Q: How do I renew my child’s United States passport? Do both parents need to be present at the interview?

A: With the dawn of the new year, it is a great time to clean out your to-do list, including renewing passports that might expire in 2016. Applying for your child’s US passport is a simple process that requires the appropriate documentation along with the consent of both parents for children under the age of sixteen.

A DS-11 passport application form needs to be submitted at the time of the interview and can be accessed through the Embassy’s passport webpage:

kingston.usembassy.gov/http/travel/passport/get/outside/outside_5462.html.

Parents are required to present the child’s original birth certificate along with the child’s current passport if they have one. Children with a Consular Report of a Birth Abroad (CRBA) should present this original document as well. Providing photographs which display the child’s age progression will help verify the child’s identity and may be asked for during the interview. The application should also include a passport-sized photo, and children are required to be present for the interview.

Parents listed on the child’s birth documentation will need to present government-issued identification such as a driver’s licence or passport. If both parents live in Jamaica, then it is required to have both parents present at the interview.

If a parent is abroad, then a consent form will need to be submitted. A DS-3053 Statement of Consent can be accessed through our website

(kingston.usembassy.gov/http/travel/passport/get/outside/outside_5462.html) and needs to be signed and notarised along with a notarised copy of the parent’s government-issued identification. Please present the original form during the interview. If both parents are abroad, then a consent form along with notarised copies of their identification need to be presented. A letter granting the child’s guardian permission to apply and sign for the child’s passport is also required. If a parent does not provide consent, then a passport for the child cannot be issued.

Scheduling an appointment for an interview is necessary and can be completed through our website at your convenience. The required forms and fee schedule can also be found online and fees can be paid during your appointment. If all of the necessary documentation is provided during the interview, your child’s US passport will be processed and delivered within seven to 10 business days.

You can find more information about how to travel to the US on our website, www.kingston.usembassy.gov and the website of our authorised service provider at

www.usvisa-info.com. Keep on top of embassy news on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/pages/US-Embassy-Jamaica, and by following @USEmbassyJA on Twitter. We also answer general visa questions on our Facebook and Twitter pages. You do not need to show up earlier than your appointment time.

The embassy staff in Kingston will answer questions you may have regarding the US Mission, including consular law, regulations and/or practice. In order to respect privacy, staff will not answer questions about specific visa applications. The embassy employs a visa appointment system, so it is only necessary for visa applicants to arrive 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment. Send your questions to: editorial@jamaicaobserver.com and we will forward them to the embassy.