*Was getting a passport really difficult or easy? We'd love it if you shared your tips!
Getting a United States passport for your children is often equated with being a super stressful experience and having done it three times, I have to say, it totally is. Even if you get all your ducks in a row. Throw in joint custody issues, new ridiculous restrictions, or government shutdowns, and it can be a total nightmare. BUT there are some ways to make it easier.
Here's what to keep in mind when doing this:
1. The U.S. Department of State's website is where you need to start. Here is where you will find the forms to fill out and the answers to all your questions, even special-case scenarios. This is the passport application for a child under the age of 16. The site will allow you to fill it out electronically, then save the application as a PDF for you to print. Super easy! Or you can print it, then fill it out. But why make your life harder? One thing to note: this will be an easier process if your child already has a social security number. Otherwise, you'll have to fill out another form that certifies the child does not have a social security number.
2. Make an appointment at a passport agency. Sometimes this can be done at a post office. But if you need expedited service, you'll have to go to a federal building. The good news is you can make the appointment online and the system will give you a date depending on how fast you need the passport. We made an appointment for a Thursday and had the passport by Tuesday. The system will also let you determine how much you need to pay for the passport. Typically it's $80 for a child, $110 for an adult plus a $35 processing fee. Expedited fees are separate and start at $60 each.
3. Get a passport photo. There are some agencies where they will offer to do a passport photo onsite. I didn't want to take that chance that the photo shop would be closed during our visit, so I sat my son at a stool at a CVS and had them take a passport photo. It cost me about $14 and one lollipop. But we had two copies ready to go at our appointment.
4.Triple-check that you have all the forms and IDs you need. Don't leave the house for your passport appointment without triple-checking that you have all the forms and proper IDs that you need. Make a few copies of these just in case. For example, when I showed up for my son's passport appointment, I had both my husband and I's passports, photocopies of the passports, my son's birth certificate, a copy of the certificate, our flight confirmations and hotel reservations, and his social security card. (That wasn't needed but just in case!)
5. Bring your fellow parent. Both parents need to be present for a child's passport appointment. Or you will need to bring notarized forms that show you are either the sole legal guardian or that you cannot find the other parent or that the other parent just couldn't make it to the appointment but agrees to have the child get a passport.
6. Show up a little early. That will give you time to go through your forms one more time and hopefully, determine that you have everything you need.
7. Hand in your forms, including the birth certificate, and then wait. You will have to hand over the forms and birth certificate for a few days. This will be mailed back to you with the new passport so it's not gone forever. Or if you arrange to pickup the passport, you wil receive it then.
8. Travel! That's it. Now that you're little one has a passport, go explore the world!
Did we miss a step? Let us know!
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE
