SunBaby66 Posted April 16, 2023 #1 Share Posted April 16, 2023 My husband and I just applied for our passports on April 13th and they took our original birth certificates and gave us photocopies. Im worried that we wont get our originals back before our cruise on May 21st. I'm very anxious and stressed about this! I live in Florida, but I was born in California. I have gone onto many sites to get a copy of my birth certificate, but they state at least 5 weeks. Rescheduling our cruise is NOT an option at this point. Anyone know if these will be accepted, and if not where or what site I can go to purchase a copy of my birth certificate? Thank you for your info! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rikitikitavii Posted April 16, 2023 #2 Share Posted April 16, 2023 5 hours ago, SunBaby66 said: My husband and I just applied for our passports on April 13th and they took our original birth certificates and gave us photocopies. Im worried that we wont get our originals back before our cruise on May 21st. I'm very anxious and stressed about this! I live in Florida, but I was born in California. I have gone onto many sites to get a copy of my birth certificate, but they state at least 5 weeks. Rescheduling our cruise is NOT an option at this point. Anyone know if these will be accepted, and if not where or what site I can go to purchase a copy of my birth certificate? Thank you for your info! I’ve never tried to use a copy of a birth certificate, but I do not think they will accept it. You usually need a certified copy or original. You would also have to go through Customs upon disembarkation, and they probably won’t accept the copy. You might try calling the county (health dept?) in which you were born to see if they have a faster process you could receive. You can try calling MSC and ask, good luck on that, or call U.S. Customs and ask. Good Luck!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mscdivina2016 Posted April 16, 2023 #3 Share Posted April 16, 2023 9 hours ago, SunBaby66 said: My husband and I just applied for our passports on April 13th and they took our original birth certificates and gave us photocopies. Im worried that we wont get our originals back before our cruise on May 21st. I'm very anxious and stressed about this! I live in Florida, but I was born in California. I have gone onto many sites to get a copy of my birth certificate, but they state at least 5 weeks. Rescheduling our cruise is NOT an option at this point. Anyone know if these will be accepted, and if not where or what site I can go to purchase a copy of my birth certificate? Thank you for your info! Raised seal. Copies are not acceptable. Did you not use expedited service? Two weeks it's taking. Do you have relatives in CA? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelleherdl Posted April 16, 2023 #4 Share Posted April 16, 2023 We know a trick that is very helpful in this very situation. Whenever you put your passport application together take photos/copies of all the documents. Keep a copy of you application receipt, either from post office or express mail retailer. This will generally work at the ports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mscdivina2016 Posted April 16, 2023 #5 Share Posted April 16, 2023 49 minutes ago, kelleherdl said: We know a trick that is very helpful in this very situation. Whenever you put your passport application together take photos/copies of all the documents. Keep a copy of you application receipt, either from post office or express mail retailer. This will generally work at the ports. Not worth possibly missing out on a cruise that may have cost upwards to 10k on a photo copy. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emdia43 Posted April 16, 2023 #6 Share Posted April 16, 2023 18 hours ago, SunBaby66 said: My husband and I just applied for our passports on April 13th and they took our original birth certificates and gave us photocopies. Im worried that we wont get our originals back before our cruise on May 21st. I'm very anxious and stressed about this! I live in Florida, but I was born in California. I have gone onto many sites to get a copy of my birth certificate, but they state at least 5 weeks. Rescheduling our cruise is NOT an option at this point. Anyone know if these will be accepted, and if not where or what site I can go to purchase a copy of my birth certificate? Thank you for your info! You just sent it 3 days ago? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvh Posted April 17, 2023 #7 Share Posted April 17, 2023 1 hour ago, emdia43 said: You just sent it 3 days ago? You have a much better chance of getting your BC before your passport. With all the reports on how long a passport is taking now I'm not sure why you would have not waited until you got back from your cruise so you at least had you BC. Unless you need your passport for something else coming up, Although, I'm sure that's the last thing you want to hear. Hindsight. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Morgsmom Posted April 17, 2023 #8 Share Posted April 17, 2023 Getting a raised seal birth certificate from where you were born is generally fast and you can usually pay to expedite it. That's likely your best bet at this time. Agree with @mscdivina2016 that showing up with a photocopy might be huge risk and you might be turned away. Do not, however, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE BELIEVE anything a phone MSC rep tells you. If they say "no problem" and you show up at the port and are told no you will be 100% out of luck. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brighton Line Posted April 17, 2023 #9 Share Posted April 17, 2023 Copies of the birth certificates will not be accepted at check-in and you will not be allowed to board. The cruise line would be fined if you presented this to CBP upon debarkation so they won't let you on board. Nothing to do with getting off the ship since you won't even be allowed on. If you lose your Passport or ID/BC during the cruise CBP won't deny entry to a US Citizen, just proving that you are a Citizen the entire process would be a lot longer and you would be in for intensive scrutiny but that is pointless since you won't be able to get on the ship in the first place. You should get your BC back way before the passport actually comes. Did you see if you can pay for expedited processing even after mailing? Might get the documents back faster. Is anyone in CA that can get your BC? I know with a certified letter someone in my State can pickup an official copy for someone else. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Laszlo Posted April 20, 2023 #10 Share Posted April 20, 2023 On 4/15/2023 at 11:49 PM, SunBaby66 said: My husband and I just applied for our passports on April 13th and they took our original birth certificates and gave us photocopies. Im worried that we wont get our originals back before our cruise on May 21st. I'm very anxious and stressed about this! I live in Florida, but I was born in California. I have gone onto many sites to get a copy of my birth certificate, but they state at least 5 weeks. Rescheduling our cruise is NOT an option at this point. Anyone know if these will be accepted, and if not where or what site I can go to purchase a copy of my birth certificate? Thank you for your info! Best of luck on getting your passports back in time. They have been running 8-10 weeks out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boozy O Croozy Posted April 20, 2023 #11 Share Posted April 20, 2023 I don't know about MSC, but NCL will accept a copy of your BC. Don't ask me how I know...🙄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsTabbyKats Posted April 20, 2023 #12 Share Posted April 20, 2023 2 hours ago, Boozy O Croozy said: I don't know about MSC, but NCL will accept a copy of your BC. Don't ask me how I know...🙄 The people who "accept" are port employees, not cruiseline employees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Illbcruzn4life Posted April 20, 2023 #13 Share Posted April 20, 2023 (edited) 53 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said: The people who "accept" are port employees, not cruiseline employees. They've also been allowed on Carnival. This is a question for @sparks1093 or @Ferry_Watcher Edited April 20, 2023 by Illbcruzn4life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ferry_Watcher Posted April 20, 2023 #14 Share Posted April 20, 2023 15 minutes ago, Illbcruzn4life said: They've also been allowed on Carnival. This is a question for @sparks1093 or @Ferry_Watcher The folks who work at cruise terminals (like me) work for a third party. During my work week, I can do check-in or directional work for HAL, Princess, Celebrity, Royal, and Carnival - basically any cruise ship that sails from my pier. We are all trained to know what citizenship ID we can accept, when we need to call a supervisor, and to recognize what isn't acceptable (like commentative hospital issued birth certificates). My pier doesn't service NCL or MSC ships, so I can't speak about those lines. Generally speaking, my wheelhouse is Alaska cruises, and I tend to keep my comments to those closed loop Alaska cruises. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 20165 Posted April 21, 2023 #15 Share Posted April 21, 2023 We submitted our passport renewals Feb 23 and we still dont have them yet. Im actually getting nervous about our june cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mscdivina2016 Posted April 21, 2023 #16 Share Posted April 21, 2023 1 hour ago, 20165 said: We submitted our passport renewals Feb 23 and we still dont have them yet. Im actually getting nervous about our june cruise. Don't worry you will be fine. You are well within the time frame with extra to spare Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmbcater Posted April 24, 2023 #17 Share Posted April 24, 2023 On 4/21/2023 at 8:46 AM, 20165 said: We submitted our passport renewals Feb 23 and we still dont have them yet. Im actually getting nervous about our june cruise. We submitted my husbands on 2/5 and he just got his yesterday-it was just a renewal though.... Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunBaby66 Posted April 24, 2023 Author #18 Share Posted April 24, 2023 UPDATE: I received a certified copy of my birth certificate, so ALL IS WELL! Thank you for all of the responses! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Illbcruzn4life Posted April 24, 2023 #19 Share Posted April 24, 2023 31 minutes ago, SunBaby66 said: UPDATE: I received a certified copy of my birth certificate, so ALL IS WELL! Thank you for all of the responses! Glad you got your problem resolved! 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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