One of the first things you should do when planning an international trip for your family is to ensure that everyone has up-to-date passports. And though you may already have a passport, you may need to get your child a passport or renew their current passport. But this can sometimes be easier said than done, as we frequently see people make errors on their child’s passport application. It’s important that you are aware of these common mistakes so that you can apply for your child’s passport without worry.Â
Ready to learn more? Here are some common child passport application mistakes to avoid.
Mistake 1: Submitting a Photo That Doesn’t Follow the Guidelines
A crucial part of the passport application process is submitting a photo of your child that fits the passport photo guidelines. There are specific requirements that need to be met, and if you send in an image that doesn’t work, your child’s passport application could be delayed. Here are some of the photo guidelines you should follow when taking your child’s photo:
- Take the photo against a white background.
- Do not have other people present in the photo.
- Do not take the photo from too far away or too close up
- Make sure your image isn’t blurry.
- Do not take a photo of a photo.
To learn more about what guidelines must be followed, visit our website’s passport and visa photo guidelines page.
Mistake 2: Forgetting to Double Check All of Your Information
People make errors from time to time, so you should always double-check that the information you entered on your child’s passport application is correct. Making a mistake on your child’s passport could be as simple as spelling their name wrong or accidentally selecting the wrong birthday, so always read over your child’s application before checking out.
Mistake 3: Not Sending in All the Required Documents
Another thing that people forget to do is send in all of the required documents to our Chicago office. Once you complete the application, you will receive a list of all the documents you must gather and send to our office. Please make sure that you read through the entire list, place your documents in a mailing envelope, and send them to us using UPS or FedEx. Please do not use USPS, as this may cause delays in your child’s passport application.
Mistake 4: Forgetting to Make an Appointment With a U.S. Acceptance Agent
A step that you must take when applying for your child’s passport is making an appointment with a U.S. Acceptance Agent. Once you have gathered all the necessary documents, take them to a post office to get the application executed by a passport acceptance agent (please note that the child and both parents must be present.) We highly recommend that you call the Acceptance Facility to see if you need to make an appointment in advance.
Mistake 5: Not Checking the Validity of Your Child’s Passport
One of the most common mistakes we see is that people forget to check the expiration date of their child’s passport. Unfortunately, this can sometimes cause families to cancel their trips, as they cannot get a new passport for their child in time. However, there is still a chance that you can get your child’s passport in time for your trip if you choose to obtain your child’s passport with Swift Passport and Visa Services.
We are a leader in child passports, and our team will work with you to help get your child’s passport in a timely manner. Simply visit our website, start the passport application process, and send in all your required documents. We will then process your application and walk you through everything needed to obtain your child’s passport in time for your travels. No matter where you’re going, we’ll get you there!
