Passport question

The first time we cruised with our daughter, she was 10 months at the time, the US customs agent gave us a very hard time after the cruise. My wife and I have passports, but we only had a bc for our daughter. The agent said how do I know this is your daughter? He asked us several questions about her, then said how am I suppose to verify this with her if she can’t communicate to me.

He said there is no way I can tell if this is your child or not. After remaining calm, I finally told him that we provided all the required documentation, is there anything further you need from us. He gave me a nasty look and told us to move on.

We now have passports for both our daughters.

My greatest fear in life, is being stranded on a Caribbean Island without a passport and no way to get home....:D

FYI:

U.S. passports cost $110.

If you wear glasses take them off before you are photographed.

In the past you were allowed to wear your glasses - but that no longer is the case.

The first time we cruised with our daughter, she was 10 months at the time, the US customs agent gave us a very hard time after the cruise. My wife and I have passports, but we only had a bc for our daughter. The agent said how do I know this is your daughter? He asked us several questions about her, then said how am I suppose to verify this with her if she can’t communicate to me.

He said there is no way I can tell if this is your child or not. After remaining calm, I finally told him that we provided all the required documentation, is there anything further you need from us. He gave me a nasty look and told us to move on.

We now have passports for both our daughters.

Wow! That's crazy. I'm in the "take your passport" crew (I actually even travel within the US with my passport, it just stays in my computer bag), and I have passports for both of my children, but I'd never have thought a US customs agent would act in such a way.

I guess that goes to show we all need to be diligent, no matter what.

Why? Did you ever do it with only birth certificates?

Minors have never needed photo ID

No they just asked for passports and we had them. We had a hard time getting my husbands first passport because he was born in Kwajalein Marshall Islands. We had to get both of his parents birth certificates and their marriage license and the birth certificate from the MI. So just much easier for us to have the passport instead of his birth certificate from the MI.

The first time we cruised with our daughter, she was 10 months at the time, the US customs agent gave us a very hard time after the cruise. My wife and I have passports, but we only had a bc for our daughter. The agent said how do I know this is your daughter? He asked us several questions about her, then said how am I suppose to verify this with her if she can’t communicate to me.

He said there is no way I can tell if this is your child or not. After remaining calm, I finally told him that we provided all the required documentation, is there anything further you need from us. He gave me a nasty look and told us to move on.

We now have passports for both our daughters.

And that's a perfect example of why you need passports. You just never know when you are going to get that disgruntled government agent who just wants to give you a hard way to go. I'm sure he wasn't the least bit suspicious that you were kidnapping a child. He was just being a prick.

At what ports do you need a passport to get off for? We’re going to st Lucia, st Maarten, st Thomas, Barbados and Antigua.

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At what ports do you need a passport to get off for? We’re going to st Lucia, st Maarten, st Thomas, Barbados and Antigua.

 

 

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None of them

At what ports do you need a passport to get off for? We’re going to st Lucia, st Maarten, st Thomas, Barbados and Antigua.

We've never been asked for passports at those ports.

One tip (passport threads make my head hurt); if your child is 15 wait until they are 16 to get them a passport if you can; 15 year old get a 5 year passport, 16 years olds get a 10 year passport. When I am King you all will have to get a passport to cruise (sorry cruise lobby that got the closed loop exception). Tough toenails. Period.

If you cruise to Cuba, which we are ...leaving tomorrow, you are required to have a passport - even minors. From what I have read, they won't let you on the ship without the passport. You also have to take it into Cuba, have it stamped and show on return to the ship. Along with a Visa, which the ship provides.

Just an FYI.

Passport cards and Real ID cards don't help for international flights, and only a handful of states currently offer a Real ID. note: Real IDs are different from EDLs (enhanced driver's licenses), which many states offer.

 

You have this the wrong way round, most states offer Real ID drivers license, the ones with a star in the corner, and these are good for domestic flights, some states, I think there are 5, offer EDL's, which prove citizenship as well, they have an American flag on them

No they just asked for passports and we had them. We had a hard time getting my husbands first passport because he was born in Kwajalein Marshall Islands. We had to get both of his parents birth certificates and their marriage license and the birth certificate from the MI. So just much easier for us to have the passport instead of his birth certificate from the MI.

Your post is confusing. You say that to get his passport you had to obtain not only his BC, but also his parents' BCs and their marriage license, but somehow getting four different documents was easier than just getting his BC?

You have this the wrong way round, most states offer Real ID drivers license, the ones with a star in the corner, and these are good for domestic flights, some states, I think there are 5, offer EDL's, which prove citizenship as well, they have an American flag on them

Sorry to have mixed them up. The point remains that neither type of license is acceptable for international flights. Still need an actual passport for those.

The first time we cruised with our daughter, she was 10 months at the time, the US customs agent gave us a very hard time after the cruise. My wife and I have passports, but we only had a bc for our daughter. The agent said how do I know this is your daughter? He asked us several questions about her, then said how am I suppose to verify this with her if she can’t communicate to me.

He said there is no way I can tell if this is your child or not. After remaining calm, I finally told him that we provided all the required documentation, is there anything further you need from us. He gave me a nasty look and told us to move on.

We now have passports for both our daughters.

The agent was just being a jerk. Your daughter's BC says more about her parents than a passport would, so is argument of how does he know this is really your daughter is pointless. Overall I'm in the "get a passport" camp, but this agent's inquiry isn't an argument that supports the need to do so.

One tip (passport threads make my head hurt); if your child is 15 wait until they are 16 to get them a passport if you can; 15 year old get a 5 year passport, 16 years olds get a 10 year passport. When I am King you all will have to get a passport to cruise (sorry cruise lobby that got the closed loop exception). Tough toenails. Period.

I agree. My kids were under 16 but I did purchase passports for them. By the time they expired they were able to pay and renew them for themselves. They have only traveled on closed loop cruises with them but they were able to use it as proof of citizenship and ID when filling out the I9 form for their first job and new jobs after that. They are part of the group of people who's drivers license won't expire until well after 2020 so now they have them for domestic flights which is what they do most of the time for travel. Americans really need to get over the feeling of entitlement that they don't need a passport to travel. Today the airlines are requiring special ID the cruise industry could be next.

The agent was just being a jerk. Your daughter's BC says more about her parents than a passport would, so is argument of how does he know this is really your daughter is pointless. Overall I'm in the "get a passport" camp, but this agent's inquiry isn't an argument that supports the need to do so.

The issue with the agent was that the documentation did not have a photo ID so there was no way for him to know if the BC belonged to the child. He was just being difficult because he could. Jerk is not a strong enough word to describe him but you get my drift.

The poster's husband was born in the Marshall Islands. Starting in 1965, it started to get greater and greater self governance with complete independence in 1979. I am guessing if he showed up with his BC, there would be confusion about his ability to use it for the cruise, I am assuming that he could depending on DOB but may be wrong. Having the passport avoids the confusion.

Hoping she returns out the blanks, just for curiosity sake.

Your post is confusing. You say that to get his passport you had to obtain not only his BC, but also his parents' BCs and their marriage license, but somehow getting four different documents was easier than just getting his BC?

 

 

 

 

Sorry to have mixed them up. The point remains that neither type of license is acceptable for international flights. Still need an actual passport for those.

If you fly with a birth certificate and state ID:

- Since most of us need the state ID for everyday life, it will cost you nothing.

- The birth certificate will not expire.

- In the unlikely situation that you have to fly home from a foreign port (remember, not all Caribbean islands are foreign ports), it will be a hassle and you will pay more than you would've paid for the passports. This is definitely a more difficult situation, and it still includes all the difficulties mentioned above: wait 'til you arrive at an island, hope a flight is available, be able/willing to pay a last-minute ticket.

Another issue is, the island you are on my NOT have an US Embassy or Consulate, and therefore, you will not be able to get a passport until you get to another island or the mainland.

