Joint custody and trips to the UK

My ex-husband and I divorced extremely amicably. As strange as it probably seems to most people, we are still friendly with each other...just never should have been married. We have one daughter, whom we share custody of. We worked out the parenting plan in the divorce so that she would stay with him during the school year (and thus she would get to stay in her current school with her current friends), and I would get her for all holidays and the entire summer. I'll be moving to Scotland sometime in August (depending on how quickly my fiance visa gets approved).

So here are my questions...at no point will she be visiting me in the UK for more than 6 months, just due to the parenting plan. The most will be about 3 months during her summer visits. I have told her father it would be best to have a letter of consent during all of her trips to the UK (even though it is in the parenting plan), just in case, and he has agreed to write the letters whenever necessary. But beyond that, does she need some kind of visa to come over for her visits? I'm not allowed to keep her past the 6 month visitor window, so I shoudn't need a visa for her, correct?

Her father and I are going to take her to get a passport soon, so that part will be taken care of when the time comes. But beyond that, is there anything else I need to know?

As far as I know there is nothing else you would need to do. I do think it is a good idea having a letter from her father too! I was advised by the airline to do just that when travelling on my own with my kids even though I am married to their father.

If your child is only an American citizen and combined with being a non UK resident, you need to consider health insurance.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors/index.htm

You also may need a visa for her, dependent on time of year (i.e. school time / or not), length of stay, citizenhip status and other factors etc.

See, for example, special visitor visa: child:

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/infs/inf2visitors#22135107

May also be other legal issues to consider in terms of parental responsibility?

I'd post your queries in the relevant subject specific boards for health insurance, visa issues and and any issues regarding education, as you will get replies to each subject in more detail. 

HTH. 

OMG I am going through the same situation.  It is SOOO nice to know that someone else is in my same boat.

Sidenote - my ex and are are battling it out.

If your child is only an American citizen and combined with being a non UK resident, you need to consider health insurance.

I will not need health insurance for her. Her father (my ex-husband) is active duty military and thus she is fully covered under him. According to my ex-husband, there is an American military hospital nearby where I am moving in Scotland, but she would still be covered even if there weren't. I need to find out the specifics on all of that though, so that is a good reminder.

(Edit: Hmm, the one he was thinking of is apparently no longer there. I know she can get care covered at pretty much any medical facility, but I'd better really look into this. Thanks for making me think of that!  )

I don't know why there would be parental responsibility issues. All of that should be in the parenting plan filed with the divorce. I will look into the special visitor visa though. Thanks for the information.

I am looking into medical coverage for my daughter for when she visits, and i believe cant you get travel insurance and that will cover things medically while traveling?
 

for you both, I'd still do this for each topic of query / concern:

I'd post your queries in the relevant subject specific boards for health insurance, visa issues and and any issues regarding education, as you will get replies to each subject in more detail. 

HTH. 

as you're likely to get more answers and more detailed answers.

Best of luck!