Passport for Stepson

[gusandgidgetsmom]

Just applied for and received 3 Grandson's passports. Each had to have parents front and back of driver's licenses. One of the copies I made was poor and we had to have it re taken. We had the same situation you did- one had a bio Dad not living with him and had to have a copy of his state ID as he did not have a valid DL (being held by the state-for good reasons!).

Ok...finally got my stepson's mother to get the passport form and the consent to travel notarized so we can apply for passport for my stepson. However, if I am reading everything correctly...we also need a copy of the front and back of her driver's license. She told my husband that "she doesn't have a DL right now". If she doesn't have ID how was she able to get forms notarized?? Ugh!!

 

Well, at least we have the notarized consent to travel and official BC if that is what we have to do. Nothing is ever easy! :mad:

[Elaine5715]

A co-worker did bring the notarized letter to accompany the stepdaughter' s passportwhich was very helpful when the stepbrat made comments about being kidnapped at the border because she was unhappy about not being able to stay home.

[Quilting_Cruiser]

This is not the case, once you have a passport, you can go without the requiring other parent permission.

 

How old is the son? If he is 16 or 17 years old, you only need 1 parent and his state issued ID to get a passport.

 

Just went thru all this recently.

 

Good luck.

:)

 

Having a passport doesn't allow you to travel out of the country without the other parent's permission. This is about International Child Abduction Laws. You can see what Homeland Security says on their website, but you'd also need to find out the requirements of any country you're visiting. I took DD on an Alaska cruise and was prepared to get a letter from my ex (because we were renting a car in Skagway and driving into Canada) but when I researched it, I learned that Canada requires it only if the child is under 16. Fortunately, DD was 16 at the time. The point is, that if she'd been 15 or younger, I would have had to have BOTH her passport and a letter from her father to go into Canada. Many countries require the letter even if you have a passport. A passport isn't blanket permission to travel with the child. I've also traveled to England and Ireland with her (when she was 17) and didn't need a letter, though they did run her passport through a different machine and I noticed they looked at her a lot longer! Fortunately, she's turning 18 soon and I won't have to get any more letters!

 

Not a flame:)

 

 

I agree to a point. We all come here asking questions about one thing or another to others that have been in the same "type" of situations that we are currently facing. All the information laid out by individuals who have gone through or have information relating to the issue. It’s up to the individual asking the question to pickup the information posted on the board. To say not to ask questions about a topic is the opposite of what this board is for, which is the sharing of information.

 

The problem is when others on this site state as fact that because they didn't need or do something you won't either. People say all the time on here that your don't need your marriage certificate to show your name change if you're traveling with your DL and BC . They say that because they've personally never been asked for it. But, there are those of us who have been asked for ours and I would have missed a cruise without it (now I travel with my passport so it's not longer an issue). On threads about whether you need it, there are tons of postert saying that you don't because they've never needed theirs. :rolleyes:

[Elaine5715]

Never ever never never ever settle for getting information only from any chat room. Pretty sure Homeland Security or Immigrantion is not going to be persuaded by "but Elaine5715 posted I didn't need it"..

[mollyeilis]

This whole divorced parent, blended family thing is complicated and as such, no one should offer any advice on this board concerning this topic.

 

I think that it's decent advice to say "the border people won't know what agreements you have verbally with the parent not there, so why not get a notarized permission statement to show them IF they ever wonder about it." I think that's probably advice that could be helpful no matter what.

 

 

Ok...finally got my stepson's mother to get the passport form and the consent to travel notarized so we can apply for passport for my stepson. However, if I am reading everything correctly...we also need a copy of the front and back of her driver's license. She told my husband that "she doesn't have a DL right now". If she doesn't have ID how was she able to get forms notarized?? Ugh!!

 

Well, at least we have the notarized consent to travel and official BC if that is what we have to do. Nothing is ever easy! :mad:

 

You've looked through this page? http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/minors/minors_834.html

 

Primary ID is:

 

Previously issued, undamaged U.S. passport

Naturalization Certificate

Valid Driver's License

Current Government ID (city, state or federal)

Current Military ID (military and dependents)

Does she have a normal state ID, even if she doesn't have a DL? Passport?

 

Here is the page that shows secondary ID: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/secondary_evidence/secondary_evidence_4314.html

 

And remember the following...one parent must

 

• Appear in person with the minor
  
• Sign Form DS-11 in front of an Acceptance Agent
  
• Submit the second parents' notarized Statement of Consent (Form DS-3053)
  

 

So don't let DH sign the DS-11 form until he's in front of the agent.

[beachchick]

Here is what is on the USCBP website:

If a child (under the age of 18) is traveling with only one parent or someone who is not a parent or legal guardian, what paperwork should the adult have to indicate permission or legal authority to have that child in their care?

 

Due to the increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and as possible victims of child pornography, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, the adult have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, friends, or in groups*, a note signed by both parents) stating "I acknowledge that my wife/husband/etc. is traveling out of the country with my son/daughter/group. He/She/They has/have my permission to do so." See our Q&A parental consent.

