Family Vacations
and
Family Travel

IMPORTANT UPDATE
NEWS - JUNE 8, 2007 - US passport centers have been overwhelmed with passport requests. Many families have waited over 3 months to receive their new passports. Many passports have not been returned in time and families have had to forfeit their travel plans and face disappointments. As of this morning, the state department has responded to this situation with a new ruling. NOW US CITIZENS CAN TRAVEL TO MEXICO, CARIBBEAN AND CANADA BY SHOWING A RECEIPT OF THEIR PASSPORT APPLICATION. IN ADDITION, THEY WILL NEED TO SHOW STATE ISSUED ID'S. FOR FULL DETAILS READ THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT.

Passport rules for US citizens are evolving. According to the US State Department As of January 2007, all travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada must have a valid passport

As it stands now, most of these destinations will allow US travelers to use STATE ISSUED birth certifications and STATE ISSUED photo ID's will continue to allow this form of identification up until Dec. 2006. Please know certain Caribbean destinations currently require passports regardless of this state department ruling while other Caribbean countries have specialized ID requirements for teens and children. Non US citizens may also have additional identification requirements.Be sure to ask your vacationkids agent about these details when making your vacation plans.

Vacationkids.com HIGHLY recommends that ALL families traveling to Caribbean and Mexican destinations in 2006 consider obtaining passports if they do not already have them. This will certainly ease your processing thru airport customs and immigration while giving your will give you peace of mind with future vacation plans. Also having a valid passport will open your family up to other vacation destinations.

Again, these passport regulations are still evolving. Vacationkids does our best to bring you the latest information. We do recommend that you double check directly with the US State Dept for the latest updates regarding passport requirements.

When traveling to foreign countries, it is the responsibility of all travelers to present the proper travel documents and identification at airport check in and at customs. Having the proper travel documents and identification is critical because without them, airline gate agents and customs agents have the right to NOT allow you onto their aircraft or into their respective country. This is called "denied boarding" and it is NOT covered by any travel insurance. Basically it means "tough luck" you didn't have the right paperwork so you've just forfeited the cost of your airline tickets or your entire vacation, not to mention major hassles with custom officials. More and more families are booking their vacations online, happy to find good deals but have no clue as to their responsibilities as travelers. Even if you work with seasoned travel agent experts, rules can change in a heartbeat. Ignorance is not an acceptable excuse so pay close attention to all this important information.

Here at Vacationkids.com, we are constantly being asked questions about passports and proper travel documents. Rules are constantly changing. Each country can change their requirements at any given moment. It's tricky enough to keep track of what is required for adult travelers, let alone for kids. Additional paperwork is also required if you are a single parent family or even a mom using your maiden name. Vacationkids.com has done our best to consolidate all of this important information here to make it easier for our parents.

You and your family may be very seasoned travelers. You all have passports with lots of stamps and perhaps you've been traveling the globe for years. This may very well be true but we at Vacationkids would urge you to listen up anyway! You know that old line about "Never assume anything..." Rules frequently change and you could be caught off guard. Double check before you go. Just because you traveled to Costa Rica last year using your birth certificates doesn't mean your family will be allowed to do it again this year. Also time flies when you're traveling and having fun. Make sure, as you make your travel plans, you DOUBLE CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATE on your family's passports. It can mean the difference between a wonderful family adventure or a world of disappointment when you're denied boarding. At Vacationkids, we've seen it happen and even though we remind our clients, it does still happens time and again...so please be aware and don't let it happen to your family.

FOREIGN ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Once your family has decided on taking a vacation to a foreign land, the first thing you need to do, even before buying your tickets, is to familiarize yourself with what you and all your family members will need to travel to your country of choice.
It is the responsibility of all travelers to know the entry requirements of the country they are planning to visit. Please know most of the information in this article is geared for US citizens. If you are reading this and are a citizen of another country, please don't go by what we say, check the rules of your home government. Non US citizens or US residents must comply with entry requirements for both the country they plan to visit as well as requirements that the United States has for their return back into the States. Most US travel agents keep abreast of the rules for US citizens, especially to popular tourist destinations BUT rules change and it is the responsibility of individual travelers to know the rules and how these rules may effect their particular family situation. For example, your spouse may be a foreign resident of the US and would then require a valid Green Card (Form #551) and/or an acceptable VISA/Consular stamp on their valid passport depending on the requirements of your destination country. Your travel agent does not have ESP and would necessarily know this about your family unless you told them.

FOREIGN ENTRY REQUIREMENTS PAGE from the U.S. Department of State. If you have any specific questions about your family's particular circumstances for travel to a specific country, you will need to contact the consulate office for that country. You can find contact information for all the consulate offices on this page as well. Before you confirm your travel plans, you should visit theForeign Entry Requirements Page

PASSPORTS
Vacationkids HIGHLY recommends that all US Citizens, both adults and children, traveling to foreign countries obtain a valid passport ASAP in order to be in compliance with the new rules of the Western Hemisphere Initiative. A passport is the very best form of identification to use when traveling abroad and most countries require a valid passport for entry. Many people balk at the idea of applying for a passport for themselves and their kids but actually the process is very easy. Click here to visit the US State Department passport page . Here you will find everything you need to know about applying for a US passports.

To obtain a passport for the first time, you need to go in person to one of 6,000 passport acceptance facilities located throughout the United States with two passport size photographs of yourself, proof of U.S. citizenship, and a valid form of photo identification such as a drivers license If you would like to find local offices where your family can go and apply in person for your passports click here to find local passport offices in your area where you can apply in person.

