HOLIDAY/BIRTH CERT CRISIS 😩

[OHFUCKCRAP]

Name changed incase anyone can link me to previous posts.

IM PANICKING.

me and my dd age 7 are due to go abroad in 2.5 weeks. We have different surnames and I’m seperated from her father. Got his permission to take her out the country and he’s going to provide a letter no problem.

On the gov website it says I need her birth certificate to prove I’m her mother. Lovely ! Collect it from my stepdad (he keeps all my important documents always has done) and he’s fucking LAMINATED it 😩😩😩 so god knows what they are going to do if they ask for it.

I go back on the gov website to order a new one that is posted the next working day. AMAZING. Only I’m putting in her details TIME AND TIME again and nothing is coming up. Can’t even find her on the GRO index.

I’ve rambled and I’m sorry but WHAT DO I DO NOW?!! She has had a very shit year and if they turn us away her heart will break 😩😩😩

A teaching assistant here. Depending on the laminator the plastic could very well be stuck to the certificate and take the print off. DO NOT TRY AND REMOVE IT!!!

@StormzyinaTCup I am going to sleep on it and rethink with a clear head tomorrow. I’m not thinking clearly at all (night shift worker) & haven’t slept since Friday night.

@icklehels thank you. I don’t think I’m going too

Cut it out of the laminated sheet? It’s only sealed the edges? I’ve taken load of stuff out.

I used to have a copy of birth certificate on me for travel. Both my children have their dads surname. I have never really had a problem travelling by myself. Couple of times when they were babies I was asked for birth certificate and a folded paper copy was fine.

Stop panicking!
you can use copies of birth certificates so a laminated original will be fine. Or just photocopy it.

Just take a photo of it on your phone - make sure there's no reflection on the picture and you won't even be able to tell it was laminated.

Btw, tried to look at your screenshot and it's too blurry to read the writing.

Will send a screen shot of a filled in form get some sleep look tomorrow

Has your stepdad used a laminator of his own?

If so could you laminate a piece of paper to see if it does just seal the edges?

I regularly travel with my kids on my own, and have a different surname. Have never been asked for birth certificates.

My ds was asked once at the airport who I was.

His reply was "Sally Anne Jones. It says it there on her passport" 🤦🏼‍♀️🤣

I’ve been asked but only on return to UK funnily enough. Laminated will be fine. You’ve got the letter from your partner too. If you wanted to me a million percent sure go on the gov website and print off your proof of receiving child benefit.

Even if they did stop you it would be for further questions not to refuse you travel. You have a passport you are legally allowed to travel

Ex partner sorry

You don't even need the GRO number. I've ordered two without recently. Just put all of the details of the child / parents in, and they'll find it without.

@NoWordForFluffy I have tried that and they can’t find her. Someone has found me the number

I had to ring the GRO once and they were really kind and helpful, give it a try and it will probably be fine.

Also I've had to travel without my kids' dad too, they just asked the children whether I was their mum. I didn't need the letter or the birth certificate. You'll likely be fine.

I've done this before it does work.

Funnily enough the only time I’ve ever known anyone stopped and asked for all their documentation was travelling with friends and one of the mums with the same name as her kids was stopped.

she’d brought nothing, as everyone thinks it’s due to having different names. It’s not.

fortunately they managed to get hold of her husband who verbally gave permission and emailed her copies of birth certs etc. but it was touch and go for a while whether she’d be allowed on/make the flight.

if you’re travelling alone with kids you should really have your documentation regardless of names. There are many cultures where one parent has a different name- we may think it’s unusual but internationally it isn’t.

The website didn't confirm it could find them before I ordered. I just ordered without and they appeared two days later. Do you mean they contacted you to say they can't find her?

Omg. Just calm down. This is ridiculous.

Cut the damn thing out of the laminate. Why aren’t you just listening to an extremely simple solution.

You'll be fine, but this is why, as Mumsnet is always saying, the child of an unmarried mother should be given the mother's name! Honestly why you would give the kid the name of a man you're not married to, I will never understand.

Hang on, have the people who are saying to cut the plastic and the paper will slide out had success with this?

I work in a school and laminate and then cut the laminated pieces all day long it feels like often and they are always stuck together. Cutting it has never released it from the plastic, those 2 plastic sheets and that piece of paper are melded together for all of eternity. Unless they get a bit soggy around the edges sometimes they will come apart but the paper rips and is stuck half on each bit of plastic. Not saying other people's experiences aren't true, but what I'm saying isn't untrue either. I'd say don't cut it incase he's got a laminator like ours.

Does your DD father have a passport?

If so get a photocopy and get him to sign that he gives permission. It will cover everything.

@Thewizardbinbag oh look another one 🤨

What if I accidentally ruin this one? Then what? What if it doesn’t actually work. Take your snappy comments else where please.

@TheStoryof10 the laminate quite literally can't be stuck together... there's paper inbetween the two parts.
You can cut and the laminate still hold up well, but you will be able to pick apart the two sheets and remove the paper inside just fine