Leaving Thailand With Your Children

[expatthai]

I am an American living in Thailand. I live here with my American wife and 3 young (American born) children.

I hold my passport and my children's passports. Now, while myself and my family are

perfectly happy, I am curious about a possible situation. Let's say my wife decides she wants to leave Thailand with the

children. But, she doesnt have their passports. Can she go to the US Embassy, report their passports lost or

stolen, get new passports for the children and then leave the country without my knowledge? Is there any system

in place within the US Embassy to prevent something like this from happening? Perhaps a requirement for a notorized letter from both

parents giving permission to leave the country or obtain new passports. Lastly, is there anything one could do to prevent something like this from happening, such as, contacting the Embassy and getting on a watch list?

Thanks for any and all replies.

[Mario2008]

Don't know the answer regarding the passport. But remember that simply returning to the US might be possible, but would not prevent to file for (divorce and) custody.

[InterestedObserver]

First she would have to file a Thai police report on the circumstances of her loosing the passport(s). Outside of lying, a crime, not much she could do there. I'm sure that the US Embassy would make inquiries as to the whereabouts and status of the childrens father. Consulate officials don't operate in a vacuum and are well aware of the intrigues of family life here in Thailand.

[chmike]

I am an American living in Thailand. I live here with my American wife and 3 young (American born) children.

I hold my passport and my children's passports. Now, while myself and my family are

perfectly happy, I am curious about a possible situation. Let's say my wife decides she wants to leave Thailand with the

children. But, she doesnt have their passports. Can she go to the US Embassy, report their passports lost or

stolen, get new passports for the children and then leave the country without my knowledge? Is there any system

in place within the US Embassy to prevent something like this from happening? Perhaps a requirement for a notorized letter from both

parents giving permission to leave the country or obtain new passports. Lastly, is there anything one could do to prevent something like this from happening, such as, contacting the Embassy and getting on a watch list?

Thanks for any and all replies.

Yes, there is something in place for EXACTLY these types of situations. This applies to both Embassies abroad and Passport agencies in the U.S. For a child aged 16 or under applying for or renewing a US passport, BOTH parents are required to be present, or a notarized statement from the other parent expressly giving permission to issue the passport is required. The only exceptions to this is if you have clear, documentary evidence that you have sole custody of the minor or that the other parent is deceased or missing.

But remember, this works both ways. If you want to renew or replace your children's passports (either here or in the US) you will be required to have your wife appear with you, or have a notarized letter from her. I had exactly this situation with my son a few years back when I travelled with my son to the U.S. When we went to the passport agency in Los Angeles to renew his US passport, they would not process it without his mother's approval. I finally had someone Fed Ex our Thai divorce decree, stating that I had sole custody, before they would issue his passport. For more information, see the US State Department website:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppi/family/family_864.html