Parent flying with child AND unrelated child internationally
Apr 15, 2012, 3:26 pm
#16
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I've never heard of anyone not being allowed to board with a baby. I was assured by the U.S. Consulate that once my husband and I signed, either of us could travel alone with our children and we have both done this, many times.
Sometimes the destination country wants a letter from the absent parent. This is another matter but I'm not aware that any EU country requires one. I know that Mexico, Canada and Chile do. Don't just write any letter. Find out exactly what specifications the country wants (language, notarized, etc.) but I've flown in and out of several EU countries including the U.K. by myself with our kids and no one ever asked for a letter and nothing was mentioned on their immigration sites. I checked.
Sometimes the destination country wants a letter from the absent parent. This is another matter but I'm not aware that any EU country requires one. I know that Mexico, Canada and Chile do. Don't just write any letter. Find out exactly what specifications the country wants (language, notarized, etc.) but I've flown in and out of several EU countries including the U.K. by myself with our kids and no one ever asked for a letter and nothing was mentioned on their immigration sites. I checked.
I really don't see why countries that are party to an international treaty against child abduction should make a fuss about such letters when dealing with nationals of another country party to such treaty. .... and yet some still ask for such letters anyway. The irony is that creating a fuss about such matters (as Canada does often) can create custody violations that would not arise if the passengers weren't hassled for not having letters.
Apr 15, 2012, 6:48 pm
#17
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Duh, a court order = letter
Apr 15, 2012, 7:29 pm
#18
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"Duh?" 
You are very much mistaken if you think a "court order = letter" in terms of what one has the authority to do. A court order grants one parent absolute authority to determine where the child may live, travel, etc. and the right to obtain a passport without the consent of the other parent. A letter from a parent sharing custody gives permission for the other parent to travel with the child.
You are very much mistaken if you think a "court order = letter" in terms of what one has the authority to do. A court order grants one parent absolute authority to determine where the child may live, travel, etc. and the right to obtain a passport without the consent of the other parent. A letter from a parent sharing custody gives permission for the other parent to travel with the child.
Apr 16, 2012, 6:34 am
#20
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"Duh?"
You are very much mistaken if you think a "court order = letter" in terms of what one has the authority to do. A court order grants one parent absolute authority to determine where the child may live, travel, etc. and the right to obtain a passport without the consent of the other parent. A letter from a parent sharing custody gives permission for the other parent to travel with the child.
You are very much mistaken if you think a "court order = letter" in terms of what one has the authority to do. A court order grants one parent absolute authority to determine where the child may live, travel, etc. and the right to obtain a passport without the consent of the other parent. A letter from a parent sharing custody gives permission for the other parent to travel with the child.
You are being anal (no offense). A letter DOES = court order. Vida infra
Emma69. You need birth certificate indicating single parent. Vida infra
Both parents must provide consent authorizing passport issuance for a minor under age 16. See the scenarios below, and follow the instruction that best applies to your circumstance:
Both Parents MUST:
Appear in person with the minor
Sign Form DS-11 in front of an Acceptance Agent
.
One Parent MUST:
.
Appear in person with the minor
Sign Form DS-11 in front of an Acceptance Agent
Submit the second parents' notarized Statement of Consent (Form DS-3053)
.
One Parent
(with sole legal custody)
MUST:
.
Appear in person with the minor
Sign Form DS-11 in front of an Acceptance Agent
Submit primary evidence of sole authority to apply for the child with one of the following:
Minor's certified U.S. or foreign birth certificate listing only the applying parent
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) or Certification of Birth Abroad (Form DS-1350) listing only the applying parent
Court order granting sole custody to the applying parent (unless child's travel is restricted by that order)
Adoption decree (if applying parents is sole adopting parent)
Court order specifically permitting applying parent's or guardian's travel with the child
Judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent
Death certificate of non-applying parent
NOTE: If none of the above documentation is available, the applying parent must submit Form DS-3053 stating why the non-applying parent/guardian's consent cannot be obtained
Both Parents MUST:
Appear in person with the minor
Sign Form DS-11 in front of an Acceptance Agent
.
One Parent MUST:
.
Appear in person with the minor
Sign Form DS-11 in front of an Acceptance Agent
Submit the second parents' notarized Statement of Consent (Form DS-3053)
.
One Parent
(with sole legal custody)
MUST:
.
Appear in person with the minor
Sign Form DS-11 in front of an Acceptance Agent
Submit primary evidence of sole authority to apply for the child with one of the following:
Minor's certified U.S. or foreign birth certificate listing only the applying parent
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) or Certification of Birth Abroad (Form DS-1350) listing only the applying parent
Court order granting sole custody to the applying parent (unless child's travel is restricted by that order)
Adoption decree (if applying parents is sole adopting parent)
Court order specifically permitting applying parent's or guardian's travel with the child
Judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent
Death certificate of non-applying parent
NOTE: If none of the above documentation is available, the applying parent must submit Form DS-3053 stating why the non-applying parent/guardian's consent cannot be obtained
Apr 16, 2012, 11:15 pm
#21
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Vide infra
A letter from the other parent does not equal a court order.
