I flew to out of Thailand yesterday and brought my youngest. At the airport I was asked the question "Where's your wife". I answered that she was at home taking care of our oldest. All of a sudden there's all sorts of commotion. Our youngest doesn't have my family name. She does have another passport (from my country of origin) but this didn't matter.
I didn't realise I was not allowed to leave with my daughter. What if she had entered as a foreigner? Would that have made any difference? As I understand it, a copy of the birth certificate wouldn't have sufficed?
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Problem At Suvarnabhumi
Started by Forethat, 2012-02-03 07:25
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37 replies to this topic
#2
necronx99
. Posted 2012-02-03 07:48:19
From their pov you are taking a child out of the country, it could be anyones...I believe a written permission is required.
#3
Forethat
PGA Member Posted 2012-02-03 07:51:33
From their pov you are taking a child out of the country, it could be anyones...I believe a written permission is required. #4
zzaa09
curmudgeonly misanthropic nonpat Posted 2012-02-03 07:57:19
From their pov you are taking a child out of the country, it could be anyones...I believe a written permission is required. I'm perplexed with these politics. These ideals and consciousness, as they apply to children, are a contemporary development. #5
necronx99
. Posted 2012-02-03 07:59:29
From their pov you are taking a child out of the country, it could be anyones...I believe a written permission is required. Just because you are the father doesn't mean you have custody, and even if you have they put this in to stop one partner from absconding o/s with a child when there is a split. #6
necronx99
. Posted 2012-02-03 08:01:35
From their pov you are taking a child out of the country, it could be anyones...I believe a written permission is required. I'm perplexed with these politics. These ideals and consciousness, as they apply to children, are a contemporary development. Anything for the little kiddies. #7
Forethat
PGA Member Posted 2012-02-03 08:05:03
From their pov you are taking a child out of the country, it could be anyones...I believe a written permission is required. Just because you are the father doesn't mean you have custody, and even if you have they put this in to stop one partner from absconding o/s with a child when there is a split. #8
Mario2008
Superb Member Posted 2012-02-03 08:12:57
Since a couple of month, it is a new policy to check in case of a minor traveling with only one adult/parent. But yours is the first report I have seen about being actually being enforced.
The IATA Database now states: Thailand (TH) Minors: - When arriving in, or departing from Thailand, minors aged under 16 years, traveling unaccompanied or without one or both parents are required to hold a letter of consent from the non traveling parent(s). Additionally, unaccompanied minors are required to hold a copy of their birth certificate. #9
necronx99
. Posted 2012-02-03 08:20:28
From their pov you are taking a child out of the country, it could be anyones...I believe a written permission is required. Just because you are the father doesn't mean you have custody, and even if you have they put this in to stop one partner from absconding o/s with a child when there is a split. https://help.cbp.gov...not-a-parent-or http://www.smartrave...s/children.html #10
Forethat
PGA Member Posted 2012-02-03 10:36:40
Since a couple of month, it is a new policy to check in case of a minor traveling with only one adult/parent. But yours is the first report I have seen about being actually being enforced. The IATA Database now states: Thailand (TH) Minors: - When arriving in, or departing from Thailand, minors aged under 16 years, traveling unaccompanied or without one or both parents are required to hold a letter of consent from the non traveling parent(s). Additionally, unaccompanied minors are required to hold a copy of their birth certificate. #11
Forethat
PGA Member Posted 2012-02-03 18:25:26
Since a couple of month, it is a new policy to check in case of a minor traveling with only one adult/parent. But yours is the first report I have seen about being actually being enforced. The IATA Database now states: Thailand (TH) Minors: - When arriving in, or departing from Thailand, minors aged under 16 years, traveling unaccompanied or without one or both parents are required to hold a letter of consent from the non traveling parent(s). Additionally, unaccompanied minors are required to hold a copy of their birth certificate. #12
thaiclan
Senior Member Posted 2012-02-03 18:59:47
It's the same for women....
When I married I didn't take my husbands name but both my children have his surname. I am often asked for proof as being their mother (I am British, father is British and kids are British - not adopted Thai's) when I leave Thailand alone with the kids. I think it's great they ask these questions as it shows they are checking to ensure kids are not being trafficked. When I take my friends daughter I get him to write a letter and include photocopies of his passport and her birth cert. #13
Payboy
Bored Member Posted 2012-02-03 19:36:46
On the other hand, a child is allowed to leave on an overseas school excursion without both parents.
#14
kaizbkk
Newbie Posted 2012-02-05 18:03:19
This is interesting- 3 years ago I was asked the same thing with my 3 year old son using a us passport. I said according to the sign out front the mother was not allowed past a certain point without a ticket and she was probably in a taxi home! My question is at what age can they deny a us citizen from leaving? how do they know he is actually thai- could be anywhere from se asia?
#15
Crossy
Bull Powered Member Posted 2012-02-05 19:11:27
My two grand-daughters are arriving at the end of February for a holiday, it's their third visit to Thailand.
