Traveling with just one parent

[Matt]

I'm solo traveling to the UK with my Son in August, we will be meeting up with momma in London and flying home together. I hadn't thought of this, but there is some validity to the notion that such travel might cause red flags with immigration (due to abduction risk etc). While I think I'll get away with it due to privilege, its an interesting topic, and I'll get my note.

Here's the guidance from CBP. Has anyone encountered this first hand?

Children - Child traveling with one parent or someone who is not a parent or legal guardian or a group

If a child (under the age of 18) is traveling with only one parent or someone who is not a parent or legal guardian, what paperwork should the adult have to indicate permission or legal authority to have that child in their care?

Due to the increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and as possible victims of child pornography, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, the adult have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, friends, or in groups*, a note signed by both parents) stating "I acknowledge that my wife/husband/etc. is traveling out of the country with my son/daughter/group. He/She/They has/have my permission to do so." See our Q&A parental consent.

* School groups, teen tours, vacation groups.

CBP also suggests that this note be notarized.

While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if we do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed. If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.) any other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc., would be useful.

Adults traveling with children should also be aware that, while the U.S. does not require this documentation, many other countries do; failure to produce notarized permission letters and/or birth certificates could result in travelers being refused entry (Canada has very strict requirements in this regard).

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[CWAL]

During a return flight from Belize last year, we witnessed a family forced to board our flight by Belize Immigration. The mother was in absolute hysterics and having a complete fit, while the father was completely calm. The kids seemed pretty unfazed.

From what I overheard, it was a problem with both parents each having children from a previous marriage, and not having documentation that satisfied Belize. Don't know how it turned out in the end, but it certainly ruined the first day or two of their vacation.

 

[incendia]

I'm solo traveling to the UK with my Son in August, we will be meeting up with momma in London and flying home together. I hadn't thought of this, but there is some validity to the notion that such travel might cause red flags with immigration (due to abduction risk etc). While I think I'll get away with it due to privilege, its an interesting topic, and I'll get my note.

Here's the guidance from CBP. Has anyone encountered this first hand?

Children - Child traveling with one parent or someone who is not a parent or legal guardian or a group

If a child (under the age of 18) is traveling with only one parent or someone who is not a parent or legal guardian, what paperwork should the adult have to indicate permission or legal authority to have that child in their care?

Due to the increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and as possible victims of child pornography, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, the adult have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, friends, or in groups*, a note signed by both parents) stating "I acknowledge that my wife/husband/etc. is traveling out of the country with my son/daughter/group. He/She/They has/have my permission to do so." See our Q&A parental consent.

* School groups, teen tours, vacation groups.

CBP also suggests that this note be notarized.

While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if we do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed. If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.) any other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc., would be useful.

Adults traveling with children should also be aware that, while the U.S. does not require this documentation, many other countries do; failure to produce notarized permission letters and/or birth certificates could result in travelers being refused entry (Canada has very strict requirements in this regard).

If you wish to receive automatic updates to this Q&A, select "Subscribe to Updates" on the left side of this screen.

This is for entering the US you should check with UK Customs what paperwork they need, but a notarized letter from the baby's mother will probably be enough.

If you are traveling on a UK passport and the baby is traveling on a US passport that might be red flag also

 

[Stuck in KC]

I dealt with this for years. I had passports and certified birth certificates for both kids and a legal document from our attorney saying I had custody and full rights to make decisions for my children prior to their turning 18. I had trouble leaving the USA on several occasions, to the Latin American countries primarily. Also could not go to egypt. My older son could not go to cancan for his senior class trip CB the airline would not allow him to check in on just my word and paperwork. I would not take this lightly. I believe you can get into Britain and France easily if you can get out of the US. There is a form available on line to get notarized and a website about what you need. Also make sure your child knows the answers to the questions they will be asking.

