DO I NEED A PASSPORT

Remember the good old days where you only needed a passport for international fights, and sometimes not even then? Unfortunately those days have long since passed. The U.S. passport requirements continuously change and now, you will need a passport. Guests are responsible for obtaining the necessary proof of citizenship to board all cruise ships. Heavenly Cruises therefore strongly encourage cruisers of all ages to have a valid U.S. passport. An additional bonus of having a passport is that it ensures that you are prepared to pick up and travel at a moment’s notice as well as an added measure of security when you're already abroad.

The deadline for having a passport for International air travel, however, was January 23, 2007. This means that all travelers, including U.S. Citizens and all foreign nationals, traveling to or from the United States by air, such as Guests flying to Florida from Canada, are required to carry a valid passport after this date.

You can find the most recent passport requirement information at the U.S. Department of State website at http://travel.state.gov or call the U.S. National Passport Information Center at 877-4USA-PPT for the most current requirements.

 

 

Getting Started- If You Are Applying For A New Passport

When should you get this started? Just after you read the rest of this information- in other words, today! Typically, it takes about 8 weeks to apply and receive your new passport, so it's best to get started as soon as possible—even if your travel is months away.

Listed below are the documents that in most cases will be required when applying for a passport:

1. The U.S. Government's DS-11 Application

   Download the application from the government site to be certain you have the latest form. You will need to complete this form, but DO NOT SIGN it until you are at the passport location where the Passport Acceptance Agent will instruct you. If you sign the application form before you arrive, it will not be accepted and you will be asked to complete a new form. Don't use white-out or correction tape on the application. If you do, you will be asked to complete a new form.

2. Proof of citizenship

   You may use any of the following methods to prove your citizenship:
   • Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state*
   • Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
   • Certificate of Citizenship
   • Naturalization Certificate

3. Current valid identification

   with a signature, photo and physical description (your height, weight, etc.) –a social security card is not considered valid identification.
   • Naturalization Certificate
   • Valid Driver's License
   • Current Government ID (city, state or federal)
   • Current Military ID (military and dependents)

4. 2 current color photos

   Believe it or not, there are very specific requirements for the photo shots. Most post offices and print shops take Passport photos for a fee and you can call around for pricing information. Below are the photo requirements:
   • 2 Identical photos
   • In color
   • 2 x 2 inches in size
   • Taken within the past 6 months, showing current appearance
   • Full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background
   • Between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head
   • Taken in normal street attire:
     • Uniforms should not be worn in photographs
     • Do not wear a hat or headgear that obscures the hair or hairline
     • If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device, wig or similar articles, they should be worn for your picture
     • Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless you need them for medical reasons (a medical certificate may be required)

5. Methods of payment

   Visit the U.S. Government site for the methods of payment. Different locations accept different forms of payment. Be sure to check with your individual passport location to verify its acceptable methods of payment. You can request Expedited Service to obtain your passport faster than the normal processing time.

 

 

Expired Passport Renewal

You can renew your passport by mail or in person. Download U.S. Government's Renewal Form DS-82 and review the U.S. Government's information on renewing passports.

Important Notes

• If your most recent U.S. passport has been mutilated, altered or damaged, you cannot apply by mail - you must Apply in Person.
• We strongly encourage you to mail your passport application and any personal documents using a traceable delivery method.
• In order to protect the contents of your mailing from the elements throughout the delivery process, we strongly encourage you to mail your passport application and any personal documents using a secure means of packaging, such as a Tyvek envelope.
• Passports renewed by mail in the United States may only be mailed to United States and Canadian addresses.
• If you are behind in child support payments, you may not be able to get a passport.

Name Changes

If you need to change your name on an existing passport you will need to fill out various forms depending on the criteria listed below:

1. If Your Passport was Issued More than 1 Year Ago, You Must Mail:

   • Completed Form DS-82, Application for a U.S. Passport by Mail
   • Applicable "Renewal" fees
   • Your current, valid U.S. passport
   • Two recent, color photographs
   • An original or certified copy of your marriage certificate or the government-issued document evidencing your legal name change under federal or state law.

