Jul 13 2010
What You Ought To Know Concerning Passports For Children
It is smart to know the regulations surrounding a childs passport if you need to apply for one for your child. Even newborns are required to have one when traveling abroad. There are also some special rules for children between 16 and 18 years of age.
Minors below 16 years of age need to apply for passports with both parents/guardians present. You must show proof of the childs citizenship, which will be returned. Among the documents you can use for proof are an U.S. Passport which is not damaged, a certificate of birth, abroad or in the U.S., and either a citizenship or naturalization.
It will be necessary to prove the relationship of the parents or guardians to the minor. Acceptable proof is a birth certificate, either U.S. or foreign, which has both parents names, an adoption decree listing the adopting parents, or a court order which establishes guardianship or custody.
If any furnished documents are in another language, they must be translated. It can be formally or informally translated. Both original and English translation must be submitted with the passport application.
Previous U.S. passports cannot be used as proof that parent and child are related. If one of the parents or guardians has had a name change since original documents were issued, proof of that legal name change must also be provided. An example of proof for a name change would be a certificate of marriage. Both parents or guardians must also show valid identification such as: a USA passport that is undamaged, a naturalization certificate, a government or military ID, or a drivers license.
Both parents need to consent for a child below 16 years of age to get a passport. They must appear with the child when making the application. If they are not both able to appear, at least one must go as the form needs to be signed in front of the passport agent. Meanwhile, a Statement of Consent for the other parent must be turned in. This form needs to be notarized within the last three months.
If complete custody is with only one parent, that parent must go with the minor to the passport agency and sign the form before the agent. Proof of sole authority must also be furnished. This can be a birth certificate or consular report of birth abroad, which lists only the one name. Alternative proof may be an adoption decree, a court order, an incompetence declaration, or a death certificate.
A third party can apply for the passport of the minor if necessary. In this case, that person must go to the passport agency with a notarized statement from both parents or guardians. Sole-custody proof must also be presented if there is only one parent or guardian.
Besides the application and evidence for identification, custody, and relationship, you must supply two photos and pay a fee. If the child is between 16 and 18, he or she will also need to show a photo id. If none is available, the photo identification of the parents or guardians can be substituted. Whichever is used, a copy must also be submitted with the application. As with any passport, a minor passport should be applied for before it is a necessity.
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