solo! But I know the kids will love it and remember it always (and Elizabeth can look back at the photos :-)).

Antigua was also on my list of possible places to go. I have read a few of your posts and know you really enjoyed. And I want to fo Tortola or VG as well but probably just the 2 of us for that one.

Can you recommend any good places to stay for a family trip in Antigua?

Maybe you could do Anguilla in the Fall? It's supposed to be great there in November.

I also got a new camera for Christmas...a really nice digital SLR that takes awesome photos so I can't wait to use it on our trip!!

I apologize for all my typos. My typing stinks apparently, especially when I am typing fast in between trying to do work!!

Kristen: It was a crazy year work-wise for both of us but we made up for it with very nice/fun trips. We're staying at the Hyatt GC.

This post is of concern to me as I will be traveling with my stepdaughter to Europe in 2007 (she will be 15) accompanied with her father as well. I was going to get her a passport anyway because you never know where you will end up. It was the letter from the mother suggestion that got me confused. If you have birth certificates with you and father as well why would you need a letter from the mother? Just curious. There must be some logic to this that I'm just not seeing at the moment. I mean how would they even know you're not their mother. I suppose you could have different last names and be of different ethnic backgrounds but still how would they know you are not their mother. Suppose mother was no longer with us how do you prove that. Need the mothers death certificate as well. See my confusion here. Anyway this may seem like a dumb question but I don't get it.
Thanks,
Annika

annikany...I just downloaded the passport applications and it says you need a notarized document from both parents just to even get a passport.

I guess they wouldn't technically know you are not the true parent unless that parent said soemthing about it.

Thanks Kristen. That information is necessary to get the passport. Okay that makes sense.
Another question though. So, let's say you are traveling with the kids and they have passports. Then a notorized letter from the mother is no longer necessary right?
Jean H-
You were stating that this letter would be necessary only if you were traveling without passports correct?
Thanks,
Annika

We've gotten the notarized letter for intermational travel with my step-daughter for many years now. Although she is a difficult person, the ex has never seemed to mind the idea of the letter since it's simply protecting all parties involved.

It's not so much that the notarized letter of authorization to travel with the non-custodial parent is "mandantory," but it can alleviate unwanted headaches if any questions arise from the authorities, and they do occassionally arise.

Basically the letter should state that the custodial parent gives the non-custodial parent permission to take the child/children out of the country, to a specified place/places on specified dates. With the threat of non-custodial parents kidnapping children these days it's just a good idea to have the letter.

We always ask the ex to also state that my husband has sole discretion to medical care, if needed, while the child is in his possession. There again it saves headaches if the fact that the parent is non-custodial happens to come up and someone questions the legal authority they have as to medical decisions for the child/children.

I hope this helps.

Actually it does. Thank you Statia.
Annika

You're welcome, annikany. :)

I also want to clarify in my above post that it's my husband's ex who is difficult, not his daughter. I just realized that sentence reads kind of funny. His daughter is a sweetie. :)

Just wanted to add that even if it is the custodial parent who wants to take the child(ren) out of the country, a notarized letter from the other parent is still needed. My husband raised his three daughters and had to get a notarized letter from their mother when he traveled with them to the UK.