We went to get a new passport for our kid the week after the election, *because* of the election results. I also renewed mine extra early, even though it didn't expire for at least two years. I decided not to expedite these applications since we had plenty of time. Mine took 4 weeks. There ended up being an issue with my kid's, though. We turned in the passport, but we did not send the passport card along with it. I didn't even realize we had such a thing, and, of course, had no idea where it might be. So it took a while for us to be notified of the issue and for us to report a lost passport card. The passport finally arrived the Saturday before Inauguration and it was such a relief to have that in hand. I thought I was being overly cautious, but now I regret that we didn't also renew my spouse's, which will expire under this administration.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes I’d renew it. It is a pain, but I keep all 3 of my kids’ up to date. You just never know when it could be needed in some sort of crisis (so incredibly unlikely, but I am a worrier)- or far more likely, an opportunity for a trip will come up and then you will have to scramble around (and when you really need it, of course there will be some sort of delay or issue….right? lol). just easier to renew when not under a time crunch, and keep it up to date.

Would love to hear more about a crisis in which it's severe enough that you decide to leave the country, but at the same time whether you have a passport in your hand matters....

NP. If you have a relative living or traveling abroad, you might all need to leave immediately if they are dying or to go to the funeral.

Fair, although I think the relatively small percentage of people in this situation (especially a close relative living abroad- that would be what max 10% of Americans?) would generally always have valid passports. OP didn't seem to be in this situation.

Saying that as someone who had a close family member living abroad for a while because of marriage- and the spouse died during covid travel restrictions. It was awful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes I’d renew it. It is a pain, but I keep all 3 of my kids’ up to date. You just never know when it could be needed in some sort of crisis (so incredibly unlikely, but I am a worrier)- or far more likely, an opportunity for a trip will come up and then you will have to scramble around (and when you really need it, of course there will be some sort of delay or issue….right? lol). just easier to renew when not under a time crunch, and keep it up to date.

Would love to hear more about a crisis in which it's severe enough that you decide to leave the country, but at the same time whether you have a passport in your hand matters....

NP. If you have a relative living or traveling abroad, you might all need to leave immediately if they are dying or to go to the funeral.

We got both of our kids new passports. If you fill out all the paperwork online and get their pictures taken before hand at CVS or the like, the actual appointment at the Post Office took less than 15 minutes.

Yes it was annoying to find a time during Post Office hours we could all go, but it was well worth it.

Anonymous wrote:Yes I’d renew it. It is a pain, but I keep all 3 of my kids’ up to date. You just never know when it could be needed in some sort of crisis (so incredibly unlikely, but I am a worrier)- or far more likely, an opportunity for a trip will come up and then you will have to scramble around (and when you really need it, of course there will be some sort of delay or issue….right? lol). just easier to renew when not under a time crunch, and keep it up to date.

Would love to hear more about a crisis in which it's severe enough that you decide to leave the country, but at the same time whether you have a passport in your hand matters....

Yes I’d renew it. It is a pain, but I keep all 3 of my kids’ up to date. You just never know when it could be needed in some sort of crisis (so incredibly unlikely, but I am a worrier)- or far more likely, an opportunity for a trip will come up and then you will have to scramble around (and when you really need it, of course there will be some sort of delay or issue….right? lol). just easier to renew when not under a time crunch, and keep it up to date.

Anonymous wrote:10000000% everyone’s passport should be up to date at any given moment. Also have $1000 in cash in your freezer. I am not a conspiracy theorist but I have been alive and read history. These low hanging fruit logistics are just smart to have covered

$1000 is not going to get you much…

Well, I would definitely go get a passport now. Who knows what kinds of delays will happen due to federal workforce shakeup.

I'd get the passport renewed now. It makes it easy to do an international trip on short notice, even if its to an all inclusive in Mexico or the Caribbean, Mexico, or visiting a cool city in Canada. Additionally, passport wait times aren't too bad right now. If there are staffing challenges at the State Department there could be massive backlogs (this was the case during covid and it lasted up until a couple years ago).

If there is some sort of wacky citizenship stuff that comes out of the Trump admin. the State Department can and will cancel people's passports. However that process will take time. It's best to have the document in hand.

Of course, if you just want proof of citizenship and don't need the passport, a passport card should do the trick. The application process is the same, but it's cheaper. The card has less utility than the actual passport (only valid for land and sea border crossings to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and some Caribbean jurisdictions). The card isn't valid for international air travel, but does serve as proof of citizenship and identity.

Anonymous wrote:We got my daughter a passport when she was 3 to go to Jamaica. It is past the 5 years so it’s now expired….

We are not planning any international travel for the next few years but I’m wondering if we should renew it anyway. Parent passports are up to date….

Call me a conspiracy theorist but I feel like it might be a good idea with everything going on in the world. But I know it’s a big hassle to get a child passport since both parents have to go to sign off.

What are other folks doing?

Do it now.

The only family members who don’t have one are my parents because they are in their 80s with health issues too complex to GTFO. For example, my mom could die instantly if she falls.

Anonymous wrote:We got my daughter a passport when she was 3 to go to Jamaica. It is past the 5 years so it’s now expired….

We are not planning any international travel for the next few years but I’m wondering if we should renew it anyway. Parent passports are up to date….

Call me a conspiracy theorist but I feel like it might be a good idea with everything going on in the world. But I know it’s a big hassle to get a child passport since both parents have to go to sign off.

What are other folks doing?

Do you have other kids? If so, it’s very convenient to have them on the same renewal schedule. We renewed one kid’s passport very early to get him on the same schedule as our other kid. If not, I would still renew. You never know, and it will save you the bother of having to do it before your next trip.

I would anticipate lots of delays and bottlenecks with all the hiring freezes and firings. So whatever you do, anticipate it taking longer than normal.

Anonymous wrote:If there is any way anyone might question their citizenship, get the passport renewed. It’s the cheapest way to prove citizenship. Also for applying to college, it’s important to have that proof.

OPs kid is 8. Doubt they’re going to college anytime soon

If there is any way anyone might question their citizenship, get the passport renewed. It’s the cheapest way to prove citizenship. Also for applying to college, it’s important to have that proof.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure if it has changed with the new administration, but we renewed two kid passports in early January and got the new ones less than 2 weeks later (paid to expedite). Fastest turnaround I’ve ever had!

DP. Good to know. I’m renewing 2 of my kids passports now since they expire next month. Im still debating holding off on the 15 year olds until he’s 16 in a few months so I can get the 10 year vs 5 year. We have no set plans but *may* need it in July/August.

I would wait until he is 16- always do small things now to make future administrative stuff easier. Not only would he get 10 years on it, but since it will be an adult passport he can renew it online in 10 years. If it's a child passport it will need to be redone in person in 5 years as the first adult passport.

Also only 1 parent need to go for a 16 year old.

That’s why I was considering holding off. My now 20 year old has to renew too but my 21 year old doesn’t because she was 16 last time.