redhead, it may be different if you travel within Europe (I live in Belgium) but I have often travelled with my children without my husband, and have never been asked this. It never even occurred to me to do so. The only time when a letter was required, was when they travelled with someone who was not related to them. In that case, I did get the necessary letter, but this was never asked for either at customs. When my 11-year old daughter flew to Switzerland with our nanny, they remarked on the fact that my daughter was Dutch and the nanny English, but still did not ask for any further letters.

REDHEAD---recently I attempted to contact two countries' consulates in Chicago. Had same luck as you. Turns out their hours are 9-12 most days of the week (tough job). Have you attempted to call in the morning?

Thanks Tomboy. I'll try calling now. Although since it's Good Friday they're probably not there anyway. I'll try Monday morning. Yeah, tough job.

Hi Tulips. The requirement of a notorized letter from the non travelling parent stems from American law intended to protect children from kidnapping.

The following paragraph from the State Dept. web site illustrates how pervasive child abduction is, 500 or so per year.

"The Department of State's Office of Children's Issues (CA/OCS/CI) is designated to provide assistance to the left-behind parents of international parental child abduction. Since the late 1970's, we have been contacted in the cases of approximately 16,000 children who were either abducted from the United States or prevented from returning to the U.S. by one of their parents."

This website from the Canadian Office of Foreign Affairs provides an affidavit for the stay-at-home
parent(s) to sign. We used a similiar one when taking our grandchildren overseas.

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/before/consent_ltr1-en.asp

It's not just divorced folks who need to worry about this issue. Last summer, a friend of mine, who doesn't enjoy cruises, stayed behind while her hubby, kids & in-laws took a cruise from LA to Mexico. Upon boarding in LA, they were told the kids could not board without a notarized letter from Mom who wasn't present! They phoned her & she was able to fax a notarized letter to the cruise terminal, averting a messy situation.

Hi Redhead,

My husband has taken our daughter out of the country every year for the last 5 years. Yes, you need a consent letter. It's really easy. Just a simple letter saying that he gives you permission to take your child out of the county. You must give dates, places where you will be going (general)and airlines. Then take it to your local notary, (mail boxes etc. has one on staff) get it notarized for $10. Then you keep it with her passport. Have fun

I had to bring my late husband's death certificate to get passports for my kids.

I think it's to prevent non-custodial parents from taking kids out of the country. It was kind of inconvienent and I don't really like having to look at my husband's death certificate, but if it's stopped some kids from being kidnapped, I think it's a sad, but necesary precaution.

Joelle