Custodial parent need "permission" to take child on cruise?

[PoohJen]

I know I've seen similar threads, but...remind me please!

My friend has full custody of her son, and will be joining us on our August Western. The boy has a passport. Does she need any documentation to bring her son on the cruise, whether formal or informal, showings Dad's "permission"?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Flagger]

Yes. It may never be asked for, but you need it any time you exit the country.

 

[repeatcruiser]

Yes - you will need a notorized affidavit from the other parent consenting to the child leaving the country. I think this was put in place in response to a few high profile parent abduction cases in the late 70's and early 80's (I think Sally Fields was in a movie about one of the cases).

You can get this done for free at AAA if you are a member.

 

[J&B_Disney]

Yes --- I'm Canadian but I imagine our laws concerning this are similar to yours.

I travel with a "Statutory Declaration" from my lawyer along with notarized copies of my divorce papers. The declaration states I have full custody, don't know where the other parent is, etc, etc.

I have had no issues leaving Canada and going to the US or on our Disney Cruise. I've been checked once - the customs agent thoroughly read through everything I had. The next time I stated I had this letter from the lawyer but the custom agent didn't ask to actually see it. Before heading to Europe next summer I'll be checking beforehand to see if this is sufficient with the other countries we're visiting.

Better to be safe than sorry! It would be absolutely horrible to be leaving for a vacation and be denied at Customs.

 

[Dznyjenn]

I have full custody of my kids. Paragraph even states that I have full-decision making power.

I called Disney document desk, and she thought it was amusing that I was worried. She said "If you have full custody, you don't need permission..they're YOUR kids.." She suggested that I bring the copy of the custody arrangements.

There's no way my ex would sign anything. He just wouldn't. Hence the reason he's my EX. I would love to say that all divorces are civil, and matters of the children can be discussed calmly and rationally..but my ex doesn't work that way. Everything I do is a "grab" for his money..even when I offer to take LESS child support....(long story) it's a "grab" for his money. Somehow, my wanting to take the kids on a cruise would be all about him and his money.... It's sad, really....he hasn't had them out for his visitation since 2003. He gets no say in anything anymore after that kind of abandonment.

 

[DVCDebb]

I called the Mexican Embassy and was told as long as I had a passport it was fine because of the fact you have to get permission anymore to get passport. But it never hurts to be sure if you have the order bring it just in case.

 

[repeatcruiser]

My experience with this issue is limited to one trip my wife took with my duaghter to Europe. She was asked for the affidavit at customs. We have joint custody (as we are married), so she needed my "permission" to take her out of the country (so said customs).

In the situation where there is no joint custody, then it would seem that the "permission" has already been granted by the courts - in that case, the custody papers would seem to serve the same purpose as the affidavit.

I'm sure that INS could tell you specifically what is needed in each case.

 

[erin1998]

Hi everyone,
I am so happy someone else has asked this question. I am also a single parent with full custody and a court order stating so. It also states that I am able to leave the country (we live in Canada) for vacation purposes only. My son has a passport for that purpose as well. However, my ex husband has visitation, although he rarely comes to visit. I was told by Disney that I still needed a notorized letter stating that I have legal guardianship of my son. I am confused about that because I have a legal court order signed by a Judge stating that I have custody. I look forward to reading everyone's responses to this thread to see if they have had any issues in their travels.
Erin

 

[J&B_Disney]

Hi everyone,
I am so happy someone else has asked this question. I am also a single parent with full custody and a court order stating so. It also states that I am able to leave the country (we live in Canada) for vacation purposes only. My son has a passport for that purpose as well. However, my ex husband has visitation, although he rarely comes to visit. I was told by Disney that I still needed a notorized letter stating that I have legal guardianship of my son. I am confused about that because I have a legal court order signed by a Judge stating that I have custody. I look forward to reading everyone's responses to this thread to see if they have had any issues in their travels.
Erin

Hi Erin,

Check out http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/before/children_travel-en.asp for travelling out of Canada with children.

I've had a letter (from my lawyer, not my ex) the 2 times I've travelled out of Canada --- no issues.

 

[cruiseconvert]

The bottom line is, if you can get the notarized letter, get it and take it with you. Then you don't have to worry. If the other parent is deceased, bring a death certificate with you. If you are asked for such documentation, a passport or custody papers are no guarantee because the custody situation could have changed since the passport or custody papers were issued.

 

[erin1998]

Hi Jackie,
Thanks for your response. Is the letter from your lawyer just state that you have custody? Is there anything else in particular the letter should say? I know that my ex won't write a letter (out of spite) so that is out of the question. If it is just a matter of getting my lawyer to write a letter about having custody, then it shouldn't be too difficult. I guess it is better to be safe than sorry.
Thanks alot.
Erin

 

[J&B_Disney]

Erin,

I sent you a PM with a copy of it.

 

[crisi]

With full custody you won't need anything from the father of the children, but you will want to bring your custody paperwork instead. They apparently often don't ask for it, but its better to bring it than not.

Our son was adopted from Korea and we bring his adoption decree, and have a passport for him because his birth certificate doesn't prove citizenship. A friend got held up on the U.S. Boarder from CANADA of all places because they didn't have the correct paperwork.

