Anyone gotten one for their kids? Is it a pain? We are thinking of traveling to Canada next summer and I just realized that the kids will need passports too right? Time to do a little research I guess.
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I got one for LO when she was about a year old and it was super easy. The only issue was that we both (DH and I) had to go to the passport office TOGETHER to sign/send in the paperwork. So there was a little schedule coordination for that; otherwise easy peasy. We got her photo done at CVS/Walgreens type place.
Yes they will need passports to travel into Canada; we recently traveled up into Canada and the customs agent definitely checked LO's passport and also asked her what her name was.
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It was super easy! I had to get a form notarized since my hubby couldn't come with me to the office to do it. But, that wasn't difficult and it all went very smoothly.
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It's not a pain, it's just like any other passport - depending on how young they are getting the photo might be a pain. We did B's when he was teeny tiny, like couldn't hold up his head tiny, and getting the photo with him looking up the camera and my hand (bracing his head) not showing was tricky.
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@travellingbee: @yoursilverlining: I thought kids only needed a birth certificate to go from US to Canada
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@Mamaof2: Hmm I'm not sure. We brought LO's since she has one and they asked for it and reviewed it.
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The hardest part was having my son be still long enough to take the picture. lol I had to get a paper notarized because my husband couldn't go with me.
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We have a local post office that also takes passport photos, so we did it all there. We were able to get a Saturday appointment by scheduling a few months in advance.
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Got one when my daughter was 1 month old for an upcoming trip and it was super easy. It lasts for 5 years which I find crazy because now there is just a pic of her when she was a month old for years...
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The biggest differences have been mentioned- you must apply in person and either have both parents present or a notarized from stating the non present parents consent. Research your places to apply- that will make the biggest difference in your experience (wait times etc). Many places to apply will allow you to get a photo there. I'd explain the process to your kids to help them be cooperative during the picture. We expedited my sons because we were leaving in six weeks and got it less than two weeks later!
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We got one before we needed one. It was easy- we did it at the post office. We also got a passport card- good for cruises and driving I think- I just keep it on me at all times so I have photo ID of my daughter.
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We just did it! My advice is to make an appointment to have it done. And yes the annoying thing is both parents need to be there! Make sure you pre-fill out the forms and make copies of everything they need.
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@Mamaof2: You might be right, but only when traveling by land or sea. It's kind of confusing:
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I don't think it's a pain, I think it's a lot easier than it used to be and if you're not in a rush, they typically arrive within weeks of the request.
I do think we make them a bigger deal in our minds than they really are!
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So much easier than we thought! We went to a local office and a nearby small city (not our large city), had the form and checks all written out beforehand, they did the pictures on-site (they had experience with little ones, and all sorts of approved props to get a good picture) and it only took 15 min.
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It's pretty easy as long as you have all the paperwork together. Like others have said, you and your spouse have to both go. I don't know if it's the case if you already live in the US, but when we renewed my DS's passport abroad, both parents had to be present again and we were told both parents always have to be present until the kid is 16. 5 years goes by so fast!
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@NorthStar: we were in Canada recently and there was a couple with 2 kids at the airport with only births certificates because they had been on a cruise but must have been flying home and they were SCREWED. It was a huge nightmare and the mom was crying at the desk
@travellingbee: getting the passports are easy and worth the piece of mind. Fill of paperwork at home, make appt at post office - take check and your out in 10 min
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Your spouse doesn't have to be present. There is a form that has to be notarized if he or she can't be there
It's pretty easy as look as you follow all of the instructions. I make copies of everything (front and back and in color). You need a check also, you can't pay in cash
We went ahead and did global entry while we were at it for the entire family (my husband already had it). Unlike precheck, every family member has to have GE in order to uses GE lines or kiosks. -
We're going on a cruise from PR to the Virgin Islands, to the Bahamas and then FL. Because of the Bahamas stop and the fact that it's not a closed loop I need more than a birth certificate fort the kids. I decided to get them passport cards because they were cheaper than full passports. I also figured most of the travel we will do over the next five years will be the US, the Caribbean and maybe Canada.
When they're older we'll get passports and go to Europe.
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You definitely do not need one if traveling by land or sea. We went last summer with just LO's birth certificate.
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We went to Canada by car last year with two 2yo and a 1 yo. All they needed were their birth certificate and the border agent have us no troubles. If you fly, then you need passports for everyone.
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Both my kids have one. I would suggest calling your post office as soon as possible. We were waiting until my husband got his citizenship. As soon as he did, I called post office only to be told the next available appt was like a month and a half away
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Yes, we'll be flying so we'll need them.
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@travellingbee: it's not a pain. Just print out and fill out the forms ahead of time, then you can either take your own picture (there are apps for that now that so it correctly), have them taken at a pharmacy, or have it taken at the passport office itself.
I always go to the actual passport office because they usually have longer opening hours and you can just walk in with no appt. both our kids had a passport by 3 months old because we frequently go to Canada.
As pps said, either both parents have to be present or you need the notarized form. Our local office has evening hours so we went when DH got home from work and there was only 1 other family there, so we were in and out.
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Not a pain at all - super easy! The hardest part was probably getting in for an appointment at the post office, but that's only because I was doing it so very last minute.
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Thanks everyone for the good info. I'll get on it while I'm home for the summer.
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We just did this as we're going to go to Canada too.
And the biggest pain was the taking of the passport pictures. DS2 is 2 and just wouldn't sit still. We had them done at the post office since I had heard stories that pictures from Walgreens/CVS etc. weren't good enough. Unfortunately, the 1st post office worker was horrible. She was so impatient and just slow. So we vowed to come back. But the 2nd person we worked with was great. You can fill out the forms online. I would recommend doing that and having everything ready before you get there. So many people in line seemed surprised that there was an application to fill out. I mean, duh
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Agree with finding the right location. We unfortunately did ours right after Trump took office and the wait was FOREVER at our location. Literally 6 hours sitting in the office and waiting for our first number to be called and then our second number. I'm sure there are better offices to go to.
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We did them while I was on maternity leave.
Walgreens said that if they took the picture, they would guarantee that it was acceptable for the passport.
We are in the DC area and tried making appointments. The first available appointment was 2 months later and after my maternity leave ended. We were planning to visit my parents and in-laws in Texas (Houston and Dallas areas) and then called around that area for an appointment. They could get us in two weeks later. We made an appointment for a month later when we would be in town. I refused to wait because I had no idea how to entertain a 2yr old and a 6 week old for possibly hours.
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In our area you can go to any post office, and while some require appointments, others allow walk-ins. I was in and out in 20 min.
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This is helpful! We'd also like to get our DD a passport.
And the biggest pain was the taking of the passport pictures. DS2 is 2 and just wouldn't sit still. We had them done at the post office since I had heard stories that pictures from Walgreens/CVS etc. weren't good enough. Unfortunately, the 1st post office worker was horrible. She was so impatient and just slow. So we vowed to come back. But the 2nd person we worked with was great. Reply
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