Hi -

I am traveling to Bonaire in early August, and just discovered I cannot find my Passport (5 year old twins - could be anywhere). Is a certified birth certificate enough ID, or do I need to pay the expedite fees to get a new passport?

I believe a birth certificate with a raised seal will work along with a pictured government ID such as a driver's license. But I would suggest trying to obtain a passport for at least the adults for this trip, security/customs at the airport could hassle you without them...

jiminiŽ

Bruce -

You might give the State Department Web site a look and see if there's any information about the current processing time for passports and/or rules of entry upon returning to the States.

Also, even though it has been a few years, I can tell you that the last time we obtained new passports by applying at the Dallas office on Marsh Lane, we received them in about 10 days. (If you need the exact address, drop me an e-mail directly: chpdfw@gte.net.)

The loss of a passport is a different issue than surrendering an expired one for a new one, I would guess. But it won't be the first time and I'm sure there is a process for getting the new one. Probably addressed on the State Department Web site also.

Might we suggest that you photostat a least one copy of the picture page of your passport and carry it in a separate location from your passport when you travel. Could save you considerable grief in the event of loss of the original. (We also keep a photostat at home.)

First trip to Bonaire?

Charles Poteet
Dallas

Thanks for the info -

Yes, first time to Bonaire, really looking forward to it. Kind of a funny story; my 18 year old daughter is a relatively new diver - she has been to Cozumel twice, since it is relatively cheap and easy (direct flight) from Dallas Cozumel is where I usually go. So this year seh told me she wanted to try someplace else - wanted a new location stamped on her passport (Kids really do have it too easy now days)!! So I booked frequent flyer tickets to Bonaire. Meanwhile, she gets a new out-of-state boyfriend she met at college; and "dumps" dad and diving to see the new boyfriend instead (she only gets a week off from her summer job - tough choice for her). So my brother is going instead - her loss, his gain!.

I went to the Collin County passport office a couple weeks ago to get a replacement - but found out my current birth certificate was a copy (which was OK the last time I got a passport, but not this time) - so had to order a new certified birth certificate from out of state, which just arrived today ( 2 weeks later - thus my angst). I can't process a new passport request until 7 July (traveling on the 5th of August); I am just worried that it won't be back in time. Plus, you have to send the certified birth certificate in with the passport application, so if it is late in arriving, I don't have either a passport or a certified birth certificate (hindsight, should have ordered 2).

I'd pay the expedite fee. I traveled to Bonaire in 2000 on a birth certificate and received major hassles. American Airlines at DFW almost refused to let me on the plane at all. They insisted on contacting immigration in Curacao before allowing me to board. On my return, the U.S. Immigration official was extremely rude and told me flat out to get a passport for any future travel. Although the state department webpage says it's OK, I'd avoid the hassle and get a passport.

Thanks to everyone for the information - my wife found my passport the night before I was going to reapply. I falsely accused my twins, it was in a suitcase pocket; although not the suitcase I used on my last international trip, still not sure how it got there. 26 days and counting!!