 

[professorandmom]

This is a hot topic on the boards and it makes my skin crawl everytime it gets started. And, of course, I always weigh in....

There are so many circumstances where getting a letter for permission is impossible...DCL does NOT require a letter (and of course, they are simply requiring what immigration would/could request) and I really think that if it was absolutely required, they would. If you are traveling without EITHER parent of a child, a form is required. That's it. I know another poster said it is required but I have not needed it and I have never heard anyone post saying it is REQUIRED.

I know there are lots of stories posted about people traveling to Europe and Canada having problems with custody proof (funny point, the Canadian immigration web site states they would like to call the other parent if they are unsure....and how would they get the phone number??) BUT I have never read a poster have trouble on a DCL cruise.

Yes, the letter is a good idea. I battled once with un-cooperative ex to get the letter but I was never asked....I absolutely believe this is not as hard and fast as some posters state....search the immigration sites for the US and Mexico - there really is no written policy I have been able to find (except something about a change in Mexican policy a year or two ago). Don't look at travel sites, stick with the official sites....

I think this is a gray area with recommendations...
Just my opinion and I'd love to hear from others who have had problems with immigration (US or Mexico) on a DCL cruise
Personally, I'd love to see an actual policy with specifics regarding documentation (would court papers declaring custody being enough?, etc)...then we would at least know what to do
Barb

 

[triptaker]

I would never be able to get my Ex-husband to sign a letter for me to take my dear daughter anywhere. Just would never happen.

However... my ex does want to take my DD to Mexico, since his parents live right on the border. DD will need a passport for that to happen, so he signed the form for her to get a passport - and that form had to be notarized. I kept a copy of the notarized form giving permission to get the passport and am putting it with her passport - I figure if he signed a form saying it’s alright for her to have a passport, then it must be alright to use it, correct?

My divorce decree also states that I have the right to:

the exclusive right to establish the primary residence of the child without regard to geographic location

We no longer have the same last name, so now I'm worried after reading this topic. Petrified is more like it.

With both of these with me, plus her passport, do you think I will have any trouble? We don't have a fancy cabin, but for my income, I have spent a lot of money for her to be able to take a 3 day cruise. I would hate to lose that money, PLUS see my DD mega disappointed.

Triptaker

 

[professorandmom]

triptaker, don't be worried, there are many parents and children don't have the same last name...

you will be fine,,,,many many many DISers are single parents with different last names without parent's letters and have had no problems

You will have a wonderful trip!!!
Barb

 

[eeyoregon]

I called Disney Cruise Line on 2 different occasions and was told both times that if I have sole custody of the children, the only thing I need to bring is a copy of the divorce/court decree stating that I have sole custody. No other paperwork is needed. At DCL online, you can print out the PDF notory form but it clearly states it's only to be used if you are not the legal guardian or parent of the children.

Hope that helps.

 

[teriandcb]

I've been on 5 DCL cruises with my kids since my divorce. We all have passports but I do have a different last name than my daughters. I have NEVER been asked to see a permission letter from my ex or even a custody document for that matter. I do always take a copy of our custody agreement just in case but have never had to show it. I don't even try to get a letter from my ex---too much trouble. When you think about it, it would be almost impossible for them to verify if your childrens other parent was even around to give you permission. I wouldn't worry if I were you.

 

[J&B_Disney]

Wow - a lot of different opinions and experiences. For those of us that reside in a different country I guess the rules are a bit different. I have sole custody and before leaving for my cruise a couple years ago I spoke with Consular Affairs in Canada because I didn't know where my ex was to get the consent letter. Consular Affairs told me our passports weren't enough and to get the declaration from a lawyer stating that I didn't know where the other parent was and to check with the countries I'm visiting about their specific requirements.

It was DCL that initially told me I needed a consent letter to travel out of Canada --- never heard of it up to that point. I had called DCL about another matter and the lady said I notice it's just you and your son on the reservation and then told me about the consent letter.

We did the land/sea package so I faxed both the US and Bahamas a copy of the declaration. Both called me back. The woman from the US embassy told me the declaration was sufficient for travel to the US. The man from the Bahamas consulate said as long as I was the Mother, that was sufficient.

Different countries, different requirements --- I'd check with the country I'm leaving and the countries I'm visiting just to be sure that there won't be any issues. We spend a lot of money to go on these trips and both my son and I would have been devastated to have been in Toronto airport and been denied by customs entrance into the US to fly to Orlando to get on the cruise. The customs agent did read the declaration I had from the lawyer, my separation/divorce agreements and questioned my son about who I was and where his father was. I was also asked for the consent letter in Port Canaveral before getting on the ship --- I brought out my declaration and all was OK.

But then again I travelled to Hawaii last month and nobody asked me anything. The customs agent didn't need to see the declaration I had done.

 

[vlf32]

Since we're on the subject, does anyone know what I would need for the following situation?:

I am an american citizen but reside in europe. My husband is a european citizen. Our son has dual citizenship and has both a US and European passport. The question is, if I travel to the USA with my son alone, would I need documentation other than the passport? I can't imagine taking a vacation with my kid and they stop me because papa isn't along for the ride!! What is this world coming to??? Any ideas would be great!