Do I need permission to take DS out of the country???

[Jaimee]

One of my best friends just announced she's getting married in Dec 2005. The wedding will be in the carribean some where (St John I think) She wants me and DS to be there...My question is, do I need DS's father (using the term VERY loosely) to sign something for me? We were never married, he didn't sign the birth certificate, but we established paternity while going through child support stuff. He pays child support, but has seen DS twice in his 6 years of life (once when he was a baby and once about a year ago, TOTAL time including both visits was about 30 minutes...) I have a passport and remember reading somewhere that you need permission from both parents to take a child abroad. I can't find anything online, does anyone know if this would apply to me because his name isn't on the birth certifcate?

 

[jennyanydots]

If you have a court order that says you have sole legal custody, bring the order with you on your trip. You won't need "permission" from the father.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I believe St. John is a US holding so it wouldn't really be out of the country.

 

[jrydberg]

St. John is a part of the US Virgin Islands, a US territory. No passport required. If it is somewhere that requires a passport, the following is required (from the State Dept. website ):

1. Both parents must appear together and sign or

2. One parent appears, signs, and submits second parent's Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 14, Form DS-3053 authorizing passport issuance for the child or

3. One parents appears, signs, and submits primary evidence of sole authority to apply (such as one of the following):

Child’s certified U.S. or foreign birth certificate (with translation, if necessary) listing only applying parent; or
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) or Certification of Birth Abroad (Form DS-1350) listing only applying parent; or
Court order granting sole custody to the applying parent (unless child’s travel is restricted by that order); or
Adoption decree (if applying parents is sole adopting parent); or
Court order specifically permitting applying parent’s or guardian’s travel with the child; or
Judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent; or
Death certificate of non-applying parent.
If none of the above documentation is available, the applying parent/guardian should submit Form DS-3053: Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 14.