Generally speaking it usually takes 6-8 weeks to obtain a passport. Again these with new rules requiring far more US travelers to obtain new passports we anticipate the process of obtaining new passports will take longer as time gets closer to the 2007 deadline. Travelers can pay an extra fee to expedite the processing of their passport. Again this used to still take 2-3 weeks. I cases of dire emergency you can apply for a passport in person directly at certain passport offices but there are strict rules about this. Bottom line...DO NOT PROCRASTINATE...allow your family enough time to apply and receive your passports. Vacation planning need not be stressful.

When you and your family members receive your new passports, open them and READ them. There is some very valuable travel information and tips in the fine print. Immediately make two photo copies of everyone's passport. Keep one photo copy with you in a separate area from where you'll be carrying your original passport. Give another set of photocopies to a trusted friend or family member who won't be traveling with you. This way, should you loose or damage your passports while traveling, it will be easier for you to get replacements by faxing copies.

Single parents and multiple marriage families should be aware that a new law went into effect in 2001 that effects the applications for passports for kids under age 14. For full details click here for the details from the United States Department of State.

BIRTH CERTIFICATES
Some parents procrastinate applying for a passport because they dread the task of search everyone's birth certificates. If you can't find your birth certificates and need new certified copy in order to apply for passports, CLICK HERE for information on ordering copies of your birth certificate from state offices of vital statistics. In many cases you can apply right online or over the phone with a credit card and your birth certificates are mailed to you in just a few days...much easier than searching thru old family files!

To apply for a passport, your birth certificate MUST be an official, government issued document with a raised, embossed seal...although some states now have official stamps and not raised seals. Photocopies, hospital footprint sheets or Baptismal certificates are NOT acceptable.

Until December 2005, adults traveling to the Caribbean or Mexico choosing to use their birth certificate to prove their citizenship MUST ALSO present a valid U.S. Government issued picture ID such as a photo driver's license. Generally speaking children traveling with their parents can simply use their birth certificates. Of course, if they happen to have a student photo ID it would be a good idea to bring it along for identification purposes but it is not necessary.

The tricky part to remember here is that certain countries requires government issued photo ID for teenagers. The age requirement varies depending on the country you are visiting. Again... to be sure to visit FOREIGN ENTRY REQUIREMENTS PAGE from the U.S. Department of State. Remember if you show up at the airport and your teen doesn't have the required photo ID your family will not be allowed onto the plane and you will forfeit the cost of your vacation.

WOMEN AND THE NAME GAME
In years past, it was generally assumed that if a woman was married, the name on her birth certificate would obviously be different than the name on her driver's license. Since 9/11, airport and immigration security have become very strict and now women must prove why their names have been changed. The rule is any passenger whose name on their ticket differs from their official travel documents (valid passport, driver's license, birth certificate), they must present proof of why their name has been changed. This means women must also show a valid court order, ORIGINAL divorce decree or ORIGINAL marriage license. For example you're Mrs. Sarah Jones. Your ticket reads Mrs. Sarah Jones and your Driver's License says Mrs. Jones but your birth certificate you'll need to show to get into Mexico reads Sarah Brown. You, my dear will need to show your marriage license to prove you were Sarah Brown who got married to Mr. Jones and became Mrs. Jones. The new rules requiring passports starting December 2005 should speed up customs lines. Now customs officials will only need to validate passports instead of sorting through the paperwork of women with numerous name changes.

If you can't find your marriage license Click here for information on how to get an official copy.

SINGLE PARENTS AND ADULTS TRAVELING WITH MINORS
This rule specifically applies to single parents but it also applies to any situation when a minor child is not traveling with both of their biological parents. Perhaps Dad is attending a convention and Mom and the kids are flying to the Bahamas to meet him. Perhaps the kids are touring Europe with Grandma and Grandpa. Maybe your 13 year old is going on vacation with his friend's family. In all of these circumstances, in addition to passports or additional documentation is required. Again your first step as you are planning your trip would be to visit FOREIGN ENTRY REQUIREMENTS PAGE from the U.S. Department of State to learn what the specific rules are for your particular situation.

Generally, the rule is children who are US citizens under the age of 18, traveling with one parent or a legal guardian, the parent or Legal guardian must show legal documents proving they have the right to travel with these children outside of the borders of the United states. Again all of these documents must be ORIGINAL (no photocopies) and the acceptable documents are...

A NOTARIZED letter of permission signed by the co- parent (in cases of joint custody), parents or legal guardian .

An ORIGINAL court issued Sole custody documents

FATHER UNKNOWN noted on the child's birth certificate

An OFFICIAL death certificate of the deceased parent or legal guardian.

Official Adoption decree

Again you and your children may have extenuating circumstances. There may be a history of abuse or the issue of abandonment. In cases of anonymous donors, you may not know who your child's other parent is. Your co-parent may not want to give you a letter of permission and you may need a court order. You may need to enlist the help of legal counsel to help you deal with certain situations. Again, it is best to ask questions and be aware of what it needed prior to making your travel plans and obviously far in advance of your departure date. Again, if you cannot supply the appropriate documentation needed for you and your children to travel, you could be out the monies paid for your trip.

There is a great deal of information here to process but respectfully these rules are in place to protect our national security and the safety of our children. If you have special circumstances or have additional questions, DO NOT PROCRASTINATE speak with your professional travel agent who can help guide you to the appropriate resources and the right answers.