Acquiring A US Passport For Children
United States passports allow individuals to travel anywhere in the world. They let people go to other countries and then come back home and reenter America. However, unlike in the past, children now need to possess their own passport. In the past, children have been allowed to travel with their parents without needing a passport. Due to child trafficking this is no longer the case and they will need to obtain a U S passport for children.
Child Passport
A children’s passport is a passport for a U.S. citizen who is under the age of 18. These passports expire every five years and are not renewable at that time. This means that a new passport for the child must be applied for every five years.
Application
If you are going to try and get a child passport you will first need to acquire all the necessary paperwork. You will have to fully fill out the application. Also, when you send in the completed application you will have to make certain that you have also included any necessary documentation.
Things To Include
There are a couple things to remember when you send in your application for a United States passport. First, you have to make sure you have filled out the application completely. Next, you need to make sure to include both proof of citizenship as well as a recent photo. You will also need a consent form signed by your parents. This process will go much quicker if you remember to send in all of these items when applying for a passport.
Documentation explained
In order to show proof of citizenship you will have to provide a certified birth certificate. The birth certificate must also be the original copy from the hospital you were born in. You are going to need consent from a parent as well. You could also use a social security card for proof of citizenship in your application for a child passport. Lastly, you will need to send not one but two copies a color passport photo.
Once Completed
Once all documentation is filled out it can be taken to any agency that handles passport matters. The consultant will go through paperwork to double check and the necessary requirements. Additionally a passport can be applied for online, which makes things much easier. There are also fees incurred when applying for a passport. There is nominal government fee, and then depending on the agency in which you go through to obtain the passport there may be additional agency acquired fees.
How Long It Takes
Assuming that you filled out all of your application and documents properly, you should expect to receive your new child passport in about eight weeks. However, if you need it quicker than this, you can visit an expediting agency to speed the process up for you. Of course, this costs extra money. However, they can guarantee you receive you American passport in time for your overseas travels.