Good point, ejcroew. The issue works both ways since either parent can be accused of false pretenses.

Hi - we recently got passports for our kids and the rules and regs have changed A LOT since last time (renewing 6 year olds and 9 year olds). They are more cumbersome and detailed - so review carefully before applying. You need all children's birth certificates to GET passports (even renewals) so it indicates on there who is legal parent. Yes - even if you have one parent with a child you need notarized letter for child to leave the country (how they know it is legit is a good questions).

We live overseas and I frequently travel alone with our kids (primarily in the summer going to and from the US).

Even tho my husband and I are together, I always have a letter with me, signed by him and notorized, giving me permission to travel alone with the kids. And I carry a copy of his passport signature page with me. We also have a letter for him signed by me.

Although I have never had any problems, I have several friends who have been questioned and detained while travelling alone internationally with their kids. One almost missed her flight. Her child (age 5!) was politely "grilled" about her parents, where they live, where they were going, etc - until the authorities were convinced there was no funny stuff. Now my friend has a letter from her husband - and of course, she hasn't been stopped since!

So - is getting all the paperwork a hassle? Sure - but I put it in the "better safe than sorry" category.

Also, when we got our kids' passports renewed last spring, both my husband and I had to be present. And we had to have photocopies of the birth certificates for the US Embassy agent to keep. Maybe that was just an "Egypt thing" - but be sure to read all the fine print!

Both parents being present to apply and having a notarized copy of the birth cert is not an "Egypt thing" it is a new US regulation since our last round of passports 4 years ago. Both have to be present to apply and you have to have old passport and a birth certificate (proof of parents). It is a lot of new fine print - it took us 3 trips to the office to get it right!

I knew both parents had to be present, but it was the original birth certificate AND a photocopy of the birth certificate for them to keep that threw me. I had to go run out and make a copy.

When did it go into effect about both parents being present? Maybe that is fairly recent, because we filled out an application for my husband's daughter to get a passport in January 2005 and her grandparents took her to get it. Neither parent was present. Maybe the fact that she was 14 years of age made a difference. I read all the regulations at that time, but don't recall what they were now.

I went to the website and found that the age did make a difference.

If a child is under 14, then both parents must be present. That is not the case if the child is 14 years of age or older, though.

I just got passports for my three toddlers and while it is a bit of a hassle it isn't THAT bad. Just print and fill out all forms before you go. To get a passport for the first time, you have to apply in person with both parents -- some places require that you make an appointment, so check that out. My husband couldn't make it so we needed to get a special form notarized stating he gave permission for the kids to get passports. Please note, you need a separate notarized form for each kid.

The only hassle for us was that my three toddlers are all the same age and look alike and so the guy taking our application had a really hard time matching birth certificates and notarized letters and applications and photos even though I had already done it all for him. He took it all apart and then wouldn't let me reorganize it for him.

Good luck.

When we got passports for our children (8 and 10) we were both present with our passports for identification. There is a form on the web site that you can download ahead of time AND have notarized by the parent that can't come along that day. You still need a notarized letter if you are traveling alone with a child even with their passport. We were delayed at 5:00am for two hours trying to get a notary out of bed and get my husband to the airport with the letter. I won't make that mistake again!

Wow, taitai,

Like you didn't have enough on your hands! I noticed you said 'guy'!

I think that says it all

I understand all the concern/worry about children being kidnapped by non-custodial parents, but it really makes it difficult for the rest of us.

Last March, my husband and oldest son went on a special trip to Thailand, and my younger son and I went with a group of friends to Turkey (we lived in Egypt at the time).

I had notorized letters for each of us giving us permission to travel with that particular child to that place for that time period. I also registered with the US Embassies in Thailand and Turkey, giving all our travel details.

Was it really necessary? Probably not. But it gave me piece of mind that all the i's were dotted and the t's were crossed if someone wanted to give us trouble.

Fortunatley, my kids are now getting old enough (young teens) that no one really questions us. But I can only imagine what the hassle would be with a baby or toddler!