keithsteinbach

It's my understanding that I do not need a notarized letter from my 16-year-old daughter's mother in order to travel to Mexico and back. Is this correct? Does anybody have any suggestions? I am unable to contact her mother to ask permission. Suggestions???

Stewbear

WE recently took our 11 yo grandson to Puerto Vallarta with both his parents blessing. We did have a notarized form signed by both mother and father (divorced) with no problems. The form is available on line at the US government web site.
I would get a legal opinion if I were you but a 16 yo should know her own mind IMO. In any event she will need a current Passport as all of any age now need.

SambaChula

If you have sole custody, you would not need a letter from the other parent. If joint custody, afaik you would need the other parent's written permission.(Many children are kidnapped by a parent and taken out of the US to countries that make it difficult or impossible to get them back to the US.)
I would suggest carrying an official copy of the child's birth certificate (to avoid any suspicion/appearance of sex trafficking) as well.
It can be a complicated and dangerous world these days unfortunately, in which it is better to be prepared to demonstrate that your trip is a simple family vacation.

maried11

I travel to Mexico often with my kids and you definitely need a notarized letter. You may or may not be asked but if you are and you don't have it you will be denied. I'm talking about tonnes of trips with my kids and I get asked half the time. So. It travel without this. I had a client who only got hers commissioned and not notarized and was denied. I wouldn't take the chance

Stewbear

https://www.lawdepot.com/contracts/c...w#.WQjVgPQrLrd

keithsteinbach

OK I called US immigration and they told me my daughter is 16 and she can get a passport with only one parent so she can travel out of the country and back with only one parent. Then they asked me where I was going and I told him Mexico. They looked up Mexico laws and told me that she would need a notarized letter from the other parent to leave Mexico and come back to the US. So then I drive down to the Mexico consulate office here in Kansas City with all the paperwork I have and request the paperwork I would need to complete to travel in and out of Mexico with my 16-year-old daughter. They ask if my daughter was a US citizen I said yes they ask if her mother was a Mexican citizen I said no she's also a US citizen but I have no way to contact her. The girl behind the counter looked at me like I was crazy and clarified that I was a US citizen my daughter was a US citizen her mother is a US citizen and no one has any ties to Mexico and that my daughter has a US passport. Then she tells me there's no paperwork to fill out because they would not detain US citizens with passport trying to return to The US. I even found the Mexican immigration website and had it translated to English at the very bottom of the subject traveling with children it says as long as one parent of the child is with them it is fine and no other paperwork needed. I'm so confused!!!!! I do not want to get stuck in the airport and the rest of my family go on vacation without us... I will keep digging and post on this to update what I find out but as of now as long as she is 16 or older and has a US passport and I have her birth certificate with me as a parent it should be fine. Like I said I'm not convinced of that and will keep digging to make sure

maried11

Get the paperwork. It doesn't matter what one person says, only what the check in agent at the gate decides, Mexico, etc. I've seen it happen (been a travel agent for 22 years) and travel with my own kids. Don't take the chance, even if you're not asked, the other scenario is worse, not able to go at all and you are out all that money and no insurance will cover that as it's up to you to have documentation.

Stewbear

Keep us informed Por Favor!

suze

I think maybe that at 16 she is considered an adult not a child? For passport purposes anyway.

Stewbear

Just checked with my wife. Our Grandson did not have to show anything coming back PV to Oakland except his passport & Tourist visa. Not his permission form so it looks like you are home free.

maried11

All depends on the gate agent and the person you get at customs. I can't say this enough, get the letter. You will probably be fine, but if you're not, you are out the money. I've been in the business a long time and have seen them denied. Just from 20 some years experience and traveling with my own childrent (oldest is now 15 and was asked this year). I realize that's not 16, but it can happen. Why chance it for a $20 letter? I will never understand why people take those chances...

SambaChula

Wouldn't you want an airline employee or immigration officer of either country double checking for documentation as a safeguard if this were NOT a simple family vacation? So sad and dangerous if this doesn't happen. Children are kidnapped every day by one parent. Particularly teen-aged girls are sex trafficked across the world every day, made compliant by threats or drugs of false promises, accompanied by someone who looks like a parent.

"as long as she is 16 or older and has a US passport and I have her birth certificate with me as a parent"
Do you not have some sort of sole custody letter from a court as well?

cabron

Just another example of US immigration, knowing diddly about Mexico Immigration. She has a US passport, no reason for Mexico to deny her, in any way, returning to her country.

maried11

That is just wrong and I have had a client denied. It happens and I'm glad it does. I would hate for my child (6 or 16) to be taken without my consent

carnalismocc

Without knowing whether you have sole custody of your daughter or not, and what the specific reason of why you are unable to contact the mother, then I can't see you getting much help from anyone here.

If you don't have sole custody and really can't get in touch with the mom, then personally, I wouldn't risk it. I would vacation somewhere within the US until she turns 18.

The only experience I have with a similar situation is the couple of times that my wife and I let our daughter travel to Mexico with my parents. We gave them a notarized letter of permission, and on both times, they didn't even ask for it. But, I know of people who HAVE been asked for a letter of permission, so you just never know.

keithsteinbach

Okay, I've talked to the Mexican Conciliate again and the guy I spoke with confirmed that only one parent is required to travel with a 16 year old who has a valid passport and no letter is necessary from the absent parent. I can travel in and out of Mexico with my 16 year old daughter. Apparently, the law that the US Immigration Office was referring to is in regard to citizens of Mexico not citizens of other countries. That being said, I will take her birth certificate to prove that I am her parent and hope they ask because I don’t like the idea of one parent being able to travel out of the country with a child. But as I said, I cannot locate my ex-wife to ask for the letter. She has had no contact with me or her daughter in over a year even though we have joint custody. I know there’s other people in the same situation so it was my thought there would be a process I could go through to prove I am not leaving the country with the intent to kidnap her. When I reviewed the US website it appears a 16 year old can get a passport with just a notarized letter from one parent so a parent doesn’t even have to be there when they get a passport. Hummm, I’m sure a 16 year old would never forge and document from their parent. LOL
My next stop is the International airport to see what the ones who deal with this every day will tell me….

justineparis

married..

How can Mexico detain an American citizen.

Canada or States may prevent a parent from taking a child OUT of their country.. but I see absolutely no legal standing for a foriegn country PREVENTING a child from RETURNING to the country of their citizenship .

Your client must have been denied boarding HERE.. not there.

maried11

Denied boarding yes, denied entry yes. Not detained. More than one client. However only a couple over 22 years and I travel with my kids, so only half the time have I ever been asked.

maried11

Denied entry doesn't mean detained, it means put on the next plane home. You see everything after working in this business for a long time

cabron

keithsteinbach you have it correct