 

[smittytabb]

One of my sons who played soccer competitively played in tournaments in Europe. I always went with the group and so did some of the other parents. Several of the kids he played with had parents from other countries or dual nationals. I recall one time the entire group being held up coming back into the U.S. because of this issue for one of the players traveling with just his mother. If you are a different nationality than your wife, you are more likely to have an issue with this so getting all the documentation is a really good idea.

 

[BuddyFunJet]

Along with the border issues, medical treatment authorizations are important, particularly if you aren't a parent. When traveling with our grandchildren domestically, we take copies of their birth certificates and signed/notarized treatment authorizations from both parents. If something bad happened, I wouldn't want to burn time finding the parents.

 

[Matt]

This is for entering the US you should check with UK Customs what paperwork they need, but a notarized letter from the baby's mother will probably be enough.

If you are traveling on a UK passport and the baby is traveling on a US passport that might be red flag also

In my case, I'm probably going to be fine, since he has both UK and US, and I can talk my way through it, I'm just surprised that this came up and wondered if others had considered it. I'll get the notarization regardless, as it isn't a high barrier.

 

[Matt]

Also make sure your child knows the answers to the questions they will be asking.

Reminds me of my Green Card interview - wife was asked how/when we met and she literally started choking, turned beet red, and couldn't talk for several minutes.

 

[GettingReady]

In 2000, our 8 year old son and I spent a month in Israel. It was with a group of people considering making Aliyah. I need all sorts of notorized papers from my husband.

 

[GettingReady]

Reminds me of my Green Card interview - wife was asked how/when we met and she literally started choking, turned beet red, and couldn't talk for several minutes.

Forgot to prep her, hunh? Or did she want to forget? Okay, how DID you meet?

 

[Matt]

Forgot to prep her, hunh? Or did she want to forget? Okay, how DID you meet?

We met in a bar on a cruise ship, perfectly normally... I think she was just trying to keep me running scared.

 

[MickiSue]

We went to Tulum with three of our kids when the youngest was 16. I'd checked beforehand, and there was nothing written about a child traveling without the other parent (I was married before). So we had all our IDs, three of us had passports, the two youngest had their birth certs (all that was necessary at the time.)

At 5 am, at the NWA elite desk, we were told that we were required to have a notarized statement from the other parent. As we were trying to figure out the mess, I muttered to Husband, "I should have told her he was dead." The CSR overheard me and said, "We'd need a notarized copy of the death certificate."

We called the kids' dad. He lived less than 10 minutes from the airport. Started to berate me, I handed phone to son who just said, "Please, Dad. I really want to go to Mexico." An hour and a half later, and 20 minutes after the flight had left, he arrived. Luckily the NWA notary was there, as well.

We all were booked on a flight through a different city, and made it.

At no time, in MX, were we asked for any information demonstrating that I had permission from ex to take Son out of the country.

Matt, whatever you do, get that sucker done, and get it notarized.

 

[SanDiego1K]

A friend was headed to Mexico with her daughter. She was not allowed to board without documentation from her husband, the girl's father. She had to track him down at a beach volleyball game, find a notary, and return to the airport.

 

[expat]

I flew to the UK with my 2 year old daughter in April, I'm a Brit and she is a dual citizen. I got the wife to write a letter for me just in case but did not get it notarized. As my daughter has both a US and UK passport I was not very concerned.
I was never questioned in the US or UK about the missing mother.

 

[MickiSue]

Expat, that's just luck. The fact that it didn't happen doesn't mean that they would have accepted a non-notarized letter, had it happened.

Just as Walmart clerks abuse the little authority they have, so can airline clerks.

 

[Barb]

I have traveled frequently with our son and/or daughter alone when they were minors. I always brought a notarized letter from my husband indicating his knowledge and approval of the trip. I have been asked for the letter some of the time, not all. My son was pulled aside by US Immigration when he was about 15 and asked if I was actually his mother. Thankfully he said "yes"! My advice is to never travel without appropriate documentation.

 

[JerLon]

I deal with this frequently (living close to the Canadian border) in family events and as a school administrator. The letter (written by one or both parents) has always sufficed. Going to Canada with son, they've never requested this. On school trips, they always ask.