Im looking at geting my first adult passport but I have some problems that make it hard. First problem is I dont have acesses to my birth certificate(my parents have it and i cant get it from them rather not go into more detail) Ive looked at geting a replacement birth certificate but im sure if that is valid for a passport application. Second problem is I had a passport when I was a child that I last used I think 13 years ago when I was ten. I also dont have acesses to that passport and im not sure If I should say on the application that it was lost or just not mention it at all. If I do mention it was lost will there be any record of the countries it was used in? The last country it was used in was abu dubai(mostly lived over there up to the age of ten because my dad was a personal pilot for some rich guy) and im worried since its an arab country it might raise red flags. Then again since my family has been in the us for generations and I scream aryan with light skin,blue eyes, and blond hair and I was born in the us in the state/county im currently living in maybee it will not.
Reply to this Hi Bob -
First, yes, you can get a US passport with a replacement birth certificate - it just needs to be a certified replacement with a raised seal, not a photocopy. Contact the Office of Vital Records in the state that you were born and they should be able to process and send you one suitable for passport purposes. Andras had to do this and we had no problems - it just takes a little extra time.
Second, even though your old passport is probably invalid anyway, you should mention that you used to have one and now you don't have access to it because they'll cancel it so that no one else can find it and use it. Losing a passport doesn't affect your ability to have a new one, but lying on a passport application form does, and you do have to answer whether or not you've been issued a passport in the past, where your old one is and/or why you don't have it anymore.
Third, traveling to the middle-east as a child shouldn't raise red flags. I don't know if they have electronic records of travels 13 years ago, but if anyone asks why you were there just say "My dad was a pilot for some rich guy in Dubai." If the government suspected you of illicit activity in connection with the mid-east based on your previous travels rest assured they would already be watching you 😉
You'll have to apply in person anyway because you were under 16 when your last passport was issued so they'll be someone there to answer questions you have at the time of submission, but don't let these possible issues prevent you from applying for one because it will probably be easier than you think.
Reply to this Does anyone know if applying for a passport would affect current unemployment benefits that are being received? We live in Florida
[Edited: 2012 Aug 15 21:03 - annie429:247341 ]
Reply to this Don't know why you would think the two were connected. Any US citizen has a right to a passport irregardless of employment status. You can apply at most Post Offices...they can answer any questions you have.
Reply to this Thank you for your reply. I didn't think they were connected but needed someone elses opinion to back up what I thought :o) I turned in my paperwork Thursday to apply for mine and verified with them also and they also clarified that the check that is done when applying for a passport is mainly to make sure you do not have a warrant out for your arrest, that you don't owe taxes or child support, etc. Has nothing to do with your employment status. Have a great weekend and thanks again.
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