Taking step-daughter to visit the UK. Does she need her father's permission?

[angryfarang]

Hi Everyone,

I plan to take my wife, son and step-daughter to the UK for a 2 week holiday this summer.

A friend said it might be a problem if we can't get permission from him. Unfortunately he disappeared after her birth and has not been heard of since.

Would this be a problem obtaining a visiting visa?

Thanks.

[7by7]

Shouldn't be as she is being accompanied by her mother.

If her mother has a sole custody document issued by an ampur or court then definitely wont be.

[SantiSuk]

You will find that FCO guidance says:

"If you're under 18

You can apply for a standard visitor visa if you’re under 18 and:

• ...........
• you have consent from your parent or guardian to travel to the UK

​Note the use of the singular. There would only be an issue if the one parent who took the child was not the regular carer of the child and the other parent who was the regular carer took issue with the departure and notified that fact to Thai immigration or to UK embassy or UK Border.

[Maybole]

This happened many years ago. I got a letter from the Pu Yai Ban affirming that my daughter's father had abandoned her at birth and had not been seen for more than seven years, nor had he in any way contributed to her upbringing. In return he relieved me of a 100Thb fee.

[angryfarang]

Great, thanks guys.