Passports and Foster Children???

[RogerNYC]

I am a pre-adoptive foster father; I will be adopting my foster son in the later part of 2009. I was planning on getting Daniel his passport after I adopt him (which is after this cruise).

Does anyone know if I need to have a passport for Daniel for this cruise? We are both residents of NY State. Although I know that it would be *nice to have* a passport, I was planning to do this after the adoption when we would share the same last name.

I will have documents from the state identifying me as his legal guardian, his birth certificate, etc., but is there any thing else I may need (such as a passport)?

I am somewhat new to this travelling dad thing, so any advice would be welcomed!

[Crazy aka Cheryl]

I am a pre-adoptive foster father; I will be adopting my foster son in the later part of 2009. I was planning on getting Daniel his passport after I adopt him (which is after this cruise).

Does anyone know if I need to have a passport for Daniel for this cruise? We are both residents of NY State. Although I know that it would be *nice to have* a passport, I was planning to do this after the adoption when we would share the same last name.

I will have documents from the state identifying me as his legal guardian, his birth certificate, etc., but is there any thing else I may need (such as a passport)?

I am somewhat new to this travelling dad thing, so any advice would be welcomed!
You will need a letter from the agency or the Family Court allowing you to take hime out of the State.I would speak with the Agency that you are dealing with.In some instances you will need the Parents permission if they still have perental rights.His age may factor into what kind od ID that you will need for the trip.How old is he?

It is better to resolve these questions prior to the trip.You could also speak with his Law Guardian.I would start with the Agency caseworker first.Then take it from there based upon their answer.
Hope that it helps. If you would like PM with anyother questions I am very familiar with the system.
Hope that helps,
CCC

[candue]

It is also on the web under passport info. Congrats on the new guy and being a traveling dad.

[Crazy aka Cheryl]

I am a pre-adoptive foster father; I will be adopting my foster son in the later part of 2009. I was planning on getting Daniel his passport after I adopt him (which is after this cruise).

Does anyone know if I need to have a passport for Daniel for this cruise? We are both residents of NY State. Although I know that it would be *nice to have* a passport, I was planning to do this after the adoption when we would share the same last name.

I will have documents from the state identifying me as his legal guardian, his birth certificate, etc., but is there any thing else I may need (such as a passport)?

I am somewhat new to this travelling dad thing, so any advice would be welcomed!
Roger I just realized iy was you..................
Congrats sweetie.Can't wait to meet the little guy and see you agan!
CCC

[cwor0306]

I was told that everyone had to have a passport but not completely sure. Call Rfamily and find out. Before the passport law was put into place about everyone having one when traveling I was able to take my foster children on the cruise with agency permission and a copy of their birth certificate. However, I am not sure how it works now.

Congrats on your son. I just adopted my fourth child from foster care in November as a single dad. I will be traveling with my oldest son and youngest this year to Alaska it will be our 5th cruise with Rfamily. Your family is in for an amazing experience.

Chris

[travelchix]

I would check with NCL to make sure, but my understanding is that you don't need a passport for a cruise that leaves out of and returns to the same port in the U.S. I don't know what specifically you might need as far as permission documents for foster children, but I dont think anyone needs a passport. It's always good to have one, if you can get one, though, just in case there's an emergency that would require you to fly home from Canada.

See the blurb below from NCL.

As of June 1st, 2009:

For sailings that depart from and return to the same U.S. port, you need a valid passport, proof of citizenship and a government-issued photo I.D. or a valid driver's license with a photo, or any other WHTI compliant document. Proof of Citizenship examples include: an original or state certified copy of a U.S. or Canadian birth certificate, certificate of U.S. naturalization, original certificate of U.S. citizenship, or a U.S. Consular report of your birth abroad.

For open-jaw sailings (cruises that depart from one U.S. port and return to a different U.S. port), you are required to carry a valid passport, U.S. passport card or Enhanced Drivers License, as well as have in your possession all relative visas that pertain to your travel itinerary. Permanent residents of the U.S. are required to carry their valid ARC cards for boarding AND passport from their country of citizenship, if available.

Note: If you miss your ship at its scheduled U.S. departure port and need to travel outside the U.S. to meet your ship, or should you unexpectedly need to depart the ship from a foreign port prior to the end of sailing, a passport would be required to leave or re-enter the U.S. by air. To that end, NCL strongly recommends all guests to obtain a passport for their voyage on any NCL vessel.

Homeland Security indicates that for children under 19, no photo ID is required, just the birth certificate: Children ages 18 and under will only be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.

[chithanh119]

travelchix's information is very useful for you

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[cwor0306]

I wish Rfamily had not told me I needed a passport for all my kids I would have waited to obtain them. However, it is good I have them.

Chris

[RogerNYC]

Thanks for all the feedback. To avoid any dissapointments, I have started the process of getting the passport. Even if not needed for this trip it will be good to have for future trips and just as a form of ID. Again--thanks for helping me out with this!

[candue]

I wish Rfamily had not told me I needed a passport for all my kids I would have waited to obtain them. However, it is good I have them.

Chris

While I am sure it was not R families doing ,in my case, I got five of my kids passports last year. Today I could use that dime back, but it gives them s sense of being "somebody important" A traveler in their own right, meant something, and it was a huge deal to them. They walked around with them for days after they got them. A good thing to have incase you win a trip too! I could go on but as most people know I ramble.

A name change for your little guy will be less expensive than the first one was.

[Jan V]

I wish Rfamily had not told me I needed a passport for all my kids I would have waited to obtain them. However, it is good I have them.

Chris

It's best to have a passport. If you had to fly home from Canada due to an emergency, you would need to have it.