Passport for Stepson

[88Wildcat]

Does anyone have any experience or advice for obtaining a passport for a child with joint custody? Can my husband get the notorized letter from his ex-wife or is that just for passport renewals? I do not believe the mom will have a problem with us getting him a passport...more likely that she may not want to be "inconvenienced" to have to go with my husband and stepson to apply. We took him on a short 4 day cruise last summer (with his BC only) to see if he enjoyed cruising...which of course he did! So we have planned another cruise for this summer and I would feel so much better if he had a passport. Just don't know if mom will cooperate. Thoughts?

[BK512]

I'm no expert, but it is my understanding that a minor child has to be accompanied by both parents (in person) with all proper documentation of citizenship in order to get a passport.

 

I know it is touchy in cases of joint custody, but there is too much opportunity for child abduction if only one divorced parent were to be allowed.

 

You could either have her accompany you, or just go with BC's again. But I'd explain to her that a passport would enable you to get back into this country via plane if there were an emergency.

[uksimonusa]

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

[FLOTR]

I had to go through this a few years ago with my daughter so I'm not sure if the process is the same. There was a form you can access online that the other parent has to fill out and have notarized. I brought this form as well as a notarized letter from my ex stating that she was allowed to travel out of the country with me. When we went to apply for the passport they asked for the form but not the letter.

[88Wildcat]

Thank you. Just getting a notorized statement will be challenging enough!

[bmckim]

Here is the form:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds3053/ds3053_846.html

[firemanbobswife]

Yes the form is required and also a copy of that same parents drivers license. Just went through his last year. Luckily my ex isn't a jerk and it was a nonissue.

[88Wildcat]

Thank you BMCKIM for the link! Very helpful.

 

The mom's last name is different now than what is on his birth certificate. Will I also have to have a copy of her marriage certificate documenting her name change?

 

It would be so much easier if she would just go with them to apply but there is probably a snowballs chance of that happening!

[bmckim]

The mom's last name is different now than what is on his birth certificate. Will I also have to have a copy of her marriage certificate documenting her name change?

 

I would tell her yes. That way you don't have to worry about it.

[cherylandtk]

Please realize that just because your stepson (may) get her approval for a passport, he will still need his mother's permission each time he uses that passport to travel. I am sorry this is such an issue for your family, but that is the way things are until he is 18. In some cases 16, but not always.

[firemanbobswife]

Please realize that just because your stepson (may) get her approval for a passport, he will still need his mother's permission each time he uses that passport to travel. I am sorry this is such an issue for your family, but that is the way things are until he is 18. In some cases 16, but not always.

 

This has never been the case and my boys have used their passports for 5 years. Have never needed a note or anything.

[cherylandtk]

While you may not have been asked for the notarized permission (and many are not when cruising), one could be denied boarding or accused of child abduction without it. Vindictive ex-spouses have been known to do terrible things. Also, depending on your mode of travel and your country destination, if you do not have it you can be denied travel. In reality, it is rarely asked for on cruises where at least one parent is traveling because of the RT nature of the cruise, but different cruiselines have different policies.

 

My point to the OP was that permission to get a passport is not unlimited permission to travel. She needs to be prepared to address the permission issue on a case-by-case basis even if they have a passport for the boy.

[luvtheships]

Thank you BMCKIM for the link! Very helpful.

 

The mom's last name is different now than what is on his birth certificate. Will I also have to have a copy of her marriage certificate documenting her name change?

 

It would be so much easier if she would just go with them to apply but there is probably a snowballs chance of that happening!

isn't her maiden name on the BC? regardless of the parents marital status at the time of birth..the mom's maiden name is listed..not married name.or second marriage name.

[lingram001]

Please realize that just because your stepson (may) get her approval for a passport, he will still need his mother's permission each time he uses that passport to travel. I am sorry this is such an issue for your family, but that is the way things are until he is 18. In some cases 16, but not always.

 

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.

:)

[cherylandtk]

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.

:)

Sorry, but the first statement is not correct. A passport is not unlimited permission to travel for a minor.

[firemanbobswife]

Sorry, but the first statement is not correct. A passport is not unlimited permission to travel for a minor.

 

Actually it is. Unless they are flagged in the Customs computer as being kidnapped or such, they CAN go out of the country with a passport. I have never once been asked for divorce papers, custody papers, etc. They have no idea if you are divorced, married to, or even know who the baby's daddy is! I always carry my BC and Marriage License just in case they need to match my name to theirs but have never been even asked for that.

