choppi

I am flying home next Saturday with my 6 month daughter to see my family. My husband is unable to come with us as he started a new job a few months back and doesn't have enough time off yet. Anyway, here's my question: would I have to have a notarized letter to say that my husband 'agrees' that I am taking our daughter with me to visit my family in Ireland and that it is my intention to return to the USA????? Of course I intend to return but in this day and age with child kidnapping, should I get such a letter??? We're gonna be in Ireland for 2 weeks.
I have been a permanent resident since 2001.


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Choppi

Manc

It can't hurt to have the letter can it? and if you're really worried about it, get it notarized too just to be on the safe side.

BrandonBrit

Is your husband American? I think it's only neccassary if your spouse is a USC. I know a couple of my friends have had one, just in case, but never needed to show them, so be on the safe side and get one Have a lovely trip home.

cpe111

My wife got stopped and was asked for a letter when she was comming back into the US with our two kids. We had been on hols in the UK and i had to return two weeks ahead of them 'cos of work.

We are both UK Citizens - kids are UK Citizens. I was on L1A, wife and kids on dependant visas.

No - it doesnt just apply to USC's.

clydegirl

I got one last time I went home with our youngest in 2004. They asked at the gate for the letter.

Partystar

I just got back from a trip home with my son, hubby stayed here. I travelled on my British passport & my son on his US passport. I took the letter, just to be safe, but was never asked for it. I say take one, it only takes a few minutes to do it & could save you a world of trouble.

Yorkieabroad

Yeah, I was stopped on the way back in and asked for it a few years ago. Didn't make sense to me....on the way out, fair enough. On the way back

blaze

I've always carried one but never been asked for it. I prefer to have one with me just in case though.

Maz

Thanks for the reminder. I'm going to England next Saturday with our daughter. Last time we went over there without hubby, we had a letter, but weren't asked for it. Hubby dropped us off, though, and was with us when we checked in.

ironporer

My 11 year old daughter needed such a letter last summer in Chicago to go abroad...which she found out at the airport checking in. Thankfully she caught me at work on a Saturday where I could draft and print the letter, and my local bank notarised and faxed it to her at the gate.

britvic

I did not know about this letter thing until the last minuet of going back, Hub's was out to Sea by then, anyway was never asked either way, my main worry was I'm still waiting for my 10 year GC so all I had was my stamp in my passport, coming back here Immigration did seem a bit miffed with only the stamp, then I also showed my Military ID and he just said I'll let you go for now then otherwise we would have to fill out all sorts of paper work

choppi

Thanks for the replies. Would anyone who had a letter in the past, could you send me a draft?


Thanks in advance.

Partystar

Just keep it simple, for example -

My wife, *your name* & daughter, *daughters name*, are travelling to England for *amount of time*. They are departing on *date* & returning on *date*. I am fully aware of their travel plans. I give permission for my wife to leave the country with our daughter. I can be contacted at any time on *phone number*.

Signed & dated by your husband.

Patrick Hasler

We allways take Seth (my stepson) when we go, he even has a different name to ours, we always carry a custody agreement incase but have never been asked for anything.
But as the baby is a USC with a UK mother you will probably be asked for something. Even a birth certificate would help.

choppi

Thanks a million PartyStar!