New rules for parental consent

Beginning February 1, 2008, U.S. Department of State regulations extend the two-parent/guardian consent requirement to all minors under the age of 16. The raising of the age requirement from 14 to 16 is intended to protect children from abduction, and to address concerns regarding runaway children.

New fee schedule

Beginning February 1, 2008, the Department of State will institute a new fee schedule for passport services. The security surcharge of the passport application fee is being increased from $12 to $20 to cover the cost of providing efficient and secure passport services including infrastructure, technology and staff. The Passport Execution fee collected by passport acceptance centers and U.S. consular sections abroad is being reduced from $30 to $25. The new total fees will be:

• $75 for a mail-in application (Form DS-82);
• $100 for adults and minors age 16 and 17 in-person (Form DS-11); and,
• $85 for a minor under age 16 (Form DS-11).

At this time applicants will also have the option of ordering a new Passport Card, a low cost, limited use (land and sea only) alternative to the Passport Book designed for those living along the U.S. border. The U.S. passport card may only be used for international travel by land or sea between the United States and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. It cannot be used for travel between the United States and Europe.

New forms and new information on applying for a Passport and Passport Card will be available February 1 at http://travel.state.gov/passport.