Kids travelling with one parent

Me (Dual US/UK), my kids (Dual US/UK) and my husband (UK) are going to be travelling to the USA for half term.  My flights are being paid for as I'm attending a conference and I'm staying longer.  What this means is that my husband will be entering/leaving the USA alone with the kids and entering alone with the kids to the UK.

Kids are aged 9/7 so able to verify their dad, etc., but we've never not all flown together.  Is there a template letter we should fill out to show he has permission to take them? Copy of my passport with my phone number, etc.? Do we need a letter (I feel like I flew home to the UK without any proof, etc. but can't remember).

Thank you-Any help very much appreciated!

I'll let someone else address your question, but I did want to point out some potential pitfalls.

Your kids must enter the US on their US passports.  However, they can't then enter the UK on those American passports unless they have a visa for the UK.

Be sure to bring both.

Personally, I wouldn't bother with a letter for my own kids.  My wife has made tens of trips with the kids and without me and it has never even been a minor thought in anyone's mind.  Why should it be different for a man? Not every man is a child molestor or abducting their own children and the people who think this should be challenged.  Not having a go at you, OP, it's a valid question

That said, I must have travelled internationally with my kids a few times and never had a problem.  My 15 just went to France by herself and wasn't asked anything. 

Not having a go at you, OP, it's a valid question.

I know that the consensus here is that the single parent should always travel with a letter. Better safe than sorry. 

Don't get me wrong, my kid did have a letter when she travelled alone , she just didn't need it. I think we made a letter for the kids when travelling with grandmother.



As far as a template, we just wing it and include a photocopy of the other parent's passport.

Just have a letter for your husband stating you are aware that he is travelling to from the USA/UK between "dates" and signed by you.  Have a copy of your passport and the children's birth certificates naming you both as the parents.  Also have a contact number where you can be reached.  For the passport/birth certificate copies, just a photo of them on the phone will be fine.

It's almost guaranteed that will be asked at some point.  The UK airports have signs all over them now saying if only travelling with one parent to have that information ready.

Fantastic, thank you very much for all of this!

The dual citizens in the family always travel with both passports and enter into the US/UK with the appropriate ones, although I'm usually the 'holder of all passports' so will have to give them all to my husband!

Hadn't even thought of copies of birth certificates, etc., so will do that, letter, phone number, etc. Happy to have it all ready for them rather than not at all and mess up the trip.

Much appreciated-I knew I would find my answer here!

Thank you!

Don't forget travel insurance

Thank you!

We've got that, too!