passport or form for 6 yr. old?

[rasdave]

We are going to invite my wifes mom and nephew to the U.S (from Ukraine). Ive read a couple places and been told twice now that a 6 yr old kid needs a passport to visit the U.S. My wife is reading all he would need is some sort of form in his grannys passport. My wife also states when she worked in a big company, her boss had this form for his kid in his passport and traveling abroad didnt require a seperate passport for the child. I havent yet called the US Embassy in Kyiv. Has anyone heard of this document for children under 14?

Can anyone please clarify this for us? We are trying to figure it all out so we can get the ball rolling and invite them.

Taken directly from US Embassys website (Kyiv) doesnt state anywhere the child needs a passport:

Important Note About Applying With Children

Children under 14 (that is 13 and younger) do not need to come to the Consular Section in person unless the child is applying for a student visa to study in the U.S.

In all cases involving children under 16, ideally both parents should be present at the visa interview with their passports and the child's birth certificate, in addition to the completed application materials and travel document of the child. In extraordinary circumstances when both parents cannot be present, one of the following is required:

   1. A notarized statement from the missing parent giving permission for the child to travel to the U.S., together with a photocopy of or the original biographic information page and signature page of the parent's internal or international passport; or
   2. A death certificate of the deceased parent; or
   3. Evidence that the parent who is not traveling has been denied parental rights.

[ConnerVT]

Having the "Right of Way" on the highway doesn't keep the 18 wheeler from smashing into you anyway.  What is technically right, and what can really happen are two different things.

Having a valid visa doesn't guarantee someone's right to enter the USA.  It still depends on the individual decision of the Immigrations Officer at the P.O.E.

Ideally, each individual (including children) should have their own international passport with a valid US entry visa.  Children may sometimes be included in the passport of one of their parents.  In this case, the child should be traveling with that parent.  In addition, a notarized letter (with English translation) should also be present in hand, stating permission for the child to travel, signed by the absent parent.

This is the path of least resistance.  Having one of the traveling party in immigration limbo would not be enjoyable by anyone involved.

[jb]

If the kid is traveling with the parent, they can be on the parent's passport.  In this case since, the kid is traveling with his/her grandparent, not a parent, the kiddo will need it's own passport.

[rasdave]

Thats pretty much what I was thinking JB, but my wife is reading grandparents could also be allowed same as parents.

[Wild Orchid*]

Can a grandparent put a grandchild in his/her passport? I’m not so sure about that… Will he go abroad in the future only with his grandmother? Not likely. I would organize his own passport in this case.

[Jet]

Will he go abroad in the future only with his grandmother? Not likely. I would organize his own passport in this case.

They really need to anyway, Ukriane is probably not much different, but Russian kids NEED to haave their own passport by age 7 if there is no photo in parents' / grandparents' passport unless the law has changed again since last spring when we got Kolya's Int'l Passport.

Probably the best way to find out exactly what you need is to contact the Ukrainian Embassy: http://ukraineinfo.us/index2.html

[Wild Orchid*]

It was and is up to the parents. Child has to have his/her own passport  if he is older than 14, before that parent can put kid in his/her passport. But it is always easier to get kid’s own passport. You never know what sort of situation can come. My son was in my passport when we came here, he was 10, and I added him one year later after getting my passport only because that time we had to travel together.

[Jet]

My son was in my passport when we came here, he was 10, and I added him one year later after getting my passport only because that time we had to travel together.

If his photo was in there you were probably fine, but Lil was told by 2 seperate passport control officers, to get the picture installed in her passprt or get him his own as he would not be permitted to enter Russia after his 7th birthday otherwise.

[Wild Orchid*]

If his photo was in there you were probably fine, but Lil was told by 2 seperate passport control officers, to get the picture installed in her passprt or get him his own as he would not be permitted to enter Russia after his 7th birthday otherwise.

that is exactly what I did. I checked my pasport, I got it in 1997, but put my son's photo in it in 1999, few months before our trip to Au. I could get him his own passport, but it was faster and cheaper to put his pic in my passport. Again, I don't think grandparants allowed to do the same.

[rasdave]

Just want to close this case... our wifes mom finally made it to their visa service in Ukraine and found out since she is granny and not the parents, the lil guy will need a passport. If the kids parents were going, then they would be able to add him into their passports. Thanks for the replies here!