Passport application for minor

[Ianne25 0]

We went to get my son a passport today and the lady at the post office said he needed a social security number, or they would charge us a $500 fee. I know I called the federal department of state help line to ask about this and they said it would be fine, since he's never had an SSN issued to him we could just leave that part blank and include proof of my citizenship instead.

Does anyone know which is correct? Has anyone been through a similar situation?

Thank you in advance.

[Jojo92122 1,924]

We went to get my son a passport today and the lady at the post office said he needed a social security number, or they would charge us a $500 fee. I know I called the federal department of state help line to ask about this and they said it would be fine, since he's never had an SSN issued to him we could just leave that part blank and include proof of my citizenship instead.

Does anyone know which is correct? Has anyone been through a similar situation?

Thank you in advance.

Passport Information : Questions and Answer on US Passports

Do I have to provide my Social Security Number?

Section 6039E of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 6039E) requires you to provide your Social Security Number (SSN), if you have one, when you apply for a U.S. passport or renewal of a U.S. passport. If you have not been issued a SSN, enter zeros in box #5 of the passport application form you are completing. Contact the Social Security Administration to request a Number. If you are residing abroad, you must also provide the name of the foreign country in which you are residing. The U.S. Department of State must provide your SSN and foreign residence information to the Department of Treasury. If you fail to provide the information, you are subject to a $500 penalty enforced by the IRS. All questions on this matter should be directed to the nearest IRS office.

[Ianne25 0]

Yeah that's what I thought, it's only required if he has a SSN, which he doesn't.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Which is why you need to be prepared when you go somewhere.

Now you either go there again with the printout, or you just get junior a SSN which he'll need eventually anyway.

[Ianne25 0]

Sorry I'm a little confused...go where with what print out? From what the DOS and the above posted said, his passport should be fine. That's all we're concerned with. Even the SSA office says we should wait until we have his passport to get his SSN.

[nwctzn 55]

Sorry I'm a little confused...go where with what print out? From what the DOS and the above posted said, his passport should be fine. That's all we're concerned with. Even the SSA office says we should wait until we have his passport to get his SSN.

Yes, you are fine to get his passport without an SSN. If your son was born in the US, it really does not matter if you get first his SSN and then his passport or vice versa. If he was not born in the US, then get first his passport and then apply for SSN so that he is directly getting into the SSA system as a US citizen.

Regarding the printout, the previous poster said get a printout of the following when you go to your passport application so that you can say that you are able to apply without an SSN and that you are not subject to the $500 penalty.

"Section 6039E of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 6039E) requires you to provide your Social Security Number (SSN), if you have one, when you apply for a U.S. passport or renewal of a U.S. passport. If you have not been issued a SSN, enter zeros in box #5 of the passport application form you are completing."

Edited October 23, 2011 by nwctzn

[Ianne25 0]

Yes, you are fine to get his passport without an SSN. If your son was born in the US, it really does not matter if you get first his SSN and then his passport or vice versa. If he was not born in the US, then get first his passport and then apply for SSN so that he is directly getting into the SSA system as a US citizen.

Regarding the printout, the previous poster said get a printout of the following when you go to your passport application so that you can say that you are able to apply without an SSN and that you are not subject to the $500 penalty.

"Section 6039E of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 6039E) requires you to provide your Social Security Number (SSN), if you have one, when you apply for a U.S. passport or renewal of a U.S. passport. If you have not been issued a SSN, enter zeros in box #5 of the passport application form you are completing."

I see, thanks for the clarification. We already submitted the application, the lady at the post office just didn't want to do it because she thought we'd get a $500 fine. I don't think they're very familiar with the different rules around applying for a passport in the post office.

[NickD 203]

Easy to get a SSN if the child was born here, all you need is the childs' birth certificate, was the policy not to get one until you wanted some kind of job so they can withdraw FICA taxes, for menial work, was age 16, but if a screwdriver was part of the job, had to wait until you were 18. Now its recommend to get that SSN shortly after birth. Since my wife was working in patient assistance, to apply for Medicaid benefits for children born here of illegal parents, these newborns had to get an SSN first. Another unrelated example, when my granddaughter was born, my son wanted to start an educational trust fund for her. Since she was only three weeks old, she couldn't go in, my son had to take care of that.

Not knowing the immigration status of this child, but if the child was not born here, need some kind of proof, an EAD or green card before you can even go to an SS offfice. Since our AOS took so long, but my wife and stepdaughter were living with me as dependents, has no problems claiming them on my tax returns without SSN's. But did get those as soon as they received their EAD cards, then again when they received their green cards, then again after they received their US citizen certificates.

Trying to think of a reason why you cannot apply for an SSN for this child, form is simple enough, and its free. If I show up at our SS office at 7:50 AM, wait at the door for about ten minutes, first in line and in and out of there in about two minutes. But do need the application and appropriate proof with me. Ha, they won't accept my beautiful colored copies I made for them, use their dirty old copying machine instead. But at least you walk out with that original proof.

[Anna C. 4]

Slightly OT, but how come he doesn't have a SSN? WHen your child is born whether it's in a hospital or with a homebirth midwife, when you fill out the birth certificate paper work you ususally request a social... It came within 5-7 days after birth for both my children (CO and CA). they'll need it eventually anyways (work), but we need it right away as DEERS/Tricare required it for enrollment. I was under the impression many health plans do?

[Ianne25 0]

Slightly OT, but how come he doesn't have a SSN? WHen your child is born whether it's in a hospital or with a homebirth midwife, when you fill out the birth certificate paper work you ususally request a social... It came within 5-7 days after birth for both my children (CO and CA). they'll need it eventually anyways (work), but we need it right away as DEERS/Tricare required it for enrollment. I was under the impression many health plans do?

Easy to get a SSN if the child was born here, all you need is the childs' birth certificate, was the policy not to get one until you wanted some kind of job so they can withdraw FICA taxes, for menial work, was age 16, but if a screwdriver was part of the job, had to wait until you were 18. Now its recommend to get that SSN shortly after birth. Since my wife was working in patient assistance, to apply for Medicaid benefits for children born here of illegal parents, these newborns had to get an SSN first. Another unrelated example, when my granddaughter was born, my son wanted to start an educational trust fund for her. Since she was only three weeks old, she couldn't go in, my son had to take care of that.

Not knowing the immigration status of this child, but if the child was not born here, need some kind of proof, an EAD or green card before you can even go to an SS offfice. Since our AOS took so long, but my wife and stepdaughter were living with me as dependents, has no problems claiming them on my tax returns without SSN's. But did get those as soon as they received their EAD cards, then again when they received their green cards, then again after they received their US citizen certificates.

Trying to think of a reason why you cannot apply for an SSN for this child, form is simple enough, and its free. If I show up at our SS office at 7:50 AM, wait at the door for about ten minutes, first in line and in and out of there in about two minutes. But do need the application and appropriate proof with me. Ha, they won't accept my beautiful colored copies I made for them, use their dirty old copying machine instead. But at least you walk out with that original proof.

He wasn't born in the U.S., and his birth certificate had to be sent with the passport application, so we will be waiting until we get his passport. As for waiting to get the SSN, we have our reasons. Thanks for the info!