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.

Good point, ejcroew. The issue works both ways since either parent can be accused of false pretenses.

Hi - we recently got passports for our kids and the rules and regs have changed A LOT since last time (renewing 6 year olds and 9 year olds). They are more cumbersome and detailed - so review carefully before applying. You need all children's birth certificates to GET passports (even renewals) so it indicates on there who is legal parent. Yes - even if you have one parent with a child you need notarized letter for child to leave the country (how they know it is legit is a good questions).

We live overseas and I frequently travel alone with our kids (primarily in the summer going to and from the US).

Even tho my husband and I are together, I always have a letter with me, signed by him and notorized, giving me permission to travel alone with the kids. And I carry a copy of his passport signature page with me. We also have a letter for him signed by me.

Although I have never had any problems, I have several friends who have been questioned and detained while travelling alone internationally with their kids. One almost missed her flight. Her child (age 5!) was politely "grilled" about her parents, where they live, where they were going, etc - until the authorities were convinced there was no funny stuff. Now my friend has a letter from her husband - and of course, she hasn't been stopped since!

So - is getting all the paperwork a hassle? Sure - but I put it in the "better safe than sorry" category.

Also, when we got our kids' passports renewed last spring, both my husband and I had to be present. And we had to have photocopies of the birth certificates for the US Embassy agent to keep. Maybe that was just an "Egypt thing" - but be sure to read all the fine print!

Both parents being present to apply and having a notarized copy of the birth cert is not an "Egypt thing" it is a new US regulation since our last round of passports 4 years ago. Both have to be present to apply and you have to have old passport and a birth certificate (proof of parents). It is a lot of new fine print - it took us 3 trips to the office to get it right!

I knew both parents had to be present, but it was the original birth certificate AND a photocopy of the birth certificate for them to keep that threw me. I had to go run out and make a copy.

When did it go into effect about both parents being present? Maybe that is fairly recent, because we filled out an application for my husband's daughter to get a passport in January 2005 and her grandparents took her to get it. Neither parent was present. Maybe the fact that she was 14 years of age made a difference. I read all the regulations at that time, but don't recall what they were now.

I went to the website and found that the age did make a difference.

If a child is under 14, then both parents must be present. That is not the case if the child is 14 years of age or older, though.

I just got passports for my three toddlers and while it is a bit of a hassle it isn't THAT bad. Just print and fill out all forms before you go. To get a passport for the first time, you have to apply in person with both parents -- some places require that you make an appointment, so check that out. My husband couldn't make it so we needed to get a special form notarized stating he gave permission for the kids to get passports. Please note, you need a separate notarized form for each kid.

The only hassle for us was that my three toddlers are all the same age and look alike and so the guy taking our application had a really hard time matching birth certificates and notarized letters and applications and photos even though I had already done it all for him. He took it all apart and then wouldn't let me reorganize it for him.

Good luck.

When we got passports for our children (8 and 10) we were both present with our passports for identification. There is a form on the web site that you can download ahead of time AND have notarized by the parent that can't come along that day. You still need a notarized letter if you are traveling alone with a child even with their passport. We were delayed at 5:00am for two hours trying to get a notary out of bed and get my husband to the airport with the letter. I won't make that mistake again!

Wow, taitai,

Like you didn't have enough on your hands! I noticed you said 'guy'!

I think that says it all :-D

I understand all the concern/worry about children being kidnapped by non-custodial parents, but it really makes it difficult for the rest of us.

Last March, my husband and oldest son went on a special trip to Thailand, and my younger son and I went with a group of friends to Turkey (we lived in Egypt at the time).

I had notorized letters for each of us giving us permission to travel with that particular child to that place for that time period. I also registered with the US Embassies in Thailand and Turkey, giving all our travel details.

Was it really necessary? Probably not. But it gave me piece of mind that all the i's were dotted and the t's were crossed if someone wanted to give us trouble.

Fortunatley, my kids are now getting old enough (young teens) that no one really questions us. But I can only imagine what the hassle would be with a baby or toddler!