Child cruising with only ONE parent???

[momdabomb]

I just found the following on the US Dept. of Homeland Security website.

 

"Adults traveling in or out of the U.S. with children under the age of 18 should be aware of the following: because of increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and as possible victims of child pornography, Customs and Border Protection 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, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating "I acknowledge that my wife/husband/etc. is traveling out of the country with my son/daughter. He/She/They has my permission to do so."

 

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."

 

So....it seems that we could be held up...but my son is 11 years old and could definitely let them know himself that he has had no contact with his father in the last 7 years so I'm not worried as much anymore.:D

[marktac]

I just found the following on the US Dept. of Homeland Security website.

 

"Adults traveling in or out of the U.S. with children under the age of 18 should be aware of the following: because of increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and as possible victims of child pornography, Customs and Border Protection 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, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating "I acknowledge that my wife/husband/etc. is traveling out of the country with my son/daughter. He/She/They has my permission to do so."

 

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."....

 

This substantiates what I said earlier. It is not a requirement, but if it is humanly possible, get the notarized permission. If it is requested by Immigration or DHS it will only serve to make the situation easier. If no one asks for it, that's life.

 

Mark T

[Gypsyfish]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I've contacted the courts and was told that I would have to "serve" him with papers before anything can be done. This would include making an effort to locate him. There is no time to do this. I callled Carnival again, and they state that it is not necessary to bring a letter unless you're debarking in Mexico for over 24 hours. So....I've kept the names of all 3 people I've spoken with, as well as asked for it to be documented in my notes for my booking...and we'll hope for the best. There's really nothing I can do at this point but keep my fingers crossed. Thanks again!

 

I spend a lot of time in Mexico and I know a woman there who spends half the year in Mexico, half in Canada. She has a pre-adolescent daughter, but neither have had any contact with the father since the girl was born- I don't think they even know where he is. She gets hassled at the airport all the time because she doesn't have a notarized letter. She has to scream for a manager and go through the whole situation several times. I don't know what the court can do in this situation-it's ridiculous to have to try to contact a man who's never had any contact with the child to get his "permission" to take the child out of the country! There ought to be a way to prove sole custody.

[seamama1]

I just found the following on the US Dept. of Homeland Security website.

 

"Adults traveling in or out of the U.S. with children under the age of 18 should be aware of the following: because of increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and as possible victims of child pornography, Customs and Border Protection 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, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating "I acknowledge that my wife/husband/etc. is traveling out of the country with my son/daughter. He/She/They has my permission to do so."

 

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."

 

So....it seems that we could be held up...but my son is 11 years old and could definitely let them know himself that he has had no contact with his father in the last 7 years so I'm not worried as much anymore.:D

 

UNCLE! check out travel.state.gov., call U.S. Customs: 1-888-407-4747---cruise diva has a form that can be printed and filled out and also very good information on all this.

 

Google minor children traveling....

 

Then do what you want....just don't hold up the line I am standing in because you decided to take a chance, please:mad:

[zqvol]

Take your divorce papers. (If it is not too much trouble a certified copy of the decree would be a good idea.)

 

Other than that I would not worry about it, the rule is designed to prevent a non custodial parent from kidnapping a child.

[momdabomb]

Then do what you want....just don't hold up the line I am standing in because you decided to take a chance, please:mad:

 

Ummmm....it's not about me "deciding" to take a chance. It's either I go for it...or we don't travel. Unfortunately I haven't had any luck finding my ex. Based on the Homeland Security site and the information Carnival has given me, I'm going for it. It's a circumstance that is beyond my control, not a choice I've made. I refuse to make my son suffer anymore than he already has just because he has a deadbeat dad. If we get held up, we'll deal with it (and so will the people behind me! lol)

[CaesarsNcruisin4me]

I am a single parent and travel frequently with my two children. Twice I have had a problem. In 2000 I drove to the border in Blaine, WA and was unable to enter the US as I did not have a notorized letter from my ex. I was given a paper that indicated that I was denied entrance into the US and had to take the turnaround back into Canada. Then in 2004 while travelling to Mexico the airline tried to deny me boarding as I did not have a notorized letter. My kids were 13 and 11 at the time. After spending time arguing with the ticket agent and giving her the paperwork I had to no avail, I insisted on speaking to a supervisor. I explained to the supervisor that I had sole custody of my children. She tried to tell me that the notorized letter was still required. I showed her my kids birth certificates and the requirements for bringing minor children into Mexico as printed off the Mexican Consulate website and was finally granted boarding.

 

I have learned that it is better to check entry requirements with immigration than the airlines or cruise lines. Even if the airline or cruise line allows you to board, it is immigration that has the final say.

 

 

In November 2005 I went on my first cruise with RCI and then the next week on Carnival. I had applied for passports before departing for this cruise. I had no problems with immigration on either cruise line but I was travelling with passports this time. Immigration can be unpredictable if you are missing the notorized letter but it is simplified if you have a passport for your child. I had no problems with getting the passports as a single parent. If you have the time I would apply for a passport for your son. If not, You may even want to have a letter in which you swear under oath that you are the sole provider for your son and have it notorized. Many times they don't even read the letter but just look for the notary seal. I know several people that have done this and their letter was accepted by immigration.

 

 

Gypsyfish- You can apply to family court for sole custody. There are different things that you can do if the father is unavailable/cannot be located depending on where you live. The rules can be different for each state or province. Usually if the father does not show up then sole custody is awarded.

 

Sorry for the long post. Good Luck momdabomb and Happy Cruising!!!!!!:D

[seamama1]

My son (age 11) and I are leaving for a cruise on the Elation in 3 weeks. I do have a passport for him. On the Carnival site, it states that if a child is not travelling with BOTH parents, it is suggested to have a notarized letter from the absent parent that authorizes the travel. I spoke with a Carnival rep. and they said this isn't necessary. His father and I share joint legal custody, but it is impossible for me to get this letter as I don't know where he is. Has anyone travelled with a child without the other parent? Did you need this letter?

 

Thanks!

 

All you need to do is read a couple of these posts about what has happened to others. Again, don't rely on the Carnival folks...it is not their rule. It is U.S, Immigration that requires this. Why take the chance! You probably won't even be asked - but if you are and you do not have the proper dox, you can be denied boarding. Even worse, you could have trouble in the ports or upon your return to the U.S. Why would anyone not cover all bases. If the other parent is not available, bring court dox or legal papers.....someone here has shown the website for single parent travel.. it is good - take a look at it, and believe it!

[seamama1]

I just pulled this off of another thread. Passenger just came off the Conquest.........

 

Security was very low key, but firm when they needed to be. I passed a room full of loud (through the door) very young kids. Later when I walked by, Security was there asking the oldest (about 10-12) were their parents were. Good for them!!!

 

 

Forwarned is forearmed!

[SOPHIELYNNE]

we have 5 children; 4 are mine from previous marriage, 1 from husbands previous marriage. We have NEVER been asked for any documentation on any of the cruises we have taken them on (4 total). maybe get a letter from your attorney stating their father is absent, and worded just right...and have it notorized would be of help & provide ease of mind.

[marktac]

UNCLE! check out travel.state.gov., call U.S. Customs: 1-888-407-4747---cruise diva has a form that can be printed and filled out and also very good information on all this.

 

Google minor children traveling....

 

Then do what you want....just don't hold up the line I am standing in because you decided to take a chance, please:mad:

 

Seamama, don't get your shorts in a knot. Everyone thus far has agreed that the forms are crucial in case of an emergency. However, even Carnival will not give you a standard form because they don't require it. THAT is the only point of debate.

 

The so-called horror stories stated above generally are land trips, not cruises. One cruise story probably had an outside influence (a tip about a child being abducted or the like) but we don't know for sure.

 

We always take a notarized letter from the boy's mom. No one, including immigration, has ever asked for it. Not to say they won't ever, but it is not required.

 

The chances of you being held up in line because this form is not present are a far less than having someone ahead of you that hasn't pre-boarded and hasn't filled out a single page of the required info sent to them in the ticket book, and can't find a credit card for the sail & sign.

 

Mark T

[JPS418]

We just booked on the pride to mexico for 4/07 and was told by my T/A that I would need a signed notorized letter from my ex-wife since my son will be 17 yrs old, I had to provide this letter both times he sailed with us on princess.

 

Good Luck!

[angelkisses]

Kirstin, since you do not know the whereabouts of the father and it will be too timely and expensive going thru the court system before the cruise, I would suggest going to the Department of Social Services in your area. Perhaps they can give you some type of letter that states his whereabouts are unknown. I'm not sure if they can do it but its worth a try and they will have someone there that can notarize at least a letter signed by you stating his whereabouts are unknown. I'm not sure if this would hold up with immigration but it certainly would not hurt anything and then only hand it over if asked.

 

I want to take this one step further .... PLEASE PLEASE when you return start proceeding to have him removed as having joint custody of your child. This potentially could be a bigger problem than what you are currently experiencing with the cruise. I would personally be very scared if my daughter's father (even though he's a deadbeat) had joint custody and his whereabouts were unknown.

 

Good Luck ... GO FOR IT! .... and I hope you and your son have a wonderful and much deserved vacation. It will be a wonderful bonding experience.

 

Robin

[karen116]

I am a single parent of two children (15 and 14), we all have passports (which we obtained prior to our cruise in December 2005). When we went to apply for the passports prior to our cruise, they (US Postal Service) told me that I needed to have a notarized letter signed by my ex husband in order to get the 14 (then 13) year old her passport. I haven't a clue where their father is other than he does not even reside in the same state we live in. I supplied my divorce papers which indicate that I have sole custody of my two children. The divorce papers (with the raised seal - I contacted the courts and requested a copy of my divorce papers for situations like this) were submitted with her passport papers and she was given a passport, and they even returned the divorce papers to me. We cruised in December and did not have a problem at all. We'll be cruising again in November and hopefully we won't have a problem.

[seamama1]

Seamama, don't get your shorts in a knot. Everyone thus far has agreed that the forms are crucial in case of an emergency. However, even Carnival will not give you a standard form because they don't require it. THAT is the only point of debate.

 

The so-called horror stories stated above generally are land trips, not cruises. One cruise story probably had an outside influence (a tip about a child being abducted or the like) but we don't know for sure.

 

We always take a notarized letter from the boy's mom. No one, including immigration, has ever asked for it. Not to say they won't ever, but it is not required.

 

The chances of you being held up in line because this form is not present are a far less than having someone ahead of you that hasn't pre-boarded and hasn't filled out a single page of the required info sent to them in the ticket book, and can't find a credit card for the sail & sign.

 

Mark T

 

Hey, Mark - that't "knickers twisted" not shorts knotted - HA!..the following from another poster:

 

I just pulled this off of another thread. Passenger just came off the Conquest.........

 

Security was very low key, but firm when they needed to be. I passed a room full of loud (through the door) very young kids. Later when I walked by, Security was there asking the oldest (about 10-12) were their parents were. Good for them!!!