As with their last visit they will be travelling with their grand parents (from my son in laws side of course), should I advise them to get a letter from their son and my daughter just in case?? Both are blue eyed blonde English roses. #16
thaiclan
Senior Member Posted 2012-02-05 22:10:09
@ Crossy - yes get a letter from the parents and include copies of the parents passport/ID and a phone number. My kids are blonde blue eyed roses too and I still get asked - and I am their mother but do not share their surname.
It is not just a "Thai" thing, any child travelling with people that are not their parents/legal guardians MAY be subject to questions on who they are with and whether they have permission. Its a child trafficking prevention measure - nothing to do with being Thai. #17
Ijustwannateach
Star Member Posted 2012-02-06 05:49:32
I would suppose on school excursions the adults in charge generally have signed release forms from the actual parents.... there is probably some regulation about minor under 16 travelling *alone* as well....
And yes, this is a good regulation- as long as there is also an indication of what happens in a single parent family (especially if the other parent is not custodial, considered dangerous or a threat, or dead). #18
necronx99
. Posted 2012-02-06 06:05:43
I would suppose on school excursions the adults in charge generally have signed release forms from the actual parents.... there is probably some regulation about minor under 16 travelling *alone* as well.... And yes, this is a good regulation- as long as there is also an indication of what happens in a single parent family (especially if the other parent is not custodial, considered dangerous or a threat, or dead). It's one of those things where everyone thinks it's a good idea, but no concencus on where, how and by who it is policed has been reached. I could think of lots of situations where getting "meaningful" proof of your right to travel with your child could be problematic or impossible, and lots of situations where evidence presented is totally meaningless. #19
Mario2008
Superb Member Posted 2012-02-06 08:30:03
This is interesting- 3 years ago I was asked the same thing with my 3 year old son using a us passport. I said according to the sign out front the mother was not allowed past a certain point without a ticket and she was probably in a taxi home! My question is at what age can they deny a us citizen from leaving? how do they know he is actually thai- could be anywhere from se asia? According to the rules published by IATA, all minors under 16 travelling alone or without both parents need permission from both parents to travel. Always carry permission to prevent trouble. Nationality does not matter. #20
ivowatson
Senior Member Posted 2012-02-06 14:21:19
Does anyone know what exactly a letter of consent means? Does it need to be 'certified'? And by whom? If not, it would be very easy to falsify such a letter, IMHO.
#21
somtampet
Super Member Posted 2012-02-06 14:25:16
Since a couple of month, it is a new policy to check in case of a minor traveling with only one adult/parent. But yours is the first report I have seen about being actually being enforced. The IATA Database now states: Thailand (TH) Minors: - When arriving in, or departing from Thailand, minors aged under 16 years, traveling unaccompanied or without one or both parents are required to hold a letter of consent from the non traveling parent(s). Additionally, unaccompanied minors are required to hold a copy of their birth certificate. When i was applying for gf and her son,s visa for a 3 week holiday to the uk,she had to have a letter,signed by 3 witnesses to state she is the sole guardian,as she kicked her thai bf out,when she was pregnant,he got another girl pregnant too.so her son has never seen the dad,and she has bought him up until he came to live with us age 4 #22
PattayaParent
Titanium Member Posted 2012-02-06 15:39:37
It's the same for women.... When I married I didn't take my husbands name but both my children have his surname. I am often asked for proof as being their mother (I am British, father is British and kids are British - not adopted Thai's) when I leave Thailand alone with the kids. I think it's great they ask these questions as it shows they are checking to ensure kids are not being trafficked. When I take my friends daughter I get him to write a letter and include photocopies of his passport and her birth cert. In 7 years my wife has not been asked once who is the kid with the different surname that she's taking out of Thailand or where is the father. #23
Mario2008
Superb Member Posted 2012-02-06 16:03:58
There is no officail format for such letter.
I would simply write a note stating to give permisison to husband/wife to travel with the child. In case it is another person/person not mentioned on the birth certifiacte one would better explicetly identify that person with name, etc. I would also give full contact details, as well as a signed copy of ID-card/passport giving the permisison to travel. Yes, it i easy to fake. But immigration can ask questions if they sense something is not right, for example a kid being frightened. A week ago a person at Schiphol Airport was arrested because he rose suspicion, and a check turned up he didn't have permission. #24
ivowatson
Senior Member Posted 2012-02-07 09:26:16
Thanks a lot!
There is no officail format for such letter. I would simply write a note stating to give permisison to husband/wife to travel with the child. In case it is another person/person not mentioned on the birth certifiacte one would better explicetly identify that person with name, etc. I would also give full contact details, as well as a signed copy of ID-card/passport giving the permisison to travel. Yes, it i easy to fake. But immigration can ask questions if they sense something is not right, for example a kid being frightened. A week ago a person at Schiphol Airport was arrested because he rose suspicion, and a check turned up he didn't have permission. #25
Forethat
PGA Member Posted 2012-03-01 10:50:55
They have definitely cranked up the level of attention they pay to this matter. I flew out from Suvarnabhumi last week on a one-way ticket and again had to show documentation to prove I was the father and had permission to take my daughter out of Thailand.
I was met by exactly the same questions at Heathrow. |
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