Children's Passports and Custody

[Littleprincess2010]

I've got sole custody, but joint guardianship and Im wondering if anyone has had a problem with taking their child to the US (By car) without a passport?

 

[4luvofthemouse]

I'm in the same situation. We live in a border city and we cross all the time, do most of my shopping over there. I have never had any problems crossing with my DD (knock on wood). We just use her birth certificate, no questions asked about the passport because she is under 16. I do carry the custody papers with me just in case.
I know there is a form you can get that you and the other parent can fill out allowing for travel into another country. I don't have a link for it, maybe someone else can help with that.
But like I said we cross all the time and never have any issues.

 

[Littleprincess2010]

Thank you so much 4luvofthemouse, that makes me feel much better. I did take her to the states about 3 years ago but since then the rules have changed and adults need passports, even for land travel, so I wasn't sure if kids had to have the same.

 

[sjsjbrook]

I have sole custody of my daughter, I have never been asked for my custody papers but I always carry them.


I am so happy that she will be 16 on our next trip, I won't need to carry my papers anymore.

If you do decide to get a passport for your child in the future, the other parent must sign the form(which for me that last time was a pain seeing as the two of them were no longer speaking), and have a copy of the long form of the birth certificate (they won't always ask for it, but in the past two months I have had three friends turned away from the passport officed because they didn't have the long form), and have your custody papers.

 

[Littleprincess2010]

I have sole custody of my daughter, I have never been asked for my custody papers but I always carry them.


I am so happy that she will be 16 on our next trip, I won't need to carry my papers anymore.

If you do decide to get a passport for your child in the future, the other parent must sign the form(which for me that last time was a pain seeing as the two of them were no longer speaking), and have a copy of the long form of the birth certificate (they won't always ask for it, but in the past two months I have had three friends turned away from the passport officed because they didn't have the long form), and have your custody papers.

Thank you, I've got the long form already, its the signature from my ex that Im concerned about. He's a little spitefull that Im taking her to Disneyland, but even if I wanted him to come (which I dont) he has a DUI conviction from 2008 and Im pretty sure they don't allow people with a criminal record into the U.S.

He's supposed to sign the papers next week so Im crossing my fingers that all goes well After that Im hoping he'll sign a consent letter with the lawyer so I can get it notarized and hopefully that will cover all my bases The stress of not knowing if I can get a passport or getting stopped at the border because she doesnt have one is making it a little hard for me to enjoy the planning right now. I can't wait for next week to be over

 

[sjsjbrook]

Thank you, I've got the long form already, its the signature from my ex that Im concerned about. He's a little spitefull that Im taking her to Disneyland, but even if I wanted him to come (which I dont) he has a DUI conviction from 2008 and Im pretty sure they don't allow people with a criminal record into the U.S.

He's supposed to sign the papers next week so Im crossing my fingers that all goes well After that Im hoping he'll sign a consent letter with the lawyer so I can get it notarized and hopefully that will cover all my bases The stress of not knowing if I can get a passport or getting stopped at the border because she doesnt have one is making it a little hard for me to enjoy the planning right now. I can't wait for next week to be over

There is a form you can get from the passport office that you can fill out if you can't get him to sign the forms. It involves writing down the times you have asked him to sign and he hasn't. My sister had to do this, it is a little more work for you but in the end it is easier.

If you have sole custody you do not need his permission to leave the country with your child, just make sure you have your custody agreement, and all your childs documentation with you.

Don't get too stressed out, there are lots of us out there that have annoying (nice way of saying it) ex's

 

[Littleprincess2010]

Thank you so much sjsjbrook, I had no idea that the passport office had a form I could file. I was going to file a notice of motion in court and hope that the judges order would be enough for the passport office, but this would be much easier. I have emails from him saying that he'll sign the passport if I do certain things for him which, after talking to our mediator, I learned that this is coercion and is illegal.

Thanks again for your help, I will post back once I get it all sorted