US Passport for Children Under 16 | Applying for a Passport for Minors (2022 Must Dos!) 

Hello. Is it ok to apply for a passport in a state that you don’t live in? My daughters father lives out of state and we were going to visit next year. Can we apply in his home state and have it mailed to us in our home state?

@ Maneesha Mukhi does question 11 about marriage apply to the adult or the child?

Are my children need to come with me?

Hi. To sign the application, do i write my child's name in Applicant's field for signature and then my signature in parent's field? Is my signature enough or there must be also like "By mother"?

The thing that's confusing for me (I'm filling this out for my little daughter born abroad) is that the form is FOR my child, yet it doesn't ask anything about her. All the information is about me. Is that correct? Where do we record her information - at the in-person interview? It doesn't make a lot of sense.

1-2 day shipping only applies for passport books. Passport cards are shipped via first class mail.

You are absolutely right - in some areas, you can find public libraries, city clerk and other govt offices that offer passport services. Post offices are the most common, but the State Dept website lets you search by zip code and shows you all your options. Thanks for pointing this out!

Just your ID. Your own birth certificate is not needed.

My child in Africa I’m in America he got his American birth certificate now I need his passport how can I get it

​@@libazonicyou can use his American birth certificate and your id. Both parents need to be at the appointment but if one has sole custody then only one is needed. Otherwise you need to provide a notarized ds 3053 from the other parent.

@libazonic contact the US Embassy

Citizenship certificates do have their advantages but mainly if you want to join the military and/or get a security clearance.

That is true!

Is that true? If so i dont need to spend $1100 for that then

Thank you so much! I appreciate the kind words

Once you have Naturalized, then your kids automatically derive citizenship from their parent(s). Read up on INA 320 and the Child Citizenship Act of 2000. You can also apply for their N-600 which is the equivalent of a Naturalization certificate but it is easier and a good idea to get their passports first then the N-600. Passports are quicker to apply and are cheaper than the N-600 which can only be applied once (can be appealed but pricey). This is what the state department says. Only children residing in the United States are eligible to automatically acquire U.S. citizenship under Section 320 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. If your child automatically acquired U.S. citizenship, you may apply for the child's certificate of citizenship from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or apply for a U.S. passport. If your child has not obtained a certificate of citizenship, you will need to present the following when applying for your child's U.S. passport: Proof of the child’s relationship to the U.S. citizen parent. For the biological child of a U.S. citizen, this generally will be a certified copy of the foreign birth certificate (and a translation if the birth certificate is not in English). For an adopted child, you must submit a certified copy of the final adoption decree (and a translation if the decree is not in English); Proof the child is admitted as a lawful permanent resident, such as the child’s foreign passport with a I-551 stamp, or the child's permanent resident card (green card); Proof of identity and citizenship of the U.S. citizen parent(s); Evidence the child is residing in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent; Completed Form DS-11 and supporting documents. If your child obtained a certificate of citizenship from USCIS, you must submit it with your child’s passport application as proof of citizenship.

State Department uses untracked first class mail for supporting documents. US birth certificates are easily replaced but I guess the cost of using tracked mail outweighs the benefits of a tracked shipping product such as priority mail. I guess those with naturalization certificates can fill out a form to get reimbursed so they can fill out N-565.

If you have sole custody then you would not need it.

You will need to bring your ID and most places will photocopy it for you. You get to keep your actual ID while the photocopy is sent to the State department.

Application is for your baby not for yourself.

You would enter your childs information.

You could re apply now.

USPS can do that for you.

Yes they do offer photocopy services.

Just write 0's in the SSN field.

@@michaelhorgan9525 but do they take a photo copy ?

Then you would only need to list the mom.

Yes minors need to reapply for their passport. Once they have gotten a 10 year or adult passport then they can renew by mail and eventually online.

Your child's passport can be used as proof of citizenship so no need for birth certificate, INA 320, naturalization cert, cert of citizenship and or CRBA.

@@michaelhorgan9525 that was very helpful thank you 👏🏼

Yes your kids can get a US passport provided they are living in the care of their father (in the US) and the father naturalized before they turned 18. Here is what the DoS says about Passports for derived citizens. Only children residing in the United States are eligible to automatically acquire U.S. citizenship under Section 320 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. If your child automatically acquired U.S. citizenship, you may apply for the child's certificate of citizenship from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or apply for a U.S. passport. If your child has not obtained a certificate of citizenship, you will need to present the following when applying for your child's U.S. passport: Proof of the child’s relationship to the U.S. citizen parent. For the biological child of a U.S. citizen, this generally will be a certified copy of the foreign birth certificate (and a translation if the birth certificate is not in English). For an adopted child, you must submit a certified copy of the final adoption decree (and a translation if the decree is not in English); Proof the child is admitted as a lawful permanent resident, such as the child’s foreign passport with a I-551 stamp, or the child's permanent resident card (green card); Proof of identity and citizenship of the U.S. citizen parent(s); Evidence the child is residing in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent; Completed Form DS-11 and supporting documents. If your child obtained a certificate of citizenship from USCIS, you must submit it with your child’s passport application as proof of citizenship.

@@michaelhorgan9525 omg thank you so much for such a thorough response!

I believe there are only fee waivers for either military or for natural disasters. No regular fee waiver for those who cannot afford the fees.

Fee waiver would need to be done at the military base.

I believe the state department is a little lenient on that. Just try to put in as much as you know or find your birth certificate or something like that.

No

Are you talking about the DS-3053. For that form the person who cannot make it has to take it to a notary or consulate and get it signed and notarized.

Yes you can apply for N-600 after Passport. It is actually recommended that you get a Passport first as the N-600 can only be applied for once though you can appeal if rejected.

@@michaelhorgan9525 Thank you and that’s a great point.

The first section is for your child.

Unless you are applying for yourself you would put no if you are applying for a child.

Section 11 is for your child and you would say no.

Only certified copies or the original are accepted. Original birth certificates are not actually the original as those are stored in secured vaults in the county and state. Bring a photo copy and make sure the birth certificate meets state department requirements if it is an abstract. Some abstract birth certificates are not accepted and will require a long form or an updated that meets requirements.

Child's passports cannot be renewed by mail. You must schedule an appointment and follow all the steps outlined in this video. This also applies once they are older than 16 or if they become an adult. Once they are an adult and have a 10 year passport they can renew by mail.

It is just a document copied on to a piece of paper.

Yes they need to be there but only 1 parent has to be there if the other can provide a notarized DS-3053.

SSN's do NOT expire. Your child's passport can be renewed by scheduling an in person appointment and following all the steps in the video. :)

You would normally use what is on the birth certificate but you can use a more current name if you have proof of name change via court order or amended birth cert. Make sure you write down any previous names and the parental information you would also copy what is on the birth certificate.

You can use a DS-3053 and have it notarized at the embassy or consulate and he can mail it back to you. You would then provide that document with the paperwork as that document provides his consent to get a passport.

I would bring the court order just in case but sole custody only requires one person to be there.

You bring the documents to the post office and then the post office will send them to the US Department of State.

For derived citizens you would need a court order as they would want proof of name change. Check with your court and state on how to change your child's name as each state is different.

@@michaelhorgan9525 Thanks a lot

Number 9 would be for your child if they were known by a different name.

Yes but you also need other documents such as his foreign passport w/I-551 stamp or a green card as well as a foreign birth certificate + certified translation (if not in English). You will also need to provide documents that prove that he is in your custody such as medical records, tax returns, school records, etc. I would also recommend you coming to the appointment to provide parental awareness, but as long as you naturalized before 16 he can get a passport without a certificate of citizenship. Oh and his passport will be a 10 year adult passport which can be renewed by mail or online.

No they do not have to be born in the USA. If you naturalize before they turn 18, then you can apply under INA 320 or use a Certificate of Citizenship. There is also INA 322 for foreign kids living under the care of a US citizen abroad but those require a Certificate of Citizenship. There is also CRBA for kids born abroad to US citizen parent(s). A foreign child with a naturalized parent can be brought into the US under I-130 IR visa and then you can apply using INA 320.

You need to visit the US embassy or consulate in the UK in order to apply for a passport for your child. Are you also needing a CRBA as well as a Social Security number?

Yes you can get a passport. Here is what the state department says. Proof of the child’s relationship to the U.S. citizen parent. For the biological child of a U.S. citizen, this generally will be a certified copy of the foreign birth certificate (and a translation if the birth certificate is not in English). For an adopted child, you must submit a certified copy of the final adoption decree (and a translation if the decree is not in English); Proof the child is admitted as a lawful permanent resident, such as the child’s foreign passport with a I-551 stamp, or the child's permanent resident card (green card); Proof of identity and citizenship of the U.S. citizen parent(s); Evidence the child is residing in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent; Completed Form DS-11 and supporting documents.

Both parents need to be at the appointment but if one cannot make it then the other parent will need to provide you a signed and notarized DS-3053.

@@michaelhorgan9525Thank you so much. I really appreciate it 🙏🏻🙏🏻

@@michaelhorgan9525Okay thank you👍

Anyone who wishes to change their name and are not married need to get a court order.

Yes you need passport photos for each of your kids as the passport will have their photo on it.

Yes they need to come with you. Both parents need to be there unless you have sole custody, only one party on birth certificate or one parent fills out a notarized DS-3053 that you include with your application.

You will need to contact the State Department and then ask for 1-2 day shipping. They will send you an email with a link on how to pay with a credit or debit card. Only Passport books can be shipped via 1-2 day shipping as cards are sent via First class envelope. Check your Passport status at passportstatus.state.gov and make sure the application is "In Process" so you can make that change. You can even use this to add expedited processing as well.

travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/us-citizenship/child-citizenship-act-of-2000.html This should show you how to get a Passport for your son.

If you are at an agency you can pay with cash (exact change) or use a card. USPS does take cash, check or debit cards for money orders. If you are applying at lets say a post office, just pay with a money order which are cheap. You can use a card for the acceptance fee if the facility accepts them. Below is what the U.S. Department of State says about those in your situation. Some also write in 0's if they do not know it yet. I would wait until you have received the SSN but it can be done. You will need to submit a statement, signed and dated, which includes the phrase, “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the following is true and correct: (Child's full name) has never been issued a Social Security number by the Social Security Administration.”

@@michaelhorgan9525 thank you. She is being issued a SSN, just that is not with us yet. In that case, can I still state the same since I don’t have the SSN yet? Thank you for your help.

Yes it is possible to do both at the same time. When scheduling an appointment at the post office you would select 1 adult and 1 child in your case. Let the postal worker know that you are going to apply for an adult passport and a child passport under INA 320.

You can renew whenever you want but 6-8 months is good. Keep in mind that minors need to go in and reapply for their passport as online or mail in renewals are not possible for child passports.

@@michaelhorgan9525 thank you for the info

He can have a DS-3053 form notarized by the US embassy/consulate in France. He will need to mail the form to you along with a photocopy of his ID.