A parent traveling with a minor child with an unknown and/or deceased father does not generally need to travel with a birth certificate for the child. [People should not confuse (a) that which the US may require to issue a passport to a US citizen child with (b) that which a foreign government may accept at a port of entry.]
My auto-correct.
Last edited by GUWonder; Apr 17, 2012 at 9:03 am
Apr 17, 2012, 5:53 am
#22
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...Just like a country can require a visa to enter, in addition to a passport (children and adults alike).
Single parents who went the donor route usually know what's needed document-wise. They're usually well-informed and this has been the situation all along (no documented father). Same with single adoptive parents. The single parents who run into problems are usually in a situation where the other parent is absent, often for quite awhile, and they can't track them down.
I was raised by a single parent but since my father passed away, it was easy to document.
Single parents who went the donor route usually know what's needed document-wise. They're usually well-informed and this has been the situation all along (no documented father). Same with single adoptive parents. The single parents who run into problems are usually in a situation where the other parent is absent, often for quite awhile, and they can't track them down.
I was raised by a single parent but since my father passed away, it was easy to document.
Apr 20, 2012, 2:32 pm
#23
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Do other countries birth certificates look as though someone whipped it up on a laser printer at home? I've always wondered about my short form birth certificate, whether anyone outside the UK would think it was 'real' (and the same goes for marriage certificates too from the UK!)
Apr 23, 2012, 4:14 am
#24
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Do other countries birth certificates look as though someone whipped it up on a laser printer at home? I've always wondered about my short form birth certificate, whether anyone outside the UK would think it was 'real' (and the same goes for marriage certificates too from the UK!)
Aug 26, 2012, 5:12 pm
#25
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,734
What's your personal experience in international travel with a child of whom you have sole legal custody? My experience, both leaving and re-entering the U.S. is that border agents tell me they want to see a court order stating custody as well as a passport. No government agency is obligated to respect a letter from a private party, but they are obligated to respect/comply with orders of the courts, IME experience, agents of a foreign government respect the orders concerning custody of the U.S. courts. There are some who do not, Japan and Iran come to mind, but most do.
I don't see a source for the quote you post, which I find interesting if you are trying to use it to prove a point.
Aug 27, 2012, 4:23 am
#26
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BeatCal, haven't bothered to look at this thread for several months but now that I have, I see you continue your habits of insults and errors.
What's your personal experience in international travel with a child of whom you have sole legal custody? My experience, both leaving and re-entering the U.S. is that border agents tell me they want to see a court order stating custody as well as a passport. No government agency is obligated to respect a letter from a private party, but they are obligated to respect/comply with orders of the courts, IME experience, agents of a foreign government respect the orders concerning custody of the U.S. courts. There are some who do not, Japan and Iran come to mind, but most do.
I don't see a source for the quote you post, which I find interesting if you are trying to use it to prove a point.
What's your personal experience in international travel with a child of whom you have sole legal custody? My experience, both leaving and re-entering the U.S. is that border agents tell me they want to see a court order stating custody as well as a passport. No government agency is obligated to respect a letter from a private party, but they are obligated to respect/comply with orders of the courts, IME experience, agents of a foreign government respect the orders concerning custody of the U.S. courts. There are some who do not, Japan and Iran come to mind, but most do.
I don't see a source for the quote you post, which I find interesting if you are trying to use it to prove a point.
Aug 27, 2012, 8:08 am
#27
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To re-enter the US as a US citizen with minors who are US citizens too sharing the same family name? If so, that experience to re-enter is better described as more the exception than the norm.
Feb 21, 2014, 8:35 am
#28
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Updating this thread with a recent experience.
Last week, I took my daughter and her friend to London. We were asked for nothing but our passports while leaving the US. At passport control at Heathrow, I had to present the notarized permission to travel letter signed by both the friend's parents, and my husband's death certificate.
Had a nice chat with the agent who told me they take child abduction very seriously, and if I had tried to enter w/o this documentation, they may have attempted to call the friend's parents to obtain permission, or she could have been refused entry and sent back home.
For reference, these are young teenagers. I was not asked to present anything when leaving the UK or re-entering the US.
Last week, I took my daughter and her friend to London. We were asked for nothing but our passports while leaving the US. At passport control at Heathrow, I had to present the notarized permission to travel letter signed by both the friend's parents, and my husband's death certificate.
Had a nice chat with the agent who told me they take child abduction very seriously, and if I had tried to enter w/o this documentation, they may have attempted to call the friend's parents to obtain permission, or she could have been refused entry and sent back home.
For reference, these are young teenagers. I was not asked to present anything when leaving the UK or re-entering the US.