Posts Tagged ‘US passport’

The Correlation Between Child Custody Arrangements And Passports

Saturday, July 31st, 2010

It is certainly a sign of the times that American passports for children are being harder to get but this really isn’t all bad. The numbers of children who are being abducted by parents is on the rise as is the divorce rate in homes with children. Passports can actually be used as a tool to create division between a parent and a child so in a difficult divorce, passports can become weapons. A law has been created to protect both parents as well as the child when child support is withheld and yet a costly vacation is planned.

In Section 51.70 (a) (8) of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations, you will find outlined that if a parent owing more than $2500 is prohibited from purchasing a U.S. passport. With numerous parents unable to collect rightly owed child support, this law can certainly be a benefit when getting passports is involved.

If a parent wants to purchase a passport but owes child support, they must first contact the local county probation agency and arrange to make payment. Before the passport process can proceed, the US Department of Health and Human Services must receive proof from the State Child Support Enforcement Agency proving that acceptable payment has been made. The Department of Health and Human Services then advises the Department of State to remove the payer from its list of those prohibited from receiving a passport and the Department of State updates its list accordingly.

There are many other laws concerning safety when an attempt is made to purchase passports for children. The Two Parent Consent Law was enacted in 2008 and requires both parents consent before a child’s passport can be applied for. Another service whose intention is to protect children is the Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program or CPIAP. This organization provides the service of alerting parents or guardians when a passport has been applied for their child. Information is also provided to foreign countries from the Office of Children’s Issues who also promote programs and policies to locate parents who abduct their children.

It must now be obvious to you that many agencies and programs are available to aid in the protection of children getting passports. It is certainly the hope of these agencies that their diligence and concern for the welfare of both children and their parents will lead to additional safeguards enacted to accomplish this goal. Getting a child’s passport might be a little more difficult these days but it’s a good thing when it adds another layer of protection to the child as well as the parent.

For more information about whether you are eligible for get a passport, visit US Passport Now.

Tags: , ,
Posted in General | Comments Off

Reasons For Why You Can Contemplate The Passport Card

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

Anyone that has used a passport book for any period of time knows that they wear out, need new pages frequently and are not really convenient to carry around. A United States passport card can be the perfect alternative to carrying a standard one, particularly if the individual travels frequently across close borders for business. There is no need to refill it when the pages are used up and it fits neatly in any wallet or cardholder.

The U.S. passport card was designed specifically for frequent border crossing into Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean. The card allows the holder to cross the borders multiple times without stamps or books that can become tattered over time and constant use. This is the perfect solution for business people who work across one of the borders and find themselves there 3 to 4 times a week.

A U S passport card contains what is known as a vicinity-read radio frequency ID chip. This chip links the cardholder to a database that contains all of their pertinent information. The chip does not contain any personal information from the cardholder, thereby making it much more secure.

These cards are designed to be read at close range by readers designed for this purpose. This prohibits anyone else from scanning the card accidentally or for purposes other than the intended personnel at the border checkpoints. The card is also accompanied by a “blocker sleeve” to house it while not in use to prevent any type of unwanted scanning.

One of the most appealing features is the economical advantage the card has over the standard passbook. An adult pays a $100.00 charge for a first time standard passbook purchase. Comparatively, an adult card only costs $45.00 for the same 10-year life expectancy.

Any current passport holder will be thrilled if they choose to switch over to the card rather than the book. The card for them is only a $20.00 fee and is applied for as a renewal rather than a brand new one. Between this and the elimination of ever needing extra pages for frequent travel should be among the deciding factors in choosing this method.

There is one prohibitive factor involved when deciding whether to switch to the card from the book. The card is not valid for international travel requiring the use of airlines. For these trips, it will still be necessary to use the book and have plenty of pages available to cover the entire itinerary. As this is done infrequently, the card is still the preferred method for frequent border crossing for many people.

While more people around the world use passport books, the passport card is easier and more convenient. The card fits snuggly in a wallet or pocketbook for easy storage and access and doesn’t wear out like the paper book. Many convenient outlets carry the card, including local passport agencies and online merchants for economical and convenient border crossing.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in General | Comments Off

Read Here If You Need An American Passport To Visit The Bahamas

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

Traveling to the Bahamas? The Bahamas is a country composed of 29 islands, and is often referred to as the home of the finest beaches in the Caribbean. You can’t argue with this claim, as the country’s economy is built largely on tourism, with thousands of Americans contributing to the country’s economic growth by flocking to this destination annually. If you are planning on traveling to the Bahamas, let us show you what you need to get there, including information on whether you need a USA Passport to visit the Bahamas.

Yes, you need a passport to visit the Bahamas.  The good news is you have two options when it comes to your travel documents for your trip to this destination. The first one, of course, is the regular US passport book. The other one is the US passport card. It should be noted that although the Bahamas is a part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), you cannot use your enhanced driver’s license to get there. You can enter the Bahamas without a visa.

Using a US passport card will enable you to enter the Bahamas. First issued on July 14, 2008, this card is the cheaper and more convenient way of having an official travel document to this destination and the other WHTI member areas. Processing periods for this card is similar to the processing of regular passport books, so make sure you apply for this card way ahead of your travel date. Currently, it takes four to six weeks to complete the routine passport processing, and two to three weeks for the expedited passport option.

Meanwhile, there’s also the regular american passport book. It is a bit more expensive than the passport card, but this provides you with greater flexibility in your international travel than the passport card. Remember that the use of passport cards is limited only to WHTI areas, so if you’re planning on traveling to countries outside of these areas, then you should apply for a passport book.

Keep in mind that you can only use a passport travel card to and from the Bahamas only if you are traveling by sea or land. If traveling by air, the use of a US passport book is recommended. For your convenience, you can also apply for both types of passports at a discount. You can then use the card for sea and land travel to WHTI areas, and your passport book for international air travel.

While your US passport would generally suffice for WHTI destinations, the Bahamas may also require additional documents when traveling to their territory. Because of that, it is best if you check with their US-based Embassy first about the exact travel documents required. Make sure you do this check well before you leave.

It’s normal to get really excited when you finally arrive at the Bahamas, especially if it’s your first time there. However, make sure everything’s safe first by registering at the US Embassy or Consulate that’s nearest you. They will provide you with travel and safety information when you visit them to register. On top of that, registering also facilitates your communication with them in case of an emergency.

So, do you need a USA Passport to visit the Bahamas? The answer is yes of course. You have two options when it comes to which passport you should use. One is the passport card, which you can use when you’re entering the Bahamas by land or sea. Meanwhile, you will need the passport book for international air travel. You can also apply for both passports at a great discount.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in General | Comments Off