norcalbajabetty
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Posts: 15
Registered: 11-2-2009
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Passports for kids?
I am so frustrated! Cannot get a straight answer from the government employees here in the states (When I am finally able to get a LIVE person, that
is...) so I turn to my wise nomads....
My husband and I will be driving down to Baja with our two children age 12 & 14. Husband and I will have passport books. There is information on
the Homeland Security website stating that since 6/1/09, children are allowed to cross with certified birth certificates and both custodial parents.
The stae department website, and my local passport office, say that children are required to have passports. Yet the state department website links to
the above mention Homeland Security info.... Confused? Me too.
Anyone out there have any recent experience crossing with kids with Birth certificates? We will be traveling by car, crossing at tecate, although we
were thinking about coming home through TJ.
Thanks so much for the help.
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David K
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"kids" don't need their own passports for Mexico until they are 16... The birth certs. will be fine. This was the word when the passport rules took
effect and I have not seen any change... Please check the Customs and Border web site.
Remember, the U.S. officials cannot prevent Americans from returning to America (without passports)... It is just to speed up the crossing, you may
have to go to Secondary so they can establish your citizenship if you don't have passports. Try and have as much good I.D. as possible (Birth Cert.
and photo I.D. from your state, etc. , voters registration, military ID, etc.).
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norcalbajabetty
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Awesome! That's what I thought, but the local passport office INSISTED I was incorrect. Especially good news, as we do not have time to get passports
for them before our trip.
Thanks David for the info.
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arrowhead
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The local passport office may have been correct, depending upon what you told them. David only got the story partially correct. The devil is in the
details. Children returning to the US by land or sea do not require a passport. A certified copy of a birth certificate will do.
However, all persons returning by air require a passport (or other acceptable travel document), even children. So it you get down there and your car
breaks down or have an emergency where you have to fly back, you will be in world of hurt.
You can get a passport on an expedited basis for more $$$.
No soy por ni contra apatía.
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norcalbajabetty
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That darned devil....
I am always worried about the what-if's. It;s my job as a mom, I guess.
How about if we get passport cards for the kids? I know they are only good for land crossings, but don't you suppose they would help the situation if
an emergency arose, and we had to fly? If we had their passport cards, birth certificates and student photo ID's, I would think it would be
sufficient.
I'm not looking for a guarantee, just a little assurance. 
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by norcalbajabetty
That darned devil....
I am always worried about the what-if's. It;s my job as a mom, I guess.
How about if we get passport cards for the kids? I know they are only good for land crossings, but don't you suppose they would help the situation if
an emergency arose, and we had to fly? If we had their passport cards, birth certificates and student photo ID's, I would think it would be
sufficient.
I'm not looking for a guarantee, just a little assurance.
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passport card takes same amount of time to apply/receive as a passport book, so why not get the rug rats passport books so in future your family can
travel anywhere in the world???
airlines usually don't let passesngers board intl flights unless they got proper travel docs, you may not be able to talk your way onto a plane
without proper travel docs, regardless of what immigration says/does when you disembark in US airport
[Edited on 11-3-2009 by mtgoat666]
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DanO
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At least in my neck of the woods, getting a passport is a snap -- a half hour visit to the post office. They take the pics there and even do
expedited processing for an additional fee. What's the problem?
\"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.\" -- Frank Zappa
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
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This passport requirement
is not 'apparently' being enforced
as advertised, as on Govt. sites.
A recent post stated that the
East mexicalli border crossing, back into
the US, reports
only a 50% compliance with the new
passport/passcard/sentri requirements.
A post from Texas by a guy whose brother
is a US Border Patrolman, suggests
not to waste $ on a passport, but that is
not my suggestion, I happily
show my passport, even go to the trouble
of returning fmt's to Mex IMM,
as Mex IMM have been stamping my passport
upon issuance of an fmt upon entry
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Bugman
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Keep in mind that passports for kids are only valid for 5 years. My two little rugrats have them and travel with us all the time but we have to keep
a close eye on the expiration date. I guess their appearance changes too quickly and they want new ones for them on a regular basis. I think they
cost the same as an adult passport too! 
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
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Location: Tijuana, Baja California
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Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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| Quote: | Originally posted by norcalbajabetty
That darned devil....
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And those darn details...
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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norcalbajabetty
Newbie
Posts: 15
Registered: 11-2-2009
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Let me explain...It would be no big deal, except I have to take both kids out of school, drive 30 miles to the courthouse, and pay just over 300 bucks
to get them in time. (exbedited) Which kind of takes it from a minor inconvenience level to a bigger deal, in norcalbajabetty's busy day. This could be their only trip down in the next five years too, so if I can get away
without the passports, I would like to.
I am merely looking for clarification of what the rule is, and who is following it.
Thanks for your input! I appreciate it.
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4059
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Location: Tijuana, Baja California
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Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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I understand perfectly norcalbajabetty, MrsFdt is the same way so I sent you a U2U earlier today.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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The Gull
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The equivalent to a passport for adults is a Califonia Driver's license which has the new format with the hologram. CBP doesn't advertise it, but it
works.
�I won\'t insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said.� William F. Buckley, Jr.
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Terry28
Senior Nomad
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We do this all the time with my 15 year olds friends that travel with us...Birth cert. and a picture ID like a school photo ID..never a problem, and
never a trip to secondary either... this is valid as of last week when we returned....don't sweat it...just go...
Mexico!! Where two can live as cheaply as one.....but it costs twice as much.....
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norcalbajabetty
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Right on...Thanks again folks!
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