A message from the Consul General in Paris to the local AWC:

"We would like to mention new legislation concerning passports for children. Alarmed at the incidence of parental child abduction in the United States, Congress passed legislation on 29 November 1999 that will require both parents’ signatures, taken in person and under oath, on a passport application for a child under age 14. This covers both first time passports and renewals. While the intent is laudable, the inconvenience of getting both parents, in person, to the embassy / consulate to sign the application may be significant for some families. The targeted implementation date is September 1, 2000."

[WebEditor Note: Please check with the Consul General in Hamburg, at Alsterufer 27-28, on the west bank of the Aussen Alster, telephone (040) 41 17 10 or check their website http://www.USEmbassy.de or http://www.US-Botschaft.de to verify the status of this law and its implementation.]