US TRAVELLERS with children are affected by further US Department of State regulations that will clearly have a detrimental effect on tourism to North America. All minors applying for a US passport must now appear in person when making the application. Whilst Washington must be commended in implementing this new requirement designed to help in the prevention of international child abduction and trafficking, for a great many people trying to get their children to Grosvenor Square may prove one step too many. You can”t even get a friend to take them. Effective immediately, minors under the age of 14 must be accompanied by at least one parent when a passport application is filed on their behalf. Both parents are required to submit documentation of parental relationship and consent, as well as comply with all other documentary requirements for the issuance of a passport. If only one parent can be present, the other parent must sign a statement of consent authorizing the passport issuance for the child. In the case of a parent with sole custody over a child under the age of 14, the parent must accompany the child and submit primary evidence of sole custody or legal guardianship. The new regulations also require that all applicants under the age of 18 must apply for a US passport in person, including all applicants aged 14 to 17. From September onwards all British visitors to the US will have to be fingerprinted and photographed before entering the country.
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_web/acs/forms/childstate.pdf