info needed about documents for travel to Mexico with children of divorce.

[grasswire]

A family member has just realized that his former wife is traveling for pleasure in a few weeks to Mexico with their two young daughters, of whom they share joint physical and legal custody. The father resides in another state.

The mother has neither asked for permission for the girls to travel nor asked for a notarized letter, as Mexican law apparently requires.

From what we can find on the Internet, the law requires each child to carry custody papers and a notarized letter from the non-traveling parent permitting the travel.

From what we read, Mexico is very strict and will not allow a child to leave Mexico without these papers because of abductions and because of immigration issues.

Does anyone here have experience in this travel situation?

Input appreciated.

[alittlelark]

1. My daughter and I traveled to Mexico last year.

My husband had to give notarized approval.

[treestar]

2. Do you need a passport to go to Mexico?

I know that the US won't issue a child a passport without both parents' signatures. This is to avoid international custodial battles. Does he think she is trying to flee the country to keep him from the kids?

[OffWithTheirHeads]

4. You didn't used to but now a days, who knows?

Get a passport anyway in case the corporate Fascists win which I think they already have. Used to be a birth certificate was enough to get into Mexico as long as it was not from Hawaii. Those don't count. A Muslin trick.

You need to be able to get out of this country as fast as you can. Think Germany, 1939, or, as the Boy Scouts say, "Be Prepared".

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. You need a passport to get back into the US

[grasswire]

10. well, she IS keeping him from the kids...

....but this appears to be a vacation with her boyfriend with the girls along. She has a job and family and I doubt very much that she would flee the country. She would rather just make life miserable for everyone.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

3. Everything on your post is correct, as I understand it

I had to have a notory sign papers for my step dought to take her kids to Mexico for a one week vacation. It was a major hassle.

[Ozymanithrax]

5. Some years back my wife and chldren traveled to Mexico.

A notarized letter is what is needed.

[upi402]

6. I carry one, and have divorce decree/parenting plan along as well

(sample from another site, different situation - but gives the idea)

Authorization for Foreign Travel With Minor
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter concerns my child, (full name), a United States citizen and a minor born on (birthdate), who carries a United States passport with the number (passport number).
I affirm that I have legal custody of my child, and that there are no pending divorce or child custody proceedings that involve my child. I give my full authorization and consent for my child to travel outside of the United States with (name of adult traveling w/child), who is the (relationship to child) of my child. The purpose of the travel is (type of travel, ie. cruise vacation).
I have approved the following travel plans:

(detail of travel plans)

Furthermore, I hereby authorize (name of adult from above) to modify the travel plans specified above as he/she deems necessary.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of (State of Residence) that the foregoing is true and correct.

Parent or Legal Guardian

Signature: ________________________ Date: _______________

Name
Address


Day phone:

Evening phone:
Cell Phone/Pager:

Email:

CERTIFICATE OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF NOTARY PUBLIC


State of __________ )
) ss.
County of ____________ )
On ____________________, __________ before me, _____________________, a notary public in and for said state, personally appeared _________________________________, personally known to me (or proved on the basis of satisfactory evidence) to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument, and acknowledged to me that she/he executed the same in her/his authorized capacity, and that by her/his signature on the instrument the person, or the entity upon behalf of which the person acted, executed the instrument.

WITNESS my hand and official seal.
__________________________________________________
Notary Public for the State of ________________________
My commission expires:

[Kali]

8. you have to have a passport to return to the US

minors have to have both parents' signatures to get that - do they have passports?

Mexico "requires" the notarised letter but I have NEVER been asked for anything when traveling with kids, my own, friends, or the child I was legal guardian to. I wouldn't count on the Mexican authorities in this matter, but if you are sure they are going to return, they HAVE to have a passport now.

Mexico isn't strict about who leaves there isn't any kind of Mexican "leaving the border check" (except for vehicle papers) - it is the land of the free that needs to see your papers. Of course you can always walk 50 miles across the desert.

[grasswire]

9. according to the US State Dept web site, Mexico is very strict...

...about allowing children to leave the country.

[Kali]

11. Just relating my experiences.

Also the state dept isn't exactly the greatest source for info on traveling to Mexico - they are saying NOT to right now. I might avoid Juarez but in general it is safer than a lot of this country.

Now if you piss somebody off they sure CAN get strict, but I have never had any kind of hassle leaving Mexico - at least where I cross (Agua Prieta, Nogales, Palomas, Sonoita) you don't even pass through where the Mexican authorities can see you...you cross to the US side and THEY are who hassle you.

[LooseWilly]

13. Same in Tijuana. Though I've never tried it with children along...

[paulsby]

18. mexico is extremely strict

however on who enters their country. at least at THEIR southern border. it's far more militarized than ours.

mexico also forbids aliens, even LEGAL aliens from participating in any sort of political process, from writing newspaper editorials, or participating in any sort of demonstrations of a political nature.

so spare me your specious comparison

the USA is metric assloads more free than mexico

[Kali]

19. both countries are similar in who they allow in - the wealthy are always welcome

the US may is more free in terms of basic survival, that is for sure - that is why so many are trying to come here.

[paulsby]

20. well that is true, but...

but like i said, there is a specific difference. our constitution applies (at least theoretically) even to people here illegally. mexico's does NOT apply , even to LEGAL aliens, to the full extent.

it is literally illegal for a legal alien (like a person on a student visa), to

1) write an editorial
2) participate in any political rally
3) assist any candidate etc.

etc. etc. etc.

mexico's free speech (granted even for citizens their speech is more limited) laws do not apply to aliens, legal or otherwise.

