Warden message 08-05

January 31, 2008

The following is a Warden Message issued by the Consulate General of the United States of America in Guayaquil.  The following message contains all of the information available.  Please share it with the American citizens on your warden list, and any other Americans you know, as soon as possible.  It should be disseminated as widely as possible within the American citizen community.  Please contact the American Citizen Services section via e-mail (acsguayaquil@state.gov), fax 232-0904, or telephone 232-3570 if you have any questions.  Thank you very much for your support and assistance.

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Increases to U.S. Passport Fees and
New Parental Signature Requirements for U.S. Minors

On February 1, 2008, the U.S. Government will increase its fees for certain U.S. citizen passport services.  For adult applicants renewing a passport, the total fee will increase to $75.  For first-time applicants age 16 and over, the total fee will increase to $100.  The fee for minors under 16 years of age will be $85. 

Effective February 1, 2008, passport applicants who are U.S. citizen minors under the age of 16 must appear personally with their parents to establish identity, proof of citizenship and proof of relationship.   For parental application permission, both parents must appear together and sign, or one parent may appear to sign and submit the other parent’s notarized statement, or one parent may appear, sign, and submit primary evidence of sole authority.  Minors age 16 and 17 may apply in person with their own identification, but for security reasons, parental consent may be required.  If your child does not have identification of their own, a parent will be required to accompany the child and present identification.

Please refer to the Department of State’s website at www.travel.state.gov for complete information on all new requirements, including downloadable revised forms that must be used as of February 1, and the U.S. Embassy website at ecuador.usembassy.gov or the U.S. Consulate General (Guayaquil) website at guayaquil.usconsulate.gov, for complete U.S. passport application instructions.

Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Embassy’s or U.S. Consulate’s website [ecuador.usembassy.gov or guayaquil.usconsulate.gov respectively] and the U.S. Department of State's travel website at www.travel.state.gov , where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found.  The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to review to "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html , (that’s safety_1747.html) which includes valuable security information for those both living and traveling abroad.  In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

Americans living or traveling in Ecuador are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website, travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Ecuador. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.  Please see the following links for local warden message information in Quito and Guayaquil, respectively, ecuador.usembassy.gov and guayaquil.usconsulate.gov.

The U.S. Embassy in Quito is located at the corner of Avenida 12 de Octubre and Avenida Patria (across from the Casa de la Cultura).  The telephone during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) is (011) 593 2 256 2890 X4561.  For after-hours emergencies use (011) 593 2 256 1749.  The fax is (011) 593 2 256 1-524.  Within the same city use the last seven digits.  Add the city code for intercity telephone calls.  See also the Embassy web site at ecuador.usembassy.gov.
The U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil is located at the corner of Avenida 9 de Octubre and Garcia Moreno (near the Hotel Oro Verde); telephone (011-593-4) 232-3570 during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) or 232-1152 for after-hours emergencies; fax (011-593-4) 232-0904.  See the Consulate General web site at guayaquil.usconsulate.gov.

This e-mail is UNCLASSIFIED based on the definitions provided in E.O. 12958