Passports for your progeny
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- October
- 19
Last year, when my family took a trip to Costa Rica, my sons applied for passports for the first time. While the wait to receive it was slightly long—about six weeks—the process was pretty painless, although the cost created a pinch to our pockets.
But as rules around applying for and requiring a passport become more stringent, people who travel with children may want to take note of some of the basic protocols according to a pamphlet issued by Westchester County Clerk Tim Idoni:
- Don’t wait until the last minute to apply. Beginning in early 2008, passports will be needed to travel by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda. So if you need one, apply now.
- Be aware of special requirements for children under 14: All children, even newborns, must have their own passport. And children’s passports need to be renewed every five years. When applying for a chid’s passport, children must be there in person. If possible, both parents should appear together and sign the application for a child who is under 14. If only one parent appears, the parent must provide a notarized form proving consent from the other parent.
- When you apply for a passport, please be sure to bring the right documents: Proof of US Citizenship (previous passport, naturalization certificate, original or certified copy of your birth certificate, or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad), Proof of Identity (a valid driver’s license or government/military ID card) and the fees (typically $97 for an adult passport and $82 for children under 16). If you need a passport in a hurry, the application can be expedited for an additional $60. Cash, checks and credit cards can be used to pay the fees.
Need more information or have additional questions? Call the Westchester County Clerk’s office at 914-995-3086 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. or visit www.westchesterclerk.com.
This entry was posted
on Friday, October 19th, 2007 at 3:07 pm by Gayle T. Williams.
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Thanks for this gentle reminder. I’ve been meaning to get an updated passport for my daughters for some time now. I originally got them a passport when we went to Aruba and was happy that I did. Although a birth certificate would have worked at the time I didn’t feel 100% comfortable bringing their original birth certificates out of the country. Passports are definitely the way to go, however, give yourself plenty of lead time to avoid the extra stress and expense.
Hi Gayle,
Thanks for posting this information! Also I know that you can also go to the Westchester County Clerk’s office in White Plains to apply for your passport. When I got a passport for my daughter Tyra, she was not yet 2 and the staff was very pleasant, patient and terrific with us. I also noticed they have a mobile office van that goes out to various towns in the county. They take passport applications and have a photo machine to take your passport pictures right there on the spot. The mobile office van is great for busy moms like me with obligations with work and family that make it difficult to go into White Plains during the work day.
Thanks