Granny_Weatherwax Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We have never needed them because we have never traveled outside of the US. We would love to travel but it is something we haven't been able to afford. Do most people get passports? Even when they don't travel outside of the US? Are we behind the times? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We don't have them. Never had a need for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannah C. Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 I only have a passport because I considered going to Europe in college, and then decided against it. Actually, it's still in my maiden name... All the people I know who have passports are either missionaries, got the passports because of foreseen out of country trips, or got the passports because their children were going to be going out of the country on a trip. The nice thing about them is they're good for 10 years for adults. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melinda in VT Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We got our first passports for a specific trip, but ever since then we have made sure to keep them active for all of us. We like to travel and feel it would be a shame to miss an opportunity because of a missing passport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 I'd like to have them for our entire family. But, at $105.00 each, it's pretty pricey for a family of six. DD is getting hers this month and so is dh. DD is going to run a six week basic first aid and CPR class for a mission doctor in a foreign local sometime this autumn. DH's employer wants him to get his just in case they have to send him to Europe or Australia. They will pay for his passport. One by one, we'll try to get them. With the the three boys being under 18, their passports will expire in five years and I don't want to have the cost of renewal all in one month, hence the staggering. Faith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 don't have them, never had. I'd love to get one so I could travel internationally though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Well, I have always had a passport, but I grew up overseas and have travelled internationally quite often. DH needs one for work, my youngest son was adopted from China so he has one, and we got them when we adopted him for the other two kids. I want so much to take my kids to places I have been, but the cost is prohibitive for us right now. This is one reason I hope to buy a cheaper house and have the ability to travel more. DH would also like to pursue a job assignment overseas in a couple of years. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We have them. Just in case! Dh got his in Seminary when he spent a month in Jerusalem area. I got mine when we traveled to England after Sem. Ds21 got his at 18 when he went to Ireland with his aunt. We just got one for our daughter so we can take off for sabbatical if we want. Oh--can't remember if you need them for the Bahamas--went there about 10 years ago, and boys had them then. We know lots of folks who have them. We are in a transient area with tons of military folks, but also just folks who like to travel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 The kids and I got ours last year when my daughter was preparing to go to London with a school group. She needed one, and we had been meaning for several years to get them for the three of us for whom it was easy. (My husband is a Canadian citizen but has lived in the U.S. for so long that getting his is kind of a pain. So, we're still working on that.) There has been talk for a couple of years, too, that my son's choir might go on an international tour. My husband was adamant that neither child would leave the county unless one of us was prepared to go to the rescue, should it be necessary. And now, I have to say, I love the peace of mind that comes with knowing it's done. Now it won't be something we would ever have to take care of in a hurry or under pressure. ETA: I think it's become more and more common to have a passport "just in case" now that ID is required to do anything. Anyone who's gone on a cruise in the last two or three years probably has one, for example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We don't, never have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendi Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We don't, but should get them. Groups from our church go down to Mexico regularly to help build homes for the poor. There's one coming up we were considering, then I realized we'd need passports to get back across the border, so we can't go. (Hasn't always been that way.) There are some other mission trips farther afield I'd like to participate in, as well. So I really should get a passport. Wendi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasar31629 Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 I'd love to have a need for one but I haven't so far :) I wouldn't get one for the worldly feeling it would bring either...I guess I'm too practical for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherry in OH Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 DH has one. Mine is expired. I plan to renew mine within the next year and get passports for the children. We want to visit Niagara Falls (Canadian side) in a year or so. We could get the ID cards, but they are almost as expensive as passports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Hubby and I have had ours since we traveled on missions' trips when we were teens. We've gotten the kids just because we live so close to Mexico and occasionally go on trips down there to help with a local mission. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plucky Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We don't, but I'd love all of us to have them. Right now only my oldest ds has one because he went to Europe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamom Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Most of us have one. With family on foreign missions, visiting them and lots of Canadian friends we want to be ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momofkhm Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We only have passports because of our cruise. But it ended up we didn't really need them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We don't have them. Never had a need for them. Same here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Dh is the only one here who has one. He got it last year for a business trip to Mexico. We don't have them because they expire and I don't see a reason to buy them when we won't be needing them. Ds16 is possibly going to Haiti in late spring/early summer, so we will get him one closer to that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 I only have a passport because of the honeymoon cruise DH and I took 15 years ago. I don't have plans to renew it. My children don't have passports. I never expect to leave the country again, but if I do, I'll worry about a passport then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Families on the borders often have them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giraffe Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We have them - DD got her first when she was 6 weeks old. But my parents, brother, his family - none of them have them. We travel a lot internationally and have family overseas so it's pretty much a necessity for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LidiyaDawn Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Nope, we don't have them and neither does about 98% of my extended family (all sides). We just don't travel out of the country :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lailasmum Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We mostly do but all but my dd's have currently expired. we do try to have them for ID. So useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairytalemama Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Families on the borders often have them. My husband and I have them, but the kids don't. We have lots of family who live in Canada. Currently, customs requires birth certificates for kids under 16 but not passports. Adults either need a passport or an enhanced driver's license. We opted to renew our passports since it was about that time anyway (we had them from a trip my dh took to Paris in 1998 and I got mine when we went to the Bahamas in 2001 before kids) just in case we decide we want to go somewhere else later. We'll wait to get passports for the kids until a planned trip or they turn 16. