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alice_op t1_ja2zt7j wrote

Reply to comment by Harry_Gorilla in TIFU by texting my ex-wife by LaVieEnRoseLavelle

Yes, exactly. If you ever want to go abroad, you must plan and apply for a passport weeks-months in advance, but they last for years. Why wouldn't you apply way before you might need it?

Cheap deals and trips with friends will go completely to waste if you lack a passport.

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CPTDisgruntled t1_ja3w7ir wrote

I think it’s also faster and easier to get a NEW passport if you already had one.

A young friend moved across U.S. Nobody had a clue where his birth certificate was. Procedure to get a duplicate was complicated. But we could use his expired passport, which implicitly confirms that U.S. government has already seen ID documents, to apply for a new passport, which he could use to open a bank account etc.

There’s obviously a cutoff for expiration—don’t remember if it was five years or what. But having initiated that means the next passport should be easier.

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fifoldara t1_ja4cbu5 wrote

Not for children in the U.S., you have to go through the same application/proof of citizenship/both parents present or signing off on it every time.

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HelenaBirkinBag t1_ja59662 wrote

Yes. I was present with my ex when my children’s passports were both issued and renewed. Ironically, we didn’t need our actual children for the renewal (just pics) but both of us had to request it together.

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Aadaenyaa t1_ja67bqi wrote

Wow. As a passport acceptance agent, I can tell you, the children are required every time. Children's passports aren't renewed. You need every thing, every time. Without the child there, how do we know it's the correct child? Children change appearances very quickly, that's why their passports are only good for 5 years. You could literally provide a photo of ANY child and claim it was the same one.

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HelenaBirkinBag t1_ja69yi0 wrote

Well, I don’t know what to tell you. We didn’t have them with us for their renewals, and there were no issues.

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Aadaenyaa t1_ja7pwtw wrote

Directly from the State Department website:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/under-16.html

Children Under 16

All children under age 16 must apply for a passport in person with two parents or guardians using Form DS-11. You cannot renew your child's passport using Form DS-82. Passports for children under age 16 are only valid for 5 years.

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HelenaBirkinBag t1_ja9ghge wrote

Again, I don’t know what to tell you other than I remember two years ago accurately.

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Harry_Gorilla t1_ja3zjoh wrote

True. But if mom is thinking that far ahead she should also open a bank account and credit card in the kiddo’s name. I did that for my kids when they turned 5, but skipped the passport because having a passport won’t improve their ability to get a home or a car later in life

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ThatOneGuy308 t1_ja3ym50 wrote

I don't think I've ever seen a deal cheap enough that I could afford it.

I can't even afford domestic flights to a few states over, much less overseas, so I don't see the purpose of a passport, myself.

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akairborne t1_ja3zeht wrote

Things can change very quickly, so it's handy to have. Plus, if you're within a few hours of a border, it's easy to drive across and have an international weekend.

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ThatOneGuy308 t1_ja3zw4o wrote

I'm definitely not near enough to a border that I'd want to drive there, lol.

Idk, it just seems like a pointless expenditure for me, personally.

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akairborne t1_ja47l1s wrote

I understand. I hope that your situation changes soon and you get the money and opportunity to travel.

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ThatOneGuy308 t1_ja4bbeu wrote

Thanks for that, I hope so as well, even if I don't really see it happening.

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