• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » Family Travel » “Renewing” a Child Passport Amid the Government Shutdown
Family TravelPassport

“Renewing” a Child Passport Amid the Government Shutdown

Carly Stewart Posted onJanuary 6, 2019January 6, 2019 4 Comments

Our child’s passport is expiring and it’s time for a “renewal.” With the uncertainties of the government shutdown, it muddied the already opaque process. We decided to pursue the expedited services in an effort to ensure a speedy replacement. 

If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today.

Our Daughter’s Passport is Expiring

As our daughter is quickly approaching her 5th birthday and the 5th year of having her passport, it was time to start the passport renewal process. In fact, we were fortunate that none of our recent travel plans required a passport with at least six months validity or we may have been unable to enter certain countries. It is important to make sure you check the requirements for each country you plan to visit.

Lucy posing for her new passport
Lucy posing for her new passport

You Can’t Technically Renew a Child’s Passport

While filling out the required paperwork for renewing a passport, I quickly came to learn that any minor passport is not technically “renewed.” Instead, a new passport application must be submitted as if a prior child passport had not been issued. For a minor passport, you will need to fill out form DS-11.  After you have filled out the form you will also need the following:

  • Passport Photo
  • Child’s Birth Certificate / Proof of US Citizenship
  • Photo ID for both parents (both will need to be present during in-person application)
  • Appointment for application submission
  • Check or money order for fees

When filling out form DS-11, it will ask if the child has had a passport previously and if the passport is not lost or stolen, it will require you send the passport in with your application.

Note: When filling out the online form (DS-11) there are two options: form filler or PDF. The form filler confuses whether the previous child passport needs to be sent in (it does) with counterintuitive language. Use the PDF instead, line 21 is much more straight forward that way.

In addition, a birth certificate and/or proof of US citizenship will also be sent in with the application form. (The expired passport and documents will be sent back to you but will arrive separately from the new passport.)

Both parents are required to show proof of relationship and consent. We applied for our daughter’s passport at our local post office which required an appointment be made online in advance. See the full list of requirements here.

Remember These Things When “Renewing”

It is important to remember that if you have Global Entry and receive a new passport, you will need to update your passport number into GOES before you are able to use your account. Global Entry offices are closed which has affected anyone attempting to apply for Global Entry, but if you are already a member, you should be able to update your information on the Trusted Traveler Program website.

Also, if the expired passport has any valid visas you will need to carry both the passport that has the visa and your current passport to enter those countries.

Business As Usual During the Shutdown?

The passport office says it’s business as usual with normal turn times for passports and visas despite the government shutdown. For our own added peace of mind, we decided to pursue the expedited options both in processing and 1-2 day delivery. This added $75.89 to the cost of $115 for a child’s passport book and execution fee.

Peace of mind is not cheap.

Even as airport screening continues, many TSA officers have been calling in sick. TSA “sick outs” (a common union practice) have been noticeable at Dallas/Fort Worth, Charlotte, and New York’s JFK. TSA representatives note that screening times are still within normal parameters. TSA staff are still required to report for duty and will be paid once funding resumes, during the shutdown, they will not receive their regular pay and some are making their pain felt.

Have you “renewed” a child’s passport before? What about during a government shutdown or strike? 

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article Review: Kimpton Seafire Grand Cayman – Junior Suite
Next Article Have You Traded a Welcome Amenity?

About Author

Carly Stewart

Carly is a freelance travel writer that takes her daughter Lucy along on her journeys, stamping passports and making memories. She has contributed to Huffington Post, MapHappy, Travel Codex and PenandPassport.com. You can also find her over-sharing photos of Lucy on Instagram by following @LucyGoesTo and @AnotherBabyMaybe.

Related Posts

  • airport control tower atc duffy

    A Deeper Dive Into Duffy’s Air Traffic Control Overhaul Plan

    May 11, 2025
  • mothers day rome colisseum

    Appreciation Of A Traveling Mother: My Wife

    May 11, 2025
  • PIT TSA Precheck Global entry delays

    Do You Need A Real ID To Fly? May 7th Deadline Approaching

    March 23, 2025

4 Comments

  1. applezz13 Reply
    January 6, 2019 at 11:52 am

    Any idea why the birth certificate is required? It was needed for the first passport that is being sent in.

    • Carly Stewart Reply
      January 6, 2019 at 12:19 pm

      There is technically no real way to renew a minor passport. Instead it is treated as if you are applying for a new passport all together, even though they still require you send in the previous passport if it is in your possession.

  2. Stc Reply
    January 6, 2019 at 6:16 pm

    We’re renewing this week at an overseas embassy. If your child’s appearance has changed significantly, it is suggested you also bring a photo history and school records to cement the i.d.

  3. Lukas Reply
    January 7, 2019 at 8:39 pm

    Two incorrect facts: 1) You do NOT have to update your passport information with GOES for it to work (tested personally). 2) If you expired passport has visa in it, some countries (Russia) require that you get a new visa into your new passport (tested personally).

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for May

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • Motion Sickness Uber
    I Used To Get So Much Done In Ubers. Now I Just Try Not To Puke. May 24, 2025
  • American Airlines Flagship Lounge Philadelphia
    Premium Progress: American Airlines Flagship Lounge Opens In Philadelphia (PHL) May 24, 2025
  • United Flight Attendants Tentative Deal
    At Long Last, United Airlines Reaches Tentative Labor Deal With Flight Attendants May 24, 2025
  • Aegean Airlines Feast
    A Feast Fit For A King On Aegean Airlines May 23, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • a room with a table and benches
    Where To Smoke At Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) April 26, 2025
  • United Airlines Polaris Lounge Chicago Review
    Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago (ORD) May 1, 2025
  • United Airlines Refresh Polaris Lounge Chicago
    First Look: United Airlines Reopens Renovated Polaris Lounge In Chicago (ORD) April 29, 2025
  • a hand holding a blue card
    Chase Sapphire Preferred 100K Bonus Offer Ending Soon May 2, 2025

Archives

May 2025
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Apr    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.