Child Passport Question...............going to states.

squibbs25

My sis and her family are going over to Florida next month.
My niece was 18 months when she got her passport and is now just over 5, her passport expires in Oct 2008, but sis has been told by travel agent to get little one a new passport as she has changed so much. (Yes i have to agree, due to being fed and watered the enevitable has happened....... she's grown LOL :rotfl:)
Is this right, the passport office have agreed with the T/A, but why make a 5 year passport for kids if you have to renew it after 3 years?

Yes of course she looks different she now 5, but you can tell its the same child.
Sis is willing to pay for new passport, (doesn't want to jepodise the holiday) but i think this is unfair that she should have to pay for a new one.
Has anyone else been in this situation and if so what did you do?

Many thanks

Squibbs

dzug

Well if you can tell it's the same child there shouldn't be a problem. Wouldn't like to guarantee it though.

The American Embassy might be a better place to ask than a travel agent (who will play for 100% caution just in case) or the passport office (who know our rules, not theirs). But they have premium rate lines and can be a devil to get through to - and will probably play for caution as well.

I think I'd just renew.

sexy_fufu

I had my daughters done at 4 months and she is now 3 she as changed loads as you can tell with a baby. She never gets questioned why should you have to pay out again to change it because they wont add the time, only 6 months i think.

Dont qoute me on it thou.

lynn44

My son had his passport photo taken at 3 months old, He's now 4 years old been to florida 3 Times never been questioned ... they always have a joke how much he's changed !!
So no I wouldnt change it.
Enjoy Florida, You lucky thing

buxtonrabbitgreen

I just had to update my DD passport as she was going to France and had changed a lot between 8 and 13. Hers had run out anyway, but I was dithering about whether to use the same photo but decided against it. It is expensive though isn't it.

morlandbanks

My son had his passport from the age of 11 months and the photo didn't look like him even then - he had a bad cold and a shocked look on his face!! But the passport will be accepted until it runs out and they do expect that your child will have changed a little. Most children of that age will still bear SOME resemblence to a baby photo and if travelling with parents of the same surname there should be no question at all. You can send off the passport and have a photo added without having to renew, as far as I know. I did that with mine because it changed so much between when I got it at the age of 11 and when I was about to travel at 18.

Incidentally, I applaud the passport service at the mo. I posted my son's renewal application on 1st August and it was delivered to me by hand on 8th August!! How's that for service??!! I was also really pleased that they returned his original (with the corner cut), by seperate post. I would've been sad to lose that awful photo to taunt him with!!