 

Please be careful in offering advice that is not true. Now if they are not your kid at all, you will need a notarized letter from the parents granting permission. However, it's not guaranteed they would ask for that either but better believe I would have it just in case.

[firemanbobswife]

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.

[88Wildcat]

Thank you everyone for your feedback and shared experiences. My stepson will be 11 by the time we cruise in July. The mother has not been vindictive (so far) and I do not believe she really has any issues with us traveling with him and taking him on vacation. However, she can be a bit selfish and not always cooperative when my husband needs her to do something related to school or sports, etc when there is not something in it for her. On the other hand...if she needs something from us...well you get the picture.

 

Anyway, I am just trying to find the simplest, least "inconvenient" way for us to get him a passport so that I can stop worrying about it when we get off the ship at the various ports.

 

Luvtheships~you are correct, I just looked at it and it is her maiden name. Whew! One less thing to worry about!

[The_ZOO]

Does anyone have any experience or advice for obtaining a passport for a child with joint custody? Can my husband get the notorized letter from his ex-wife or is that just for passport renewals? I do not believe the mom will have a problem with us getting him a passport...more likely that she may not want to be "inconvenienced" to have to go with my husband and stepson to apply. We took him on a short 4 day cruise last summer (with his BC only) to see if he enjoyed cruising...which of course he did! So we have planned another cruise for this summer and I would feel so much better if he had a passport. Just don't know if mom will cooperate. Thoughts?

 

My daughters father and I were never married. I am the custodal parent. I had to have him sign the passport papers and have it notarized with me present. My last name was never her last name but my madien name is on her long form birth certificate, I had to bring my birth certificate, my passport and my marrige certificate when we applied for her passport. It is a process but one that only has to be delt with every 5 years.

 

I will say that when we traveled with Norwegian we HAD to have a notarized letter from her dad saying she could travel with us out of the country. I had it and they not only checked it but they kept the letter. Now I have had one each time we have traveled Carnival and they did not even ask for it.... I think it has to do with divorced parents taking off with their children without concent from the other parent

[lingram001]

 

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.

 

So I gues we are both right, lol.:)

 

I just think its depends on two things; The agent you get either entering/exiting the country; and the mindstate of the other parent. Either way no matter what documents you may have (Passport, BC, notorized statement, doctor's excuse, letter from the President of the US!), you and/your child can be detained.

 

The point is, once I had my kids passport, I was free to take my kid out of the country during her time with me (it's in my divorce decree that I must notify the ex anytime we leave the state or the country). If your ex is normal or crazy (I'm the crazy one!), you know what you do or don't need for travel.

:)

[Havingfun2010]

Actually it is. Unless they are flagged in the Customs computer as being kidnapped or such, they CAN go out of the country with a passport. I have never once been asked for divorce papers, custody papers, etc. They have no idea if you are divorced, married to, or even know who the baby's daddy is! I always carry my BC and Marriage License just in case they need to match my name to theirs but have never been even asked for that.

 

Please be careful in offering advice that is not true. Now if they are not your kid at all, you will need a notarized letter from the parents granting permission. However, it's not guaranteed they would ask for that either but better believe I would have it just in case.

 

Leaving the country can ge easy. Getting into another country can be an issue. This whole divorced parent, blended family thing is complicated and as such, no one should offer any advice on this board concerning this topic. What worked for one, will not work for another. Go to a passport office and ask questions.....not here.

[lingram001]

Leaving the country can ge easy. Getting into another country can be an issue. This whole divorced parent, blended family thing is complicated and as such, no one should offer any advice on this board concerning this topic. What worked for one, will not work for another. Go to a passport office and ask questions.....not here.

 

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.

[Soonerbaby]

There is an actual form that can be notarized and taken. It is how we got my stepson's passport. :)

[Aggiebuttercup]

I want to second the notarized letter for the time when you leave the country. It's not necessarily customs you have to worry about, but also the travel provider.

 

The first time I took my daughter to a different country I was still married (she was an infant) but travelling without my husband. The airline had warned me that they would not issue a boarding pass unless I presented a notarized document from him giving me permission to travel with her.

 

I'm now divorced, with a different last name from my children. Their dad gave me a notarized letter offering permission when we cruised with Disney last year, and the cruise line never once asked for it. A friend accompanying us with her granddaughter was also not asked to prove permission.

 

I'll still carry the letter whenever I leave the country with them, just in case.

[88Wildcat]

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: