Traveling abroad with US-child

[Fischkoepfin 1]

I'm (Green Card Holder) traveling to my home country next week with my 2-year old son. My husband (US-citizen), who's currently in school, is not coming with us, but he fully consents to the trip. I am fully employed at a state university, and there would be no reason for me not to return to the US.

I've read that in addition to passports, I should still be taking a notarized consent form that allows me to leave the country with my son. Does anyone have experience with this? Is there anything else I should take, like his birth certificate (we have different last names), documentation from my employer, etc?

[stronger 43]

Yes, the notarized letter from the father with consent will be asked for. Child's birth certificate, and when returning to the US, they may ask for the child's passport. I had to get one for my daughter. You can get one expedited, but I'm not sure if you have enough time. I would research this first before being disappointed with not being allowed on the plane or through customs. Take as much documentation as you have of your child. Just in case.

[Fischkoepfin 1]

Thanks for your quick response. My son does have a passport, so that's not a problem. I've a letter drafted and we're going to notarize that today. I was hoping to leave the birth certificate here, but I can see your point.

P.S.: Good luck with your paperwork!

[stronger 43]

Anytime The issue customs has is they fear that a foreigner would take a child to another country to avoid the father having access to the child. They trust no one. I forgot once going to Canada, I had to get my daughters father to fax one quickly to customs while we waited. Wasn't fun. Don't let THAT happen. Terrible!

Thanks for the good wishes too Much appreciated.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

It is my understanding that an application for a child's US passport does require the consent of both parents. Thus, a German LPR mother traveling with a child that has a German and a US passport should not need anything else. I agree that having a notarized consent from the father handy for worst case scenarios might be a good idea, but I wouldn't go gagga over birth certificates or letters from the Rabbi.

[G&T 12]

By this time she might have traveled already, but just for general info, to carry a birth certificate when traveling with your child gives you peace of

mind and comes handy in any what IFS situation.

So better safe than sorry.

[ceadsearc 515]

I think it may depend by country, though I am not sure. I know when we traveled to Bolivia, we were told my the consulate that if one parent were to take her, we would need a notarized letter from the other parent in order to enter Bolivia, despite having a US or Bolivian passport. I suppose it is because even though both parents consented to the passport, a situation may have changed in the time since where they are separated and one no longer consents or is running with the child.