AIBU to think I could be taking anyones children abroad.

[timetochangeagain]

Ive just flicked through their passports. They have both had them since they were tiny babies - there is no way you can tell either of their passports are them.

When you get on the boat or on the tunnel, the policemen/women or customs people look quite carefully at the photos, and then count up the number of children, and then say, ok, so this must be XXX and they see if the child reacts and if they look the right age too.

They do it quite discreetly but they definitely check.

xposts

Legally they can travel on those passports until they expire. According to the Passport Agency any border staff should be looking at face shape/eye colour etc.

I know this because i phoned them to check following an encounter will a very obnoxious border guy at Amsterdam (we were flying through there) who said that i shouldn't be using my DD's passport as it looked nothing like her. She was nearly 5 at the time and of course looked nothing like her 6mnth old baby photo.

I don't know whether he was just having a bad day and picked on us because i'm mixed race or because he genuinely thought that was the proper procedure. Anyway he finally let us through after a long wait (DH had already gone through with DS) and a very vocal telling off.

The Passport Agency were very sypathetic and recommended that i travel with the kids birth certificates in future.

I've flown through Amsterdam several times since and we've never been stopped again nor have i had any problems at any other airport though my DD was once asked to list all four of our birthdays at check in

Well we are here at the port and both DCs are sleeping. I'm so excited I could burst - I can't believe our cheap last minute deal include a trip to Disney - wwwwwwweeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

Dd looks like a walking talking baby doll - she is tiny you'd never guess her age by looking at her.

beanbagz that must have been really scarey.

Ok we are through French customs - they didn't even take the passports - just waved us through when I tried to hand them over.

British customs - just waved us straight through - didn't even check we had passports - they are on my lap.

On that basis - I would say dh and I as well as the DCs could be anyone.

Have only had to hand over passport to actually check onto ferry.

Quite scary really.

If they haven't checked them this end they will check them at the other, usually.

I thought with the new chipped passports they would be able to check ( I assume once child has reached toddler age) with the eye scanner machine thingies? Assuming said child stays still long enough/ looks in the right directions etc?

DS had his passport photo taken when he was 12 weeks old and it has never looked like him. Even when he was 12 weeks old. If I hadn't been at the photo shop when it was taken, I would have questioned it.

I agee that something should be done either when the passports are applied for or something!!!!
In Italy to get the girls ID cards - dh and I and the child had to present at the request ( ok easier as the councils issue the cards). Dd2 card is valid only for 3 years until her 6th birthday . Dd1s is valid for 5 years. However when we travel i have to carry a version of the birth certificate which they check both as we leave and return to the country.
To get passports its the same both parents have to be present or you have to have a signed form from the other parent giving consent to the passport.
When they were both infants the cards were valid for 5 years but clearly stated who the parents were and one of us had to be traveling with them. When gparents took one to the UK we had to get a form authorising them to take her and it was checked on exit and arrival in the UK. Ys more hassle but in this case I am happy with it!!!! oh and theid cards are a minimal cost.

Be careful - you do have to update the baby ones quite quickly, but I can't quite remember what the limit is. Maybe two? Better check before you travel to be on the safe side.

If you're going to Canada, especially if you cross the border from the US, you might want to bring some proof that you are a parent- as well as their passports. Canada is fanatic about preventing child abductions (a good thing!) but it did cause some problems when DH and I took DC across the border at Niagara Falls. I am white, DH black, DCs mixed but in summer, tanned, look much more like DH. Canadian border agents didn't believe I was their mother- pulled us aside, grilled 3 yo son about who I was and very reluctanly let us in- did warn us to travel with marriage certificate in future.