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Hello,
I know this is a hated topic but I need confirmation quickly. We are leaving next Friday for STT and I wanted to make sure we DO NOT need a passport. Me and my husband have one but our two children do not, but I have their birthcert. along with a miltary ID. We do plan on getting on a ferry to see the BVI but again I didnt think we needed passports for that either. Can anyone just comfirm that I have it right.... I have been reading some of the posts and they seem to say everyone has passports and I dont want to run into problems with my teen boys.
Thanks for your help!
Barbara,
Here's what I got from the Government website:
Children 16 and under traveling with a parent or legal guardian will be required to present the proof of passport application status from the Department of State (DOS) for departure from the United States as well as re-entry to the United States. Acceptable confirmation of a passport application may be found at the Department of State’s website at http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html.
Looks like you have to apply, and just print out your proof of application status.
I hope this helps!
You do NOT need a passport for the US Virgin Islands if you are a US resident. You do, however, need to bring a birth certificate and government-issued ID. I brought only my military ID once and was given a lot of sh*t for doing so, but was able to get through customs just fine. That was in 2005.
You will only need proof of passport application if you are traveling back to the United States by air from BVI. If you are traveling by sea, you might be safe with the birth cert and government ID, but I am having trouble finding solid information on the government website.
There is a contact phone number, but hold times are extremely long.
You do NOT need a Passport so you will be fine. Bring your Birth Certificate with a raised seal (not a photocopy) and a Drivers License and you will be fine. It wouldn't hurt to bring your proof of Passport application as well (not instead of) as your other ID.
Pia
I just want to confirm as well. i know we do not need a passport to go to the usvi. we have two little ones, neither has a government picture id. will a birth certificate alone suffice as long as they are with mom and dad?
And i have to agree. i can not find any real hard proof evidence on what is needed to take a ferry or charter over to the BVI. passport or no passport?
If your kids are traveling with both parents and the parents have proper ID, all the kids need are official original birth certificates to travel to any US territory. If only one parent, or grandparents - the traveling adults with need a notorized letter from the other/both parents authorizing the travel.
Linda, is this for travel to ST john or to the bvi or to both? the reason i ask is because only one is my biological child. the other is a step child ( who's like my own son to me) whose father is still very much involved in his life. in either case, it would not be hard to get a notorized letter from the father, but it's good to know for my own information.
I've traveled alone with my graqndchildren only between Kentucky and the USVI. I've had the notorized letter and, frankly, though I've presented it with the kids' BC, I'm not even sure the officials really look at it. But I'm afraid not to have it. It also doubles as my authorization to approve medical treatment. I have no experience with foreign travel and kids not-my-own.