AND, that other island or mainland may be a different country from the island you are on. But you need a passport to go the other country, but you don't have a passport, that is why you trying to get there. Catch 22.

Yes, you are unlikely to need to be evaced, but it does happen.

Our first cruise, my mother had a medical issue and was evaced from Halifax, my Dad and I went with her. It was MUCH easier with passports. And think about this, if a family member is incapacitated, how do you get them to the Embassy or Consulate to get a passport??????

Each person's acceptable risk level is different. So no one answer is right for everyone.

Passport cards and Real ID cards don't help for international flights, and only a handful of states currently offer a Real ID. note: Real IDs are different from EDLs (enhanced driver's licenses), which many states offer.

You have that backwards.

MANY states have REAL ID compliant licenses. Few (mainly border states) have EDLs.

REAL ID allows you to use for ID when flying domestically. EDL is for border crossings to Canada and Mexico by land or sea (NOT air).

The first time we cruised with our daughter, she was 10 months at the time, the US customs agent gave us a very hard time after the cruise.

FYI they are IMMIGRATION agents.

Although they all now work for US Customs and Border Protection.

Customs deals with goods coming into the country. Immigration deals with people.

Leaving out of San Juan next May with my family of 4. Just wanting input on getting a passport. Debating if we should just to be safe or not. Last cruise we did not get one.

You have to determine for yourselves how much risk you face and how comfortable you sre with the risk. If nothing has changed since your last cruise there is probably no reason to get the passports for this one.

FYI they are IMMIGRATION agents.

 

Although they all now work for US Customs and Border Protection.

 

Customs deals with goods coming into the country. Immigration deals with people.

Even before the change they were customs officers pulling double duty. If they question anyone's immigration status they will refer them to secondary inspection to meet with a specialist.

You have that backwards.

 

MANY states have REAL ID compliant licenses. Few (mainly border states) have EDLs.

 

REAL ID allows you to use for ID when flying domestically. EDL is for border crossings to Canada and Mexico by land or sea (NOT air).

Yes, my accidental mixing the two up was already addressed. And my original point was that neither a Real ID or an EDL have any use when flying internationally. And, currently it doesn't matter if you have one or not when flying domestically. A regular driver's license is still fine for that, and likely will continue to be, as the deadline for requiring and EDL/passport/passport card for domestic travel continues to get pushed back.

Start to finish for childrens passports, 13 days... took 1 hour to complete the process( because we didn't remember that the library cannot take cash had to have money order which added that half hour) other wise less than 1/2 hour, from date to date 13 days, adult Pass port renewal 11 days start to finish, it is no trouble to obtain... we just did them all

As I said, passports are some trouble to obtain. The other option -- a birth certificate -- is something you already have (or you need to obtain for the passport anyway). This means the birth certificate option is less effort and free. You have to decide whether it's worthwhile or not, but the passport is more effort.

 

It's a matter of priority. I think it's safe to say that anyone who can drop thousands of dollars on a vacation can afford a passport that is good for 10 years. Some people just prefer to put that money towards a $1000 drink package.

I suspect that's true for the majority of cruisers; however, if you're only going to take a cruise or two in those 10 years, it's still an expensive choice.

 

If that were true, no one would ever be evacuated from a ship, but we know that's not the case. While a ship infirmary can handle many things, it's not a hospital and it doesn't have teams of doctors certified in all areas of medicine.

Take a look at my whole statement, note the topic sentence, and you'll see that you're not really responding to what I said.

 

The most likely outcome of either choice:

- You will board the cruise, stay the whole week on the ship, and disembark exactly where you intended.

- If you need medical attention, the ship's medical center will be able to take care of it.

My husband and i just went to walgreens and got our photos taken, then applied. He applied inperson at the post office because his old one had been issued more than 15 years ago, while I was eligible to send in my original documents and application with two stamps on the envelope. We both got them back in 12 days, with no hiccups. I definitely recommend getting them for the security and versaility you'll have once you get them.

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