How is it May already? Seriously, though. It feels like we were just toasting the new year, and now we’re right on the edge of summer ’16.
This month, we’re taking our first vacation as a family. Before the 2Live Crew, DaddyVents and I would take weekend trips to DC to see our favorite neo-soul artists, or jump on the highway for a quick visit to the Odunde Festival in Philly. We even celebrated my graduation with a island hopping cruise, but we hadn’t been anywhere as a family of four–yet.
DaddyVents’ cousin is getting married in the Caribbean, and we’re all making the trip to celebrate! The 2Live Crew will finally meet the family they’ve only seen in Facebook pictures. We’ve been planning and packing, stocking up on travel size items, and getting the boys ready for their first ever flight with our visit to the Cradle of Aviation.
One thing we didn’t prepare for was getting our passports.
Since becoming a Mrs., I haven’t really needed my passport–which is exactly why I needed to get a new one with my married name. In addition to my name change, the boys needed their own travel documents.
I printed all of the forms we needed from the U.S. Department of State website, and started our journey.
Get to your local office early.
A passport book will cost $80, while a passport card, which is valid only for travel from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean, is just $15. You can get both for $95. To apply for your child’s passport, you’ll need:
Evidence of US citizenship: Your child’s birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or Certificate of Naturalization/Citizenship)
Parental Consent: If your child’s birth certificate doesn’t list your name, you’ll need a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, adoption decree, or foreign birth certificate (with an official translation, if it isn’t in English)
Parental Appearance: Both Mom & Dad should be there. If one of you can’t make it, you’ll need Form DS-3053 signed & notarized
Photo Identification: Each parent needs to submit either a copy of their driver’s license, an undamaged U.S. passport (if it’s been issued less than 15 years ago), a Certificate of Naturalization, or a valid military ID
Color Photo: You’ll need a 2×2 color photo of your child, taken within the last 6 months
Application: Complete Form DS-11 and bring it with you–but don’t sign it yet!
We spent a Saturday morning rushing around getting the documents we’d need for our passports, including the notarized form DS-3053, since DaddyVents wouldn’t be able to make it to the post office with us that day.
Once we arrived and hustled up the stairs, a huge sign told us that due to volume, they weren’t accepting any more passport applications that morning.
I took the boys to IHOP, but over our pancakes, I started to worry.
Pack your patience.
We heard about a post office on Long Island with expedited passport service, so we headed over the next Saturday.
There was already a line out the door, but they were still accepting applications. We took our place behind another family of four and waited. And waited. And waited. And then, we waited some more. The 2Live Crew started to get, well, live. Everyone was tired of standing, tired of waiting, and tired of being there–including me and DaddyVents.
If I had known we’d be there that long, I would’ve packed extra snacks for the boys and something to read for myself.
Make sure you read the directions.
Remember when I told you that we had to get a notarized statement for the day that DaddyVents wasn’t able to go with us? We also needed a copy of the front and back of his driver’s license. The woman in front of us had a statement, but didn’t have a copy of the father’s license. She wasted over an hour of her time and went home empty handed.
Another mom had her son’s passport paperwork completely filled out, with all the necessary documents–but she wrote in blue ink and had to fill out a whole new application. Use black ink, or complete your application online and bring it with you.
Smile! And pay extra for expediting.
We took our pictures at the post office instead of the local pharmacy. I tried to use all of Tyra’s ANTM tricks and smize. Wear any color that isn’t white, or you’ll look like a floating head.
To get our passports in a hurry (normal processing is six to weeks, expediting cuts your wait time down to three), we paid an additional $60. Make your check or money order out to the U.S. Department of State, and then…
Wait (im)patiently for your passports to arrive.
We received the boys’ passports by express mail in about two weeks. Mine came the next day, and I thought we were all set–until my mom wanted to see the 2Live Crew’s passport pics. That’s when we noticed that The DJ’s middle name was spelled wrong. The boys both carry middle names that reflect their African heritage. Although the Department of State requires you to submit an original birth certificate with your application, The DJ’s “MiddleName” became “HiddleName.”
I had three options– #1: Cancel his plane ticket and re-book, omitting his middle name (Don’t enter middle names when buying tickets. Just don’t.) and paying over $100 in “change fees”, #2: Try to get his passport corrected in time for our trip, or, #3: Panic and cry uncontrollably. Dani suggested that I just give the office a call.
Passport corrections can take up to three weeks, and I wasn’t sure we’d get The DJ’s back in time. The rep I spoke with told me that because of the short time frame, I could go to the New York Passport Agency and get a new passport in about eight days at no charge.
If you need to travel within a month or have a family emergency and need your passport even sooner, you can make an appointment at your local passport agency. You’ll need proof of your travel, like your plane tickets or itinerary. You can get your child’s passport in as little as 24 hours.
Hopefully, getting your child’s first passport will be easier with these tips!
Is your family traveling this summer? Will you need your passports?
*Oh, the Drake gifs? You’re welcome.
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These are great tips. We have to renew our daughter’s before next June. But, I’m planning on doing it earlier since it can take a while.
I just had anxiety reading this! I have to get justabxgirl her passport and I’m already planning for everything that can go wrong. Probably why I keep holding off an international trip with her.
I remember my daughter’s first passport picture. I did here hair all cute. Took me forever to get her little bit of hair into a barrette only for them to tell me to take it out. What?
I remember when…we all had to get passports to go to our wedding in Jamaica. We were just too tickled Julie had to have her own at only 6 months. I think DH was the one who had to go in person to expedite. Alot has changed since then. Julie is due for a new one now and I also have to update to my married name. And neither of the boys have one. Oh how things slow down once the children come. I really miss traveling. Thanks for the tips!
I’m currently in the process of getting passports for myself and the kids. The Mr is on the fence about whether or not he wants to renew his since he’s not about that flying life. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we don’t have any misspelled names because it happens often with my daughter’s name. Thankfully, our first out of country trip isn’t planned until next year! Thanks for the tips.