Authority from Parent to take child to US

lala9

I will be taking my children to Florida in July, but they don't share the same surname as me and my partner. I'm aware that I will have to put a letter together for their father to sign as permission for me to take them out of the country, but has anyone done this recently and if so what do you put in the letter?

Heliflyguy

A quick search on-line suggests that a notarised letter might be required as its the US.

For an idea here is a template from RC.
http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/_images/Notarised_letter2._tcm16-7019.pdf

I did get asked by an airline when we last travelled for a copy of my step daughters birth certificate as her surname is different to mine and her mothers although we were allowed to fly it could have been a problem so worth taking a copy of that too.

lala9

Getting a notorized letter would cost an awful lot of money :-( I have birth certificates which I shall be taking with me together with a letter signed off by their dad, surely this will be enough evidence.

Heliflyguy

I had a copy of my passport attested at a solicitors and I do not recall it being expensive.
A magistrates court can notarise a document, don't know the cost, both signatories will need to be present in both cases.

It might be an idea to find out who to contact to ask if needed sorry cant help there but it would be easy just to print a document and say that its the fathers signature when it isnt and proof of ID would be needed for the above to ensure its not someone pretending to be the father.

peachyprice

I really don't think it's necessary to get anything notarised, just take the letter signed by your husband and a copy of his passport showing his signature.

It's highly unlikely anyone will even ask for it, I've flown the world over with children with different surnames to me and have never been asked, anywhere, for such a letter.

essjaytee

I know it's not the US but my niece has just got back from disneyland Paris with her 5 yr old daughter. Her daughter has a different surname and my niece was held up at immigration for quite a while trying to prove she was the girl's mother.

Eventually she resorted to showing them all the photos she has on her phone of her daughter from when she was born to now and they let her through but they did advise her to carry her daughter's birth certificate in future when travelling abroad.

LutonGirl

My friend had the same problem returning from Spain last week. Her daughter has her father's surname and said she was made to feel like a kidnapper! We had a look online and found http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/customs-travel/Enteringtheuk/arrivingatukborder/child-travel-advice/

piglet74

myself and my daughter do not have the same surname (not on our passports anyway) she has her father's surname and we have never had any problems, tho we travel on irish passports, not sure if that makes a difference,

lala9

We travelled from Disneyland Paris last year and were held up whilst they queried who my children were and where we had been, which is why I am so wary.