Job Discussion Forums

mlscion · Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 7 Location: United States

Hello. This is my first time posting here and I would firstly like to say hello to everyone; I've been enjoying the posts and have learned a lot about teaching ESL experiences and would like to thank you guys!

My question: I am applying for a passport for me and my daughter so I may teach in the East, but have came up to a problem. My daughter's passport application requires her father (my ex-husband) to sign consent for her to travel with me. The problem is, her father and I have no contact because he lives in another state and he doesn't provide support for her. When applying, I explained to the postal clerk my situation, but he was adamant that I get her father to sign the consent form. I don't even know his address and I have sole custody of her. Is there any way that I can get around this? My (new) husband is also travelling with us. Question

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Don't you have divorce/custody papers that show you have sole custody? I would think that should suffice.

MELEE · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 6:53 pm Post subject:

This is standard practice as so many parents all over the world have "kidnapped" their children by running off to another country with them.
You need the court granted custody papers and it would probably be better to go through the national passport center, rather than the local post office because those clerks are only trained in the "basic" percedures.

Even once you have her passport you will need the proper legal documents showing you are the sole parent or a letter with his consent for you to travel on those specific dates with you everytime you fly and/or cross a boarder. You will need to do this until your daughter is 18.

Way back when I was 17 and studying abroad I needed a notarized letter from both my parents giving both of their concent for me to travel on the specific dates I think it even specified where exactly I was allowed to go Shocked

!

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Try having your current husband adopt your child, might help

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

Here are the answers:

http://singleparents.about.com/od/travelingwithkids/p/passports.htm

As of July 2, 2001, both parents' signatures must be included on passport applications for children under the age of 14.

If you have sole custody of your child, submit the court order establishing custody along with the application.

Serious_Fun · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 1171 Location: terra incognita

sunrisekiwi09 · Joined: 04 Feb 2007 Posts: 12 Location: Qingdao

I think that once you have obtained the passport you should have no problems travelling with your daughter in east Asia. It is mainly central and south America that are concerned about custody issues because they have had so many problems. I was not asked any questions about my daughter's father when I applied for visas for just the two of us to come to China.
Good luck!

mlscion · Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 7 Location: United States

I do have the divorce/custody papers, so hopefully I won't run into any problems. My daughter is only three, and I just didn't want to run into any problems, like I did when I tried to submit her application to the post office last time. There wasn't much help there; I guess he was just following procedures.

Again, thanks for the help!

Sgt Killjoy · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 438

It's been a few years but even in Mexico it wasn't an issue if you had the passport. The passport served as proof that overseas travel was consented to. I know, my son and I went to visit friends in Mexico in late 2004.