A Parent’s Guide To Expedited Child Passport Application

by erin on July 28, 2011

Children who are leaving with their parents on a trip abroad are also required to have passports. When the trip’s departure date is near, the parents have to get the documents in the fastest way possible. The documents can be processed in a short time if an expedited child passport application is made.

Support Document

All passport applications need supporting documentation. For minor applicants, the parents are tasked to fill out the forms. Afterwards, the children together with adult companions are required to appear personally at a passport acceptance center.

Birth Certificate

First time applications require birth certificates. The certificate must bear a dry seal of the office that issued the document. The parents of the minor children must make sure both their names are written on the birth certificate.

Passport Application

Adults must obtain a copy of the new passport application form. This is Form DS-11. This is usually available for free in most public libraries and post offices. The fastest way of getting a copy is to use the Internet and download the document from the web site of the Department of State.

Required Photos

Parents must see to it that their kids already have their passport-sized pictures taken. When all the paperwork is done, the adults have to decide who will go with the children when they make the personal appearance. Their presence is important in order to establish parental consent. When both parents are present, consent is indicated when they sign Form DS-11. If only one parent is there, the other must fill out Form DS-3053 because it establishes consent. For a parent who has sole custody of the children, proof of the fact must be presented. A death certificate is acceptable for deceased partners. A court order will be asked if the reason for sole custody was a divorce. When a guardian represents the parents, there must be a notarized statement that recognizes the role of a third party.

Present Identification

All adults who are going with minor applicants must be able to present identification. Acceptable forms include passports, driver’s licenses and any other government ID. After passing all the requirements, the adults are asked to sign DS-11 and pay the application fee. If the children are already 15 to 16 years old, they can come unaccompanied provided they show written permission from their parents.

Wait Time

It will take less than three weeks for completing an expedited application. The payment for this kind of transaction is more than a regular application. The parent is actually paying for the rushed processing and for an express delivery by courier of their child’s new set of documents. When there is a need to find out how the application is moving along, a tracking service can provide a status update. The interested adult has to provide his last name, the last four numbers of his Social Security Number and his birth date.

Travel Experience

By allowing children to experience what travelling to other countries is, they get a huge educational experience no amount of classroom teaching can give. Children become better people when they get to travel with their new American passport. For your children, give them this experience by applying for an expedited child passport.

Comments on this entry are closed.

Previous post:

Next post: