If you need a passport urgently for your summer travel, G3 can help you beat the passport rush.

Why is the State Department Experiencing a Passport Rush?

The summertime is always a popular time for travelers to apply for passports. If you are a business traveler, the summer is an ideal time to renew your passport, when you have a break between business trips. If you are a leisure traveler, you’ve probably got a summer trip planned. It’s a great time for you to travel, since the kids are out of school. Even if you aren’t traveling with children, you might want to take a relaxing summer vacation while things are quiet at work. And as you get ready for your trip, you may discover that someone in the family has an expired passport (especially kids, as their passports are only valid for 5 years), or a passport that’s out of blank pages, or simply can’t find their passport at all! All of these factors add up to lots of people trying to get rush passport services at the same time.

This year, there are way more passport applications than normal because 2017 is the 10 year anniversary of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). The WHTI is the law that requires you to have a passport for all trips in and out of the United States, even to destinations like Mexico or the Caribbean. When the law went into effect in January 2007, there was a massive surge of people who applied for passports so they could travel to Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, and other destinations. Now, all of those passports issued in 2007 are expiring! Added to the normal summer passport rush, the result is record numbers of passport applications. Unfortunately, many people who apply for their passports by mail are reporting delays in the issuance of their passports.

Top Tips to Beat the Summer Passport Rush

Use G3

Since you’re here at G3Passports.com, you’ve already found the best way to beat the summer travel passport rush! As registered passport expeditors, we can get your passport for you very quickly. We can even have your passport completed within 2-3 days! You’ll have the support of the G3 team every step of the way, to make sure there are no delays. Best of all, unlike applying through the Post Office, our processing times are reliable.

Apply Early

Don’t wait until the day before your trip to look for your passport. When you start planning your trip, check your passport right away. You’ll want to make sure you can answer yes to all of these questions:

• Do I know where my passport is stored?
• Does my passport have at least six months validity after the end of my trip?
• Is my passport in my current legal name?
• Does my passport have blank pages marked “visas” for my entry stamps?
• Is my passport in good condition, with no tears, damaged pages, or unauthorized markings?

If any of those questions are a “no,” G3 can help you quickly renew or replace your passport.

Find the Best Passport Acceptance Facility

If you need to get your first passport, get a passport for your child, or replace a lost or damaged passport, you will need to visit a Passport Acceptance Facility before you send your application to G3. During the current passport rush, you may find that some Passport Acceptance Facilities do not have any appointments available, or ones that do not require appointments may have long lines.

During this busy season for passports, it’s great if you can schedule an appointment with a Passport Acceptance Agent. With an appointment scheduled in advance, you know exactly when you’ll be seen, and you won’t have to waste time standing in line. We encourage you to call around to other Passport Acceptance Facilities if you can’t get a convenient appointment with the first one you check. Consider locations near your home, your office, or maybe even one further afield that is close to a shop or restaurant you like but don’t get to visit often.

Prefer to go to a “first come, first served” facility that doesn’t take appointments? You’d be wise to try to get there early in the morning, just in case there are lines. At some Passport Acceptance Facilities, they will even shut down the lines if they know they already have more people than they can serve before the end of the day!

We look forward to helping you get your passport in time for your summer travel!

The post Beat the Summertime Passport Rush! appeared first on G3Passports.

Parental Consent: The Basics

The US State Department has firm rules in place for children’s passport applications.  They will not issue a passport to a child under age 16 unless they have proof that all of the child’s parents and legal guardians want the child to get a passport.  These rules are in place to prevent international child abduction.

There are two ways to prove parental consent for a minor passport.  Parents and guardians can either:

1. Go in person to the Passport Acceptance Facility along with the child, or
2. Sign and notarize Form DS-3053, the “Statement of Consent.”

Please note that at least one parent/guardian must accompany the child to the Passport Acceptance Facility… and yes, the child does need to show up in person, too!

Now we’ll consider a few scenarios, and explain what parental consent requirements are needed for each.  If you don’t see your situation listed below, contact us!

I’m divorced, and have full custody of my children.  Do I still need parental consent from the non-custodial parent?

Yes, parental consent is needed from both parents, whether they have custody of the child or not.

My child doesn’t have a father listed on her birth certificate. 

A single mother whose child does not have a father listed on the birth certificate doesn’t need to get parental consent from the father.  All that is needed is for the mother to take the child in person to the Passport Acceptance Facility.

My child’s father is deceased.

Widowed parents will need to bring an original copy of the death certificate to show why parental consent will be given by only one parent.

My child’s mother abandoned us, and I have no way of contacting her.

If you have no way of getting consent from your child’s other parent — either because you cannot locate them, or because they are imprisoned or incapacitated, or because they are overseas and you need to get your child a passport urgently — you have the option of filing Form DS-5525, the “Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances.”  On this form, you’ll explain why it’s not possible for you to get consent from the other parent.  If you hold sole custody of your child, you should also submit original or certified copies of your court documents granting you custody.

I adopted my child.

You will need to provide an original or certified copy of the adoption decree, along with your child’s birth certificate.

I’m remarried.  Can my current husband give his consent, as the stepfather?

No, stepparents can not give parental consent for a child’s passport application, and do not need to. Parental consent must still be given by both parents who are listed on the birth certificate.

I am the legal guardian of a child whose parents have had their parental rights terminated by the court.

Please bring an original or certified copy of the guardianship order that shows that the biological parents no longer hold parental rights.  You’ll also need the child’s original birth certificate.

I am a foster parent, and would like to get my foster child a passport so he can join us on a family trip.

This one is going to be tricky!  Fostering a child is a form of temporary guardianship.  Unless the child’s parents have permanently lost their parental rights, they will need to give their consent for the passport application.  This will include having at least one parent go with the child to the Passport Acceptance Agent.

I’m worried that my child’s other parent will take him out of the US without my consent.  Is there any way to ensure that my child can not be issued a passport?

Parents or guardians who are concerned about the possibility of international child abduction can request to be enrolled in the “Child’s Passport Issuance Alert Program” by filing a form with the State Department.

The post Minor Passports: Parental Consent for Single Parents appeared first on G3Passports.

How long will my new passport be valid?

Your new adult passport will be valid for ten years… or technically, ten years minus one day!  If your passport is issued on January 5, 2017, it will expire on January 4, 2027.

Although your passport will be valid for 10 years, we recommend that you don’t wait until the last minute to renew it.  Many countries require that you have at least six months validity remaining on your passport, so we suggest you renew your passport at least six months before it expires.

Do I have to submit my birth certificate to get a new passport?

An original copy of your birth certificate showing you were born in the US is a great way to prove your US citizenship when you apply for a new passport.  But there are other documents you can submit instead, such as your naturalization certificate or an old US passport.  Check out our article on proof of citizenship for more options and information.

Will I get my birth certificate back?

You might be worried about sending out your original birth certificate or naturalization certificate.  It is a valuable document!  But you will get it back when your new passport is issued.  One of the advantages of applying through G3Passports is that your original proof of citizenship will be sent back in the same FedEx package as your new passport.  If you apply for your passport directly through the Department of State, they mail back your birth certificate in a separate First Class envelope. You may need to wait a week or more for your proof of citizenship to show up!

What form is used to apply for a new passport?

You will use government form DS-11 to apply for your new passport.  This form is used for first-time applicants, minor applicants, and replacements of lost or stolen passports.  When you apply for expedited services through G3, you’ll need to fill out your DS-11 form online and print it out.  Check out our article to find out what information you’ll need to complete your application!

How can I get an appointment at a Passport Acceptance Facility?

Before you send your passport application to G3, you’ll need to go to a passport acceptance facility to have your new passport application sealed into an official envelope.  You can find locations near you at http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/.  This site will tell you whether the location you want to visit requires appointments.  If an appointment is needed, just call the phone number provided to schedule your visit.

Not all facilities require appointments.  In our experience, many acceptance facilities in government offices like Clerk of the Court offices provide walk-in service.  Most acceptance facilities in Post Offices do require appointments.

How quickly can I get a new passport?

With G3Passports.com, you can get a new passport in as little as two business days with our Mission Critical service!

Do you have any other passport questions?  Ask us below!

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