2. If Your Passport was Issued Less than 1 year ago, You Must Mail:

   • Your current, valid U.S. passport
   • Completed Form DS-5504, Application for a U.S. Passport: Name Change, Data Correction, and Limited Passport Book Replacement
   • An original or certified copy of your marriage certificate or the government-issued document evidencing your legal name change under federal or state law.
   • If required, two recent photos

All About Minors

1. Complete and Submit Form DS-11: Application For A U.S. Passport

   • Must apply in person with both parents/guardian(s)
   • Must provide the additional documentation required by Form DS-11 (Must not sign the application until instructed to do so by the Acceptance Agent
   • Must provide your SSN in accordance with 26 U.S.C. 6039E

2. Submit Evidence of U.S. Citizenship

   • Previously issued, undamaged U.S. Passport
   • Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state*
      Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
   • Naturalization Certificate Certificate of Citizenship

3. Submit Evidence of Relationship

   Parent(s)/Guardian(s) must submit evidence of their relationship to the minor applicant. Previous U.S. passports are not acceptable as evidence of relationship. Evidence of a legal name change must be submitted, if the name of a parent/guardian has changed since the original documents were issued (e.g. photocopy of a marriage certificate, etc.)

   • Minor's certified U.S. birth certificate with both parents' names
   • Minor's certified Foreign Birth Certificate with both parents' names*
   • Minor's Report of Birth Abroad with both parents' names
   • Adoption Decree with adopting parents' names*
   • Court Order establishing custody
   • Court Order establishing guardianship

4. Present Previously issued, undamaged U.S. passport

   • Naturalization Certificate
   • Valid Driver's License
   • Current Government Employee ID (city, state or federal)
   • Current Military ID (military and dependents) t Identification of Parent(s)/Guardian(s)

5. Submit a Photocopy of Each Parent/Guardian ID Document To Be Presented (STEP 4)

   A photocopy of each identification document to be presented by a parent or guardian must be submitted with the minor's passport application. If you are applying for multiple minors at one time, you must include a photocopy of each parent/guardian ID document presented with each minor's individual passport application.

   • Photocopy must be on plain white, 8 1/2 x 11" standard paper stock, showing the front and the back of your ID
   • Photocopy must contain images on only one-side of each page submitted. If copies cannot be made on the same side of one page, you may present two separate pages; one displaying the front of the ID and the second displaying the back of the ID.
   • The paper should be free of other images and/or markings.
   • The 8 1/2 x 11" paper size cannot be substituted with a larger or smaller size paper, even if the alternative folds down to the 8 1/2 x 11" size.
   • You may enlarge the image of your ID on the 8 1/2 x 11" page, but you may not decrease the size of the image.

   Other situations that require a photocopy of identification, but are less common, include:

   • If you are presenting Secondary Identification, you must provide a photocopy each document being presented with your application
   • An assistant to a disable applicant who witnesses the signature or signs on the disabled customer's behalf must present a photocopy of his or her ID.
   • A person acting as an Identifying Witness (Form DS-71) must present a photocopy of his or her ID.

6. Provide Parental Consent

   Both parents must provide consent authorizing passport issuance for a minor under age 16. See the scenarios below, and follow the instruction that best applies to your circumstance:

   Both Parents MUST:	Appear in person with the minor Sign Form DS-11 in front of an Acceptance Agent
   One Parent MUST:	Appear in person with the minor Sign Form DS-11 in front of an Acceptance Agent Submit the second parents' notarized Statement of Consent (Form DS-3053)
   One Parent (with sole legal custody) MUST:	Appear in person with the minor Sign Form DS-11 in front of an Acceptance Agent Submit primary evidence of sole authority to apply for the child with one of the following: Minor's certified U.S. or foreign birth certificate listing only the applying parent Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) or Certification of Birth Abroad (Form DS-1350) listing only the applying parent Court order granting sole custody to the applying parent (unless child's travel is restricted by that order) Adoption decree (if applying parents is sole adopting parent) Court order specifically permitting applying parent's or guardian's travel with the child Judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent Death certificate of non-applying parent NOTE: If none of the above documentation is available, the applying parent must submit Form DS-3053 stating why the non-applying parent/guardian's consent cannot be obtained
   A Third Party (in Loco Parentis applying on behalf of a minor under the age of 16) MUST:	Appear in person with the minor Sign Form DS-11 in front of an Acceptance Agent Submit primary evidence of sole authority to apply for the child with one of the following: Minor's certified U.S. or foreign birth certificate listing only the applying parent Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) or Certification of Birth Abroad (Form DS-1350) listing only the applying parent Court order granting sole custody to the applying parent (unless child's travel is restricted by that order) Adoption decree (if applying parents is sole adopting parent) Court order specifically permitting applying parent's or guardian's travel with the child Judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent Death certificate of non-applying parent NOTE: If none of the above documentation is available, the applying parent must submit Form DS-3053 stating why the non-applying parent/guardian's consent cannot be obtained

   *IMPORTANT NOTE: The written consent from the non-applying parent that accompanies an application for a new passport must be less than 3 months old.  New written consent from the non-applying parent must be obtained and submitted with any future passport application for the minor under age 16.