Permission for children to travel with one parent

[ltviolets]

We will be cruising with our divorced daughter and DGD . I read that we will need noterized permission from the father. Any information on wording, etc. will be appreciated

 

[Cinderalex]

If I remember correctly, I think I saw a form already printed in our doc's for our 1-23 cruise. I would have to look again but I am pretty sure. Hope this helps. Maybe someone else will chime in to verify that. Have a wonderful cruise!

 

[ivanova]

If she has full physical custody, a copy of the court docs should be sufficient.

If she has shared/joint custody, a notarized letter from the parent not cruising would be best.

 

[wdwmom2]

I'm in the same situation. Both DH and have have children from previous marriages. This past April we did the land/sea with his youngest and my youngest. There are forms in your documents that the other parent fills out and gets notorized.

But on one even looked at or even asked for these docs when we boarded.

 

[pfishgirl]

I never knew you needed permission for a child to go. I am divorced and have been on the cruise several times and was never even questioned about this..
Does she have the same last name as either of you?

 

[Squeakcat]

I'm not divorced, but a single parent via adoption. I just wanted to caution people not to skip the important step of making sure you can prove you have the right or the permission to take your child out of the country. I've heard many people say "Oh, they never check." Well, my family is living proof that they do.

In the summer of 2003 my mother and I travelled with my two children from the United States to Vancouver, B.C., to take an Alaskan cruise on RCCI. When our cruise was over, we were stopped while disembarking in Vancouver and I was asked to provide documents proving they were my children and that there was no other parent. The Canadian officials went over everything, tried to pick up the corners of photos, held seals up to the light, and appeared to be matching travel dates on our passports. Another official was called over to read original documents in Chinese. I was so glad I had everything with me. It only took a few minutes, but I could tell they meant business and that they were clearly searching for specific details.

I've had one or both kids out of the country a few times before that, and was never asked anything before except "Where is the father?" I was never asked to show any documents before except their passports, even when I took my elder daughter back to China.

 

[Q's My Princess]

In the case of divorced parents.....


You can type up your own document stating that I, ________, father of ________ give permission for _(mother)_________ to take our daughter/son (the child's name) to ____________ from ________, 2005 through ____________, 2005.

The father will just need to sign and notorize this.

Very easy.

 

[ivanova]

why take the chance?

if you get the notarized letter and don't need it, great.

but what if you don't get it and are asked for it? Immigration can prevent you from boarding .. and you're left on the doc watching the ship leave without you.

 

[ambushangel]

What about in the case where there was never a divorce and one parent has full sole custody?

Is a letter still required?

 

[meandmad]

I agree with Ivanova.. play it safe and get the letter. Better to have it and not need it. I read *somewhere* but now can't remember where that as long as a child is travelling with one of his or her parents, it's not necessary but I plan to not take the chance and get the letter from my ex.

Ambushangel, if you have some kind of legal documentation about the sole custody, I'd take a copy with me. If not, you could probably check with DCL.

Someone mentioned that there is a document in your packet but when do you get the docs? My cruise is Jan 06 and I've read of so many people not getting their docs until the last minute.

 

[DissyLove]

Regarding taking the child out of the country, that is not exclusive to divorced parents. My husband and I are married and both bioligical parents of our 3 kids, but long story short, we had work issues that would require us to sometimes travel solo out of the country with our kids. We were told by our lawyer that we should obtain notarized permission from the other parent to do so, just to be safe.

In the 5-7 times one of us has had to travel with kids and without the other, I know going to Mexico once I was asked about this at the gate boarding a plane, and one other times clearing customs. (Both times we showed our notarized parental notification/permission and then had no problems) So while you may not have any trouble, it is best to be cautious in my opinion.

 

[Squeakcat]

What about in the case where there was never a divorce and one parent has full sole custody?

Is a letter still required?

I would think not a letter, but a notarized copy of the decree awarding sole custody. The whole point of the checks is to prevent international child abductions. That is why both parents in most cases must be present to obtain a child's passport.

 

[GrumpyMom1]

For those who are cruising to Mexico this summer, I heard that they are more strict. I had a signed letter for our last cruise and was never asked any questions. But I'm still getting one for this cruise just in case.

 

[ambushangel]

I had a really hard time getting him to sign the forms for the passport. I can just imagine what a time I'll have trying to get him to sign a form for the trip. I can just imagin the questions.

I probably won't be getting my papers till the end of Feb (traveling March 13th - 4 days), I'm worried that we won't have enough time to get everything done and signed (we don't live in the same city).

Can DCL send me my papers sooner to get the info I need?

Tks.

 

[meandmad]

Ambush, I have an idea of what you mean about not getting much cooperation. I JUST received an email from my ex asking me to agree to let our 7yo DD fly unaccompanied this summer -- from GA to CA. Unfortunately I am completely against it and our DD doesn't want to fly solo either. And before I get bashed, it's not sour grapes or anything of the sort -- I just don't get a warm fuzzy feeling about entrusting my DD to an underpaid stranger who has many other passengers to attend to. We won't even discuss the horror stories I've heard.

Anyway, after telling him respectfully that I don't agree to that, he will probably out of spite refuse to giving me documentation allowing me to take her on the cruise.

 

[jclark3]

It is my understanding that if the child has a passport (like mine does), then we have already taken the necessary steps to obtain permission for international travel. There is no need to have additional paperwork when a passport is presented. At least that's what I was told by the passport people. That's another good reason to have passports!

 

[ambushangel]

I guess that I will try and swallow my pride and see if I can get in touch with him and ask him to put together some type of letter. Considering that he has not seen my son in 4 months, I hate asking him for anything.

But I guess swallowing my pride is easier than looking at my son's disapointed face when we're told we can't go.

Thanks very one for the advice.

When does eveyone travel?

 

[meandmad]

Ambush, hopefully he'll realize (like I hope mine will) that the cruise is for the kids, not us moms.

We're on the 1/15/06 4 night Wonder -- you?

 

[ambushangel]

It would be nice.

We go March 13th'05. I can't wait. I think that I am almost as excited as he is.

All I need is sun, sand and a nice cool drink.

 

[Keggy]

So, what if one parent is deceased? Do you have to bring the death certificate?

Just wondering...

Kelly