[Kali]

21. well considering the history

it is kind of understandable that they are paranoid of foreign interference

[paulsby]

22. i'm not saying it's not understandable

there are always "understandable" arguments for restricted liberty.

i'm not saying it's not understandable. i'm saying it's a potent difference between us and them. we recognize far more liberties, ESPECIALLY to aliens, legal or otherwise.

although i will give them props for their recent decriminalization efforts. only took a bloody drawn out war to do it! but it's still a good thing

[LooseWilly]

12. I'm not sure about Mexico, specifically...

but when my Ex went to the Phillipines with my son, she was told that she needed a letter from me authorizing the trip. I don't recall needing to get it notorized... I would assume that would mostly be necessary in case one worried that the not-present parent might suddenly decide to change his/her mind and cause trouble.

As I recall, I just wrote up a letter saying that I hereby authorized (Mom) to travel with (Son) to the Phillipines, or anywhere else, as (Mom) sees fit. I then included contact information and signed the letter... which I then sent to (Mom).

I have a hard time imagining that Mexico would be more strict than the Phillipines. In fact, I seem to recall that she didn't even need a letter when she later traveled to Mexico with our son (though that was a few years ago, and travel restrictions have obviously become more onerous of late). Or maybe she just used the same letter.

Of course... my situation involved two of us parents who got along well, despite not being together... if, as your OP suggests, the mother thinks that she's going to be able to just ignore the requirement... it seems like sticky wickets may ensue. If the parents are not on good terms and willing to just pick up a phone and ok something on the spur of the moment if necessary... I'd definitely suggest getting a notorized & signed letter. And, if the father isn't "good" with the trip, then suggesting to the mother that she'd better re-think her plan might be in order.

[grasswire]

14. fwiw, here's the info Jet Blue provides on their web site

Traveling Between the U.S. and Mexico
A customer under 18 years of age is considered a minor for travel purposes. Very strict regulations govern international travel by minors into Mexico.

Passports and tourist cards are required; please note the following requirements:


Minors traveling with an adult other than their legal parents or guardians must have an original notarized letter of permission signed by both parents authorizing travel, and a photo ID is required. In addition, the letter should state the name, address and phone number of the person whom the child is traveling with.
Minors traveling with only one parent or the sole custody parent must have a notarized letter of permission from the non-custodial parent or a "Sole Custody" or "Father Unknown" document. However, if the child's last name is different from the last name of the accompanying parent(s), proof of parentage is required. Parents name changes must be documented (i.e. marriage certificate).
Unaccompanied minors must have an original notarized letter of permission signed by both parents authorizing travel, and a photo ID is requred. In addition, the letter should state the name, address and phone number of the adult meeting the minor at the airport upon arrival.

[Kali]

16. there might be an ID check at the airport if they are flying, but I would think

the flight IN would be the place to check documents (disclaimer - I haven't flown in and out of Mexico since I was a minor so I am certainly not an expert on that mode of entry)

[LooseWilly]

17. Well, a notary isn't *that* hard to find... if one chooses to look.

Actually, now that I think about it... I might've needed to get the letter I wrote notarized. You might be able to find a "mobile notary" in the phone book though... who will come to you. If not, there will usually be several near any place where there are legal documents to be dealt with... so any metropolitan "downtown" will have them plentifully available.

As for the "travel visa"... a tourist visa for Mexico is little more than a formality for a US citizen. The stewardesses will hand out the form on the plane, and if you have at least the outlines of your itinerary on hand, it is easily filled out... and a visa will be issued in the process of going through customs. If the children are entering through an overland entry, the process is even more simple. The same form is presented to be filled out, but the land border Mexican officials often couldn't care less about the filling in of all the blanks of the form in order to present a tourist visa. Sometimes they just plain don't want to be bothered, and will just tell you to go to a consulate wherever you are going. (Technically kind of dicey, but pressing a Mexican border official to fill out paperwork has never seemed like a good idea to me... better to just find someone in the next city, and in the meantime explain to anyone who asks that the guy you asked said to ask someone else... if anyone really cares, they'll have the paperwork and will give it to one to fill out.)

As has been posted elsewhere in this thread... it is ALWAYS coming back to "the land of the free" that is the hassle. As long as you're not carrying guns, explosives, or a hell of a lot of drugs... going into Mexico is simple... come to think of it, you could probably bring in guns, explosives, or a rather large quantity of drugs if you wanted... I've never been hassled going *into* Mexico... only coming North through Sinaloa in a car, or at the US border (and there was a bit of a line and some bureaucratic annoyances crossing the border from Mexico into Guatemala... but that was during the EZLN uprising, and everyone was kind of tense at the time)... have I ever been hassled in the slightest.

As long as the parent's name matches and there is a notarized letter, everything should be copacetic.

[Kali]

15. If they are traveling by car they MIGHT get hassled by the Mexican authorities

when they try to ENTER Mexico - if they get visas at the border and take the kids in with them, they might be asked for documents/letters etc, but if they are already have documents and are say in a car, at the 20 mile checkpoint for the vehicle they won't ask about the passengers (at least I have never had that happen and I have traveled with van loads of Germans) Just the driver's papers and the car documents.

(I don't think I've ever been asked for documents at any army check points either, unlike my German friends at the check points on this side)