Wait...What? Kira Needs A Passport?

When my brother was a baby, we took a family trip to Aruba.  He was about 6 years old at the time, and I distinctly remember that he did not need a passport, only a birth certificate.  So, last week, I set out to get a certified copy of Kira's birth certificate from the Registry of Vital Statistics in preparation for our trip to Canada. The RVS is located near the Bayside Expo & Conference Center in Dorchester, and it was much more difficult to find than I thought it would.  It's a good thing my Dad came with me; he grew up in Dorchester.  Once we found the place, getting the birth certificate was easy peasy, and I felt relieved that we got the necessary paper work done for our trip.

The weekend before we leave, both Trevor and his Dad were thinking out loud that we should probably check to make sure Kira really doesn't need a passport.  I brushed the idea aside because I was so sure that Richard didn't need one to go to Aruba.  Then I thought, well, it was a long time ago.  So, I went to the U.S. Dept of State website to double check.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/minors/minors_834.html

In BOLD lettering: All children regardless of age (including newborns and infants) must have their own passport.

Oh bother.  So, I guess it turns out we *do* need to get Kira a passport.  I immediately called the Boston Passport Agency Automated Appointment Line to make an appointment.  Because Kira is a minor, and because we need expedited processing, it is necessary to show up in person at the passport agency with the applicant, and BOTH parents.  The only appointment that was available on Monday, June 9, was at 9 am, meaning, we would have to leave the house at 7:30 am to make it there on time (very early!).

In the meantime, Trevor took some passport pictures.  He ended up with several candidates:

After sitting through traffic, trekking a block and a half with Kira and her car seat (= heavy) in the sweltering heat (98 F), and standing in line (despite having made an appointment), we finally were able to talk with a passport specialist.  He looked at our paperwork including our itinerary to Buffalo, NY.  "Hmm, are you flying to Toronto?"  I told him, no, we're flying to Buffalo and then driving across the border.  I even brought the invitation to the 1-month to show that we will be traveling to Canada.  He said to us, you don't need a passport to drive across the border; you only need proof of U.S. citizenship, and you have it right here - Kira's birth certificate.

Imagine our consternation. 

Well, we were there at the passport agency anyway; should we apply for Kira's passport?  In the end, we decided not to do it.  We do not have any plans to travel internationally with Kira within the next five years (the duration of a minor's passport), except perhaps a cruise to the Caribbean, which the passport specialist informed us would not require a passport either.

When we got home, I took another look at the website.  With hindsight I was able to find the information about not needing a passport to drive across the U.S./Canadian border.  Poo.