Expedited Passports

If you’re traveling abroad with your infant, you’ll need to apply for a child passport before you go.  So, you’ll need to get acceptable passport photos. Many parents soon discover that getting a passport photo of a baby is more challenging than it sounds.  Here are the US Passport office’s requirements for infant passport photos:

• The photos must be 2 inches by 2 inches.
• The photos must have been taken within the past 6 months.
• Baby must be facing forward, looking at the camera and set against a white or off-white background.
• The size of the head in the picture must be between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches.
• No hats, headgear or cute little baby bonnets, please.
• The baby should have a “natural” expression-i.e. mouth closed, not laughing, screaming or crying.
• The photo itself must be good quality, clear and in-focus.
• The baby must be the only thing in the picture-nothing used to support the baby can appear in the picture’s frame. That includes you, your hands, your arm or your baby’s car seat.
• Pacifier’s are a no-no. (more…)

Even if you aren’t planning on traveling overseas, some experts recommend that you get a passport or a passport card for your children.  Why should you be concerned about getting a US passport for your children if you aren’t traveling out of the country?  According to County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi of Union County, New Jersey, getting a US passport for your children can actually protect them in case of abduction.

Child abduction is every parent’s worst nightmare.  When filing a missing persons report for a child, having a passport or passcard on hand makes it easy to provide authorities with the information they need to find your child, including date of birth, where they were born, their nationality and a photograph. Passports are also the strongest available form of identification for kids who are too young for other types of state-issued IDs like driver’s licenses.

Getting a US passport for your child requires that you submit the appropriate forms and documentation. This checklist will show you what to include with your child’s passport application. If you need to get a US passport for your child quickly, the easiest way is to use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com. Expediting companies make getting a US passport quicker and easier. Your child’s application will be handled by trained passport specialists, and you’ll be sure to have his or her passport ready when you need it!