 

* School groups, teen tours, vacation groups.

 

CBP also suggests that this note be notarized.

 

While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if we do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed. If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.) any other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc., would be useful.

 

Adults traveling with children should also be aware that, while the U.S. does not require this documentation, many other countries do; failure to produce notarized permission letters and/or birth certificates could result in travelers being refused entry (Canada has very strict requirements in this regard).

 

 

So it is RECOMMENDED but not required by the US but could be to enter other Countries. They can detain you until the circumstances are verified, so there may be a delay if they actually enforce this. If you want to be on the safe side, get a notarized letter but it is not required.

 

If the other party is truly vindictive, they could change their mind even if they signed a note and still get you detained I'm sure.

 

Except that there are countries often visited by cruise ships that are very, very strict about this. Mexico and Canada are both on that list. They may not always ask, but the letter can be required by those countries and if the traveling parent doesn't have it, they will be refused entry. That's why cruise lines should insist that parents do get the letter or other appropriate documentation (e.g., full legal and physical custody papers; death certificate).

 

IMO, it's very bad advice to say see, it's just "recommended." Yes, it may be recommended for US exit and entry and yes, there are possible ways that our Immigration can confirm things. But that is only for the US and if you're asked and don't have it, do you really want to be delayed so long that you miss the ship's departure? Many countries don't just recommend it--They require it. It's right there in the information you quote.

 

There are enough first hand accounts on CC about parents being required to show such proof, including filmed examples in a number of cruise travel shows, that it is folly to assume someone will not be required to have documentation. It especially bothers me when someone writes, "Well, I've cruised with my children X number of times and I've never been required to show documentation." The fact is that they very well could be among those required to do so on cruise X+1.

 

beachchick

[Kerry's Girls]

 

IMO, it's very bad advice to say see, it's just "recommended." Yes, it may be recommended for US exit and entry and yes, there are possible ways that our Immigration can confirm things. But that is only for the US and if you're asked and don't have it, do you really want to be delayed so long that you miss the ship's departure? Many countries don't just recommend it--They require it. It's right there in the information you quote.

 

There are enough first hand accounts on CC about parents being required to show such proof, including filmed examples in a number of cruise travel shows, that it is folly to assume someone will not be required to have documentation. It especially bothers me when someone writes, "Well, I've cruised with my children X number of times and I've never been required to show documentation." The fact is that they very well could be among those required to do so on cruise X+1.

 

beachchick

 

I agree - it drives me up a wall when people post that since they weren't asked, it's not required. I am one of the people who has been asked multiple times - and two of those times were by US officials when re-entering the country after a cruise. They are not known for their light-heartedness and I'm glad I had my proof instead of having to say "You know, it's only recommended". I do have the same last name as my kids and we all have passports, but some of the officials are just clearly more sensitive to the possibility of non-custodial kidnapping. I wish they would ask every time - it would save some parents a lot of heartache. It's also a good idea to let the kids know ahead of time that they may be asked about the circumstances.

 

Best,

Mia

[6rugrats]

I agree - it drives me up a wall when people post that since they weren't asked' date=' it's not required. I am one of the people who has been asked multiple times - and two of those times were by US officials when re-entering the country after a cruise. They are not known for their light-heartedness and I'm glad I had my proof instead of having to say "You know, it's only recommended". I do have the same last name as my kids and we all have passports, but some of the officials are just clearly more sensitive to the possibility of non-custodial kidnapping. I wish they would ask every time - it would save some parents a lot of heartache. [/quote']

So true. I have been asked for this before boarding flights in the US to Canada, and then at immigration in Canada every time I've traveled there alone with my DD.

[seventhwardhustler]

If one parent doesn't want to, or cannot, attend the passport application, they can send a notorized statement that they agree to the passport application

this is all you have to do. bring the original. i saw parents who have a spouse in another country so they don't have a choice but to bring the notarized statement. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME. you can't just walk into a post office anymore and the sequesters have made the passport offices cut back. you usually have to make an appointment and they are booked up (at least in atlanta). i was lucky enough to get it done on national passport day. processing time is still fast but that may change during the summer travel season.

[kelleigh229]

This whole post made me think, so I appreciate everyone's insignt. I am recently divorced and taking my son on his first cruise. Dad has agreed to come with me to get a passport (so no problem there), so I thought that was all I needed. I did call Royal Caribbean directly to ask what their policy is, but I do still have concern about customs.

 

My ex only sees my son 2 nights/week for about 5 hours a week until he is able to prove his ability to be sober and then he will potentially have the ability to have overnights. But that hasn't happened yet.

 

So my divorce papers essentially have me as the sole parent (due to his problems), but I don't want to take any chances. So that is why he is going to get the passport with me. However, now I'm thinking I should get a note from him as well. Drives me batty to have to ask him "permission", but I get it and the reasoning behind it. And he can get very unreasonable when he's on one of his binges, so I don't want to take any chances.