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punchie Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We all have them, including our 10 mos old. When our newest is born, they'll get a passport too. W/#3, our traveling will slow down quite a bit, but it's easier to cruise w/a passport. That and when we move, we'll be spitting distance from Canada. To me, a passport is irrefutable proof of who you are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We've never needed them as we never travel outside the country. Now, if the opportunity presented itself (like free or very low cost), we certainly would get passports for the occasion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Dh and I have passports because we plan to travel outside the country in the near future. None of the kids have passports, although they will have them eventually. We are going to take them to Europe some time in the next ten years. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 I've never had one, my kids don't have them, but my dh does because he's military and with things that have happened in the past decade/decade and a half they recommend them having it so they don't use their US Military ID when overseas. Not sure if the kids and I will get them anytime soon, we never travel outside the US, I don't have any interest in a cruise and we've never had enough money to go visit dh on an overseas port visit. I don't know that we'd ever do that anyway because they are just too hard to plan, and can fall through at a moments notice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 I only have a passport because I considered going to Europe in college, and then decided against it. Actually, it's still in my maiden name... Get that changed over. You only have a limited amount of time to change names, otherwise you have to start over with the passport process. I waited too long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannah C. Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Get that changed over.You only have a limited amount of time to change names, otherwise you have to start over with the passport process. I waited too long. Just checked the website, and I think I have to pay renewal fees any way you look at it, but as long as the passport is still valid I have to follow the change-name process instead of reapplying. I would've had to have changed my name within a year of getting the passport to avoid the fees, and I didn't get married until after I'd had the passport for over a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gratia271 Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We all have them, as we have traveled o/s the country with our children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristineW Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We do, but DH's grandmother lives in Canada and he is a dual citizen. We try to go to her cottage every two years. Christine W Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granny_Weatherwax Posted February 4, 2011 Author Share Posted February 4, 2011 Thank you for all of the replies. I am happy to learn that we are not the only ones without passports. I think I may try to have each of us get one, though, over the next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medieval Mom Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We have them. Dh is from Europe, and we travel to see his family when we can. Come to think of it, though, I think mine's expired! :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazakaal Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We have them because we live overseas. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaMa2005 Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We all have them, but we do lots of overseas travel as well as cruises out of Florida. According to the US government, on about 33% of US citizens have a passport/passport card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We have them. My dh travels internationally for his job. I got one when I accompanied him to London many years ago and have renewed it once. DS has one as well, originally obtained so we could accompany dh on a trip that didn't happen and it has been renewed once. I keep them current so that if there were to be an emergency with my dh while he is overseas, we could travel to him if needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punks in Ontario Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We have NEXUS cards instead which allow us to travel to the US. It was alot cheaper than passports for us. If we decide to travel farther, we'll get them then. Then we don't have to worry about when they expire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granny_Weatherwax Posted February 4, 2011 Author Share Posted February 4, 2011 We watched the Liam Neeson film Taken a little while back. I told my DD if she were ever to get into a situation like that she may as well go along with it because neither DH nor I have Liam's particular set of skills and no passports. Hmmmmm....maybe that's why I have no international intrigue in my life. Would getting a passport open the doors for espionage and cloak and dagger experiences?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabrizia Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 I have mine and have since high school when I went to France for a month. DH has had his since he was 18 months or so, since his Dad is from India and all his Dad's family is over there, so they visited occasionally. DS has his because he went to India at 18 months to meet DH's family. DD doesn't have hers yet, but that is more because we've been lazy about getting it for her, and since she hasn't needed it yet it hasn't been a big deal. We'll probably get her and newbie theirs next January or February. I really like having them just in case, they are nice so we can decide to visit Canada, or go on a cruise or what not. DD and newbie will need theirs by 2013 or 2014 anyways since that is when we plan to go back to India to visit and they need them for that, I just would like to get them before that just in case. It is nice knowing I could fly off to somewhere exotic if the chance came up, even though I know it is extremely unlikely that it will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 My two younger children and the both of us have passports. We do travel abroad, sometimes on cruises, sometimes not. THe next ones we get for our girls will be the last ones they will get from us. My older will be 19 and my younger will be 16 and they will both then have 10 year passports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhonda in TX Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 I don't know many (any?) people who have them if they don't expect to travel outside the US. I went on a cruise a few years ago and got one then. DH went to Europe 20 years ago and got one, but it has expired. None of our kids have one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nan in Mass Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We all have them. We travel, but even apart from that, we have found them to be very handy. My children used theirs for the SATs, to get their CC id's, to get their driver's licenses, and all the other places where they needed a picture id but didn't have a driver's license yet, or needed two forms of identification, birth certificate and something else. They have been nice for going back and forth to Canada. And mine had to have them for college, so it was nice not to have to do that on top of all the other things they had to do before going. -Nan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuirkyKapers Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We just got passports for the whole family (4 of us). You are right, expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnitaMcC Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 We don't have them. We are considering getting them though as Dh and I do want to go to Scotland (his mom is from Scotland and most of her family is there). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawn in OH Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 We don't have passports. I think my husband did at one point before we were married. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TN Mama Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 We don't have passports, but I think we're getting ready to apply for them. What is the wait time these days? Anyone know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 We have them. Dh is from Europe, and we travel to see his family when we can. Come to think of it, though, I think mine's expired! :001_huh: For an adult, they are good for a decade. If you've taken your children to Europe (youngest is only 2) a few times, you're probably still good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melinda in VT Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 We don't have passports, but I think we're getting ready to apply for them. What is the wait time these days? Anyone know? According to the web site when I filled out forms to renew my three youngest kids' passports on Monday, 4-6 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.