A passport can be more than a travel document for some. A passport not only allows a person to travel for leisure, but a passport can also be used to travel in the event of a medical emergency. For some living overseas, a passport can be the key to receiving medical treatment abroad. Passports can also be used to visit ailing family members.
When it comes to getting a US passport, that privilege is afforded to children born in the United States of America. However, sometimes parents may have issues getting a US passport for their child who was born in the United States. An example of this is when both parents’ names do not appear on the child’s birth certificate. Even though the child is born in the United States, there can be complications getting a passport.
When both parents’ names do appear on the birth certificate of the child and both parents are still alive, then both parents must give consent to the child when wishing to obtain or renew the child’s passport. Not only that, but both parents must also appear in person when accompanying the child, during the initial passport application and for passport renewal.
Difficulties can arise when one of the parents refuses to consent to the child’s passport application or does not wish to cooperate with one parent’s attempt to obtain a passport for the child.
Believe it or not, but even if the parents were never married or are currently divorced, both parents still must give consent. There are special circumstances that can be employed on a case by case basis.
Ultimately, it will be up to the US Passport Office to make a decision whether or not to issue the passport.
Since a child’s passport is only valid for 5 years the same issues may arise when it is time to renew the child’s passport.
If you are interested in getting a passport or visa, give us a call at (212) 643-9305. Rush Passport™ Official US Passport Expeditors, serving Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, Westchester County, Nassau County & Suffolk County, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.