Parents have a heavy burden of proof when applying for passports for their children.  Why?  Because they also need to submit documents proving  their relationship to the child.  For instance the birth certificate with both parent's names or a court order establishing custody.  And the parents must submit proof of identification. 

A previously issued undamaged U.S. passport can be a form of identification for the parent, but it does NOT provide evidence of relationship.  A driver's license, government employee ID or current military ID can also provide proof of identity.

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Did you know that most countries now require passports for children?  Yes, minors who are traveling into or out of  many countries ( including the  United States) with or without their parents need a passport.  This applies for children of all ages including newborns and infants.  Each child MUST have their own passport.

If you are a foreign national planning to visit the United States check with your national passport office for rules and application forms.

If you are a citizen of the United States, the best place to start is on the U.S. Department of State website.  When it comes to passports for children under the age of 16, there are special requirements. Read more

Who needs a passport?  You do, at least if you're going to travel internationally.  But of course, nothing is ever quite that simple.

We've explained in a previous post, that a passport is simply a travel document issued by your home country that allows you to leave and return.  Citizens of all countries need one to travel out of their country and into another, but there are exceptions.  Read more

What is a passport?    If you are not an frequent travelers  and are not sure what a passport is or if you need one, then this article is for you.  We will start right at the  beginning of planning for an international trip.   If however,  you're a citizen of the world where passports are commonplace, you'll be wondering "Who doesn't know THAT?"  Well, more people than you might think.

The United States is a large, diverse country.  People can and do live their entire lives without leaving its borders.  There's plenty to see and do here.  There is, in fact, a large percentage of Americans that don't travel internationally.  I'm not sure there is an official count on this.  I've read all kinds of statistics but a conservative estimate seems to be that 75% of Americans don't own a passport. Read more

If you want to have a good vacation, you have got to be organized, and an organized vacation often begins with travel packing lists.  The worst way to start off a vacation is with insufficient planning.  Lack of proper planning can lead to a chaotic beginning of what could otherwise be a wonderful vacation.  Throwing things into a suitcase at the last minute happens to people from time to time, but this should be avoided as much as possible. 

One way to have an  organized vacation is to use travel packing lists.  This helps you decide what you will take on vacation and what will be left at home.  Forgetting some athletic shoes when headed for a tennis camp can waste a morning of practice while shopping for shoes.  Buying a camera in a tourist trap can be expensive so a list reminding yourself  to put the camera in the bag will most likely save you both time and money.

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If you are among the large amount of Americans that still need to get a new passport, here is a way you can get it for FREE!  Many resorts and hotels in the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada are offering to reimburse US tourists who need to buy a [tag-ice]new passport[/tag-ice] to travel.  The promotions are designed  as follows.

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[tag-tec]Passport renewal[/tag-tec] does not have to be a difficult or frustrating process.  If you follow all procedures for passport renewal to the letter as laid down in the U.S. Passport Application and Renewal Guide, it should be a breeze.

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As of January 23, 2007 each U.S. citizen is required to be in possession of valid passports to travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda and other international destinations. If you do not have a passport, now is the time to get one.

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