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OBTAINING
A US PASSPORT FOR A MINOR UNDER 14 A new law went into effect on February 1 of 2004 regarding issuance
of passports for minors. All children under the age of 14 must now
appear in person to get a passport issued. (This rule applies to
all types of passports and it applies even if the child had been
issued a previous passport and you are renewing). Previously parents
were not required to bring the child with them, but could apply
on their behalf. In addition to requiring the child to be present, the state department
now requires the parent to submit documentation of parental relationship
and consent, along with the standard documentation requirements
for passport issuance. The new requirements are clearly and precisely laid out on this
Web site:
http://travel.state.gov/specialreq.html Both parents must appear with the child for passport issuance.
If only one parent appears then you must have with you a letter
of consent from the absentee parent. You can download the form for
that letter of consent. Here is the page:
http://travel.state.gov/DS-3053.pdf
(This letter of consent is for passport issuance only and, as such,
is separate and different from a letter of consent giving permission
to take the child out of the country). If you are unable to obtain a letter of consent for passport issuance
from the absentee parent, then alternative measures are discussed
on the government Web site mentioned above. Another interesting discovery from passport services was that parents
who are in arrears of child support payments in excess of $5,000
are ineligible to receive a U.S. Passport.
Back toDocumentation
Section
WRITER'S BIO
Brenda Elwell is the author of The
Single Parent Travel Handbook and managing editor of The Single
Parent Travel Network, a Web site and
free monthly newsletter chock
full of Single Parent Travel Specials.
A veteran of over thirty years in the travel industry, she has traveled
independently to more than 60 countries, half of them with her two kids
in tow. Brenda may be reached via e-mail at brenda@singleparenttravel.net.
If you liked what you read, please support The
Single Parent Travel Network by buying The
Single Parent Travel Handbook. Read about how you can buy a book,
by clicking here. Or you can join other
single parents who take trips with Single
Parent Tours, click here to see where Single Parent Tours is going
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