Child Traveling with One Parent?

[sunshine_79]

Hopefully someone can help or at least point me in the right direction. I don’t have a lot of time to Google it right now.

My daughter Amelia is still in the US spending time with my parents but mainly her paternal grandfather who is dying. I thought it was important that she spend as much time as possible with that side of her family before she joins me here.

Her grandfather will probably go at any time now and I’m trying to make arrangements with my ex husband to get everything in order so he can bring her down. I was going to get her myself but Jeremy needs a bit of a vacation.

I have heard someone mention that there are a lot of stipulations that must be followed when a child is traveling with only one parent. I’m wondering what Jeremy and I need to coordinate for the trip down here, does anyone know the best course of action? All the passports are done, certified birth certificate obtained, etc, this is just the last hurdle. Is there a good web site to look over?

I already had to miss 14 months of her life so I’m ready for Amelia to get here right this second. Separation really sucks and I have waayyyy too much time on my hands being here alone. It’s really not very much fun living the life of a single girl, I'm too old for it and don't have the energy.

Thanks,

Sunnie

[rellosk]

Here is the requirement according to Continental's website:

Minors (applicable only when LEAVING Dominican Rep.):
irrespective of nationality (until 18 years of age),
traveling unaccompanied, or with an adult other than a parent
or legal guardian, or with only one parent, must hold a permit
issued in the Dominican Rep. or a consular permit issued by
representation of the Dominican Rep. abroad.
For information on how to apply for a permit and documentation
required, contact Dominican Rep. representation abroad or the
Director General's Office of Immigration, Santo Domingo.

According to the above, documentation is only required when leaving the DR. You may want to check with the airline your daughter will be traveling on to see if they interpret the rules any differently.

[audboogie]

if i am reading the above right, and it says that a single parent must have DR documentation to leave, that must not have applied last feburary bc i denfinitly traveled to the DR with my daughter solo, and back to US with only my daughter and only had to show her birth certificate. we flew jet blue however and these are continentals rules?

[rellosk]

Originally Posted by audboogie

if i am reading the above right, and it says that a single parent must have DR documentation to leave, that must not have applied last feburary bc i denfinitly traveled to the DR with my daughter solo, and back to US with only my daughter and only had to show her birth certificate. we flew jet blue however and these are continentals rules?

I believe these are rules the Dominican Republic set up. The airlines are supposed to ask for the documentation before leaving the US. This has only happened once in about 15 trips with my Daughter, and they accepted a notarized letter from her mother (not issued by the Dominican consulate). Similarly I was asked only once when leaving the DR and was able to talk my way through.

My Daughter is flying from the DR by herself next week, without the required permit. I will let you know how it goes.

[sunshine_79]

Originally Posted by rellosk

I believe these are rules the Dominican Republic set up. The airlines are supposed to ask for the documentation before leaving the US. This has only happened once in about 15 trips with my Daughter, and they accepted a notarized letter from her mother (not issued by the Dominican consulate). Similarly I was asked only once when leaving the DR and was able to talk my way through.

My Daughter is flying from the DR by herself next week, without the required permit. I will let you know how it goes.

Thanks for the info Rellosk. I suppose all of the rules are because of parental kidnapping?

Best of luck to your daughter as well. I don't blame you a bit for being nervous, the worrying is a full time job in itself. How old is she?

See ya,

S

[rellosk]

Originally Posted by sunshine_79

Thanks for the info Rellosk. I suppose all of the rules are because of parental kidnapping?

Best of luck to your daughter as well. I don't blame you a bit for being nervous, the worrying is a full time job in itself. How old is she?

See ya,

S

She's almost 14. The sad thing is, if they say she can't leave, she'll probably shrug her shoulders and say, "Thanks". She likes it better in the DR than the US. (Although at this point she may actually be missing her Mom and Dad ).

[Talldrink]

I understand the letter is only needed when leaving the DR. You will need a notirized letter by the Dominican consulate only if the child is traveling with someone that is not a parent.

I have another question tho:
As part of my divorce settlement, I added a statement that says that I can travel with my kids to the DR without prior consent from the father for up to 30 days. Has anyone traveled with the divorce papers on tow and has this worked in DR? I will ask him for a letter just in case, but I'm trying to avoid having to go through this process for every trip. I wonder if the divorce settlement paperwork will work...

[sunshine_79]

Originally Posted by Talldrink

I understand the letter is only needed when leaving the DR. You will need a notirized letter by the Dominican consulate only if the child is traveling with someone that is not a parent.

I have another question tho:
As part of my divorce settlement, I added a statement that says that I can travel with my kids to the DR without prior consent from the father for up to 30 days. Has anyone traveled with the divorce papers on tow and has this worked in DR? I will ask him for a letter just in case, but I'm trying to avoid having to go through this process for every trip. I wonder if the divorce settlement paperwork will work...

I really don't know. I think I need to go to the US consular tomorrow and ask a few questions, I will ask yours as well.

[sunshine_79]

Originally Posted by rellosk

She's almost 14. The sad thing is, if they say she can't leave, she'll probably shrug her shoulders and say, "Thanks". She likes it better in the DR than the US. (Although at this point she may actually be missing her Mom and Dad ).

Let us know when she's safe and sound.

[bob saunders]

Believe it or not. Several years ago I had to sign a notarized letter allowing my stepson to travel with his mother. As the father has been dead for a number of years he was not part of the equation. At that time Jose was 8, since then He has traveled to the DR at least 12 times without anyone asking for this letter. Our letter said, travelling anywhere at anytime with his mother. According to the Canadian customs people this letter was good until Jose was 16.