Expedited Pasports For Children
To travel internationally, one requires a passport from the country of citizenship. Even children need a passport. Be it an airline or a cruise line, the same rule applies provided you are leaving the country. This same rule is applicable for those travelling on land. However, if you are caught unaware, there are expedited US pass ports for children as well as adults.
Timetable
Normally, it takes within six to four weeks for a passport application to be processed. However, there are expedited services for those who need it urgently. For a stipulated fee, the US Department of State can reduce the processing days to two weeks.
Expedited Service
The cost implication of the expedited passport is higher than that of the normal passport. The difference will depend on how urgent the passport is required. Non-governmental agencies also offer this service to the populace. They reduce the processing time to a range of 12 days to 24 hours. If the passport is not needed urgently, the cost implication might be reduced.
Government Licensing
There are both online and offline passport expediting services available. The only criterion that you should consider is whether the service provider is government licensed. These agencies will collect your data and help you through the entire application process. If you are using an online service provider, you will need to check your email regularly. The expediter will send you further instructions. Offline providers will contact you by phone for necessary instructions.
Payment
The mode of payment depends on your choice of service provider. There are the options of PayPal, credit card, e-check and bank wire for the online agencies. Offline agencies’ payment plan includes bank deposits, credit/debit cards, bank wire, money order and checks. You can make a choice based on the most suitable option available.
Additional Charages
The agency helping you with the expedited passport will charge you for the standard government’s passport fee. They will also charge you for their service. If they are the traveling agency in charge of your traveling arrangements, the charges might be included with other services.
Parental Involvement
Irrespective of the agency that helps you obtain the child’s passport, the parents/ guardian will be involved in all steps of the application. Their roles include applying for the passport on behalf of the toddler, child or teen. They will also be responsible for all applicable fees. The laws currently require that all minors below the age of 15 have either parents or guardian present when the application is submitted.
Book or Card
When applying for infant American pass port, you need to specify the nature of passport you want. There is the passport book and the passport card. With the passport book, a minor gets to travel by any means of transportation to any part of the world. The passport card is valid only for land and sea travels. This limits the travel destination to Canada, Mexico, Caribbean and Bermuda. The fees applicable to each of the passports also vary.