To say no to 16year olds flying alone

[Dreamholidaynot]

To America!

I have a set of twins that turned 16 last week. Their dad is American but lived in the UK most of his life, returned home to New York about 6 years ago when we divorced.

His birthday is at the end of the month so he would like to give them a fabulous holiday in New York for about 8 days starting next week. He has an amazing itinerary with every day packed which is awesome.

The problem is, he wants them to travel on their own from London to JFK. They've travelled to the US and other places with me, never on their own and I think it's too much for them to do! The whole airport palaver, 13hr flight, immigration, etc They have an visa waiver from when we traveled there last year but it was still a stressful journey. What if something happens in the way? Cancellations, turbulence, 'baddies'? I'm terrified but I don't want to ruin their lives because of my own anxiety.

I know 16year olds can travel on their own. My son's best friend just returned from France with another friend and I hear this is the age they do this on their own. I just can't imagine it. My ex feels they are more than capable and I'm 'restricting their growth'. He traveled a lot from a young age with the army. He also travels at very short notice due to his work but I usually need more time to prepare for things like this.

Am I being unreasonable to say no to this journey. Would you let your own 16yr old travel without a parent or guardian that far away?

Please be kind, I've posted here because I'm desperate for some real opinions but already feeling fragile because my son is already sulking at me and I the ex pressing me. Time is of the essence if they are going.

Thank you

The citizenship at birth only applies if parents were married. If they weren't and one parent isn't a US citizen then there are additional steps (a blood relationship needs to be established - this can be being on the birth cert). It's not automatic in that case, but try explaining that to a border guard!

My children were entitled to apply for US citizenship because one parent is American. They're not atomically US citizens if they've never resided there and never applied for citizenship. We didn't apply. They're over 18 now so the window to apply has passed.

Thats not true, the age limit to register a child born abroad is age 18 but that isn’t an application for citizenship, that is merely registering the birth of a US citizen child born abroad.

The child is still a US citizen from birth and it is automatic.

“A person born abroad in wedlock to a U.S. citizen and an alien acquires U.S. citizenship at birth if the U.S. citizen parent has been physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions prior to the person’s birth for the period required by the statute in effect when the person was born (INA 301(g), formerly INA 301(a)(7)).
For birth on or after November 14, 1986, the U.S. citizen parent must have been physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for five years prior to the person’s birth, at least two of which were after the age of 14.”

and
”A person born abroad out-of-wedlock on or after November 14, 1986to a U.S. citizen father and an alien mother may acquire U.S. citizenship under 301(g) of the INA, as made applicable by the “new” Section 309(a) of the INA, if:

1. A blood relationship between the person and the father is established by clear and convincing evidence.
2. The father was a U.S. citizen at the time of the person’s birth;
3. The father (unless deceased) has agreed in writing to provide financial support for the person until he or she reaches the age of 18 years; and
4. While the person is under the age of 18 years:
5. the person is legitimated under the law of his/her residence or domicile, or
6. the father acknowledges paternity of the person in writing under oath, or
7. the paternity of the person is established by adjudication of a competent court.

If the child was born abroad out-of-wedlock on or after November 14, 1986 to a U.S. citizen father who satisfies the requirements of the “new” INA 309(a) as listed above, the child will acquire U.S. citizenship if the U.S. citizen father was physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for five years prior to the person’s birth, including at least two of which were after turning age 14.” https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/us-citizenship/Acquisition-US-Citizenship-Child-Born-Abroad.html

YABVU

No it doesn’t. Not since 1986, I have posted the guidance

They're entitled to citizenship if they want to apply for it but they are not automatically US citizens

US Citizenship

They are old enough.
Have travel experience.
Have phones, you can track location & keep in touch in WhatsApp.
They can ask flight staff if have trouble. Teo travelling makes it better.

Sorry, but your site repeats what I have said
The law in effect at the time of birth determines whether someone born outside the United States to a U.S. citizen parent (or parents) is a U.S. citizen at birth

The rest is applying for documents that prove the US citizenship that they got at birth.

How horribly overbearing for two sensible teens. You sound a bit jealous tbh and determined to ruin their fun.

I think 16 is fine, is it a direct flight ? And will dad be waiting at the gates at arrival ? And they will have each other too.

Well given the OP talks about their divorce I assume they were married.
But if not their father did acknowledge they are his so marriage is not needed.

It's fine.

They are 16 and there are two of them.

Here is the manual. Given what the OP has said, twins born in wedlock to US citizen parent, they have been US citizens from birth and are required to use a U.S. passport to enter/leave the US even if no steps have been taken to register them as US citizens.

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-h-chapter-3

I flew Glasgow to London alone a few times when i was 10, nearly 50 years ago

Am sure they will be fine

I would go to the airport and help them check in. Ask them to ring you when they arrive at the other side. There are two of them and they are not alone, you can't spoil this adventure for them but as a Mum, I can understand your concern. Dad will be at the other end and its not like they can get off at the wrong airport! Worst case scenario is that the luggage goes astray and Dad will have to deal with that.

Be strong for them, they will worry if you make it clear you are upset - you love them and you care, its only natural. In two years time they could be off to Uni so the change has got to happen at some point.

If something goes wrong on a plane there's not a thing you can do about it whether you're there or not. The chances of that happening, however, are extremely rare.

I clicked on this post assuming a bunch of 16 yo friends were wanting to go on holiday for a week without parents, and I still would probably have said YABU. Getting on one flight to be met by a parent at the other end, you're being a bit ridiculous to be frank.

"I have a set of twins that turned 16 last week. Their dad is American but lived in the UK most of his life, returned home to New York about 6 years ago when we divorced." From the op's original post.

It looks as if they were born and registered in the UK at birth. I don't think the rules apply to them.

My son did this trip alone recently and is the same age. He was fine and said it was easy! He had also never flown alone before.

The only problem I can see is them getting distracted at the airport by all the give us your money distractions they lay on, and missing the flight call!

( yes I have , once, and the sight of the gate staff sniggering as my friend and I ran like ducks was enough to make me very careful every time I have flown since)

As the OP mentions dad as being in the military and presumably married to her & stationed in the U.K. when the twins were born, they again would still be automatically US citizens at birth

C. Children of Armed Forces Members or U.S. Government Employees (or their Spouses)

”A child born outside of the United States acquires automatic citizenship under INA 320 in cases where the child is an LPR and is in the legal and physical custody of his or her U.S. citizen parent who is:[16]

• Stationed and residing outside of the United States as a member of the U.S. armed forces;[17]
• Stationed and residing outside of the United States as an employee of the U.S. government;[18] or
• The spouse residing outside the United States in marital union[19] with a U.S. armed forces member or U.S. government employee who is stationed outside of the United States.[20]”

(The LPR relates to at the time of their birth, not years later post divorce)

I also think at 16 you have to leave the decision up to them whether they want to do it or not .

Do you mean the OP is unreasonable for feeling unsure about their first unaccompanied trip which is being organised in haste on a very short notice, or is she unreasonable for re-evaluating and confirming their trip? It isn't really clear...

All they will need is a visa and I am sure the op and her twins have made plenty of trips to and from New York.

Being born and registered in the U.K. does not stop someone having US citizenship from birth if one of their parents meets the criteria.

Airports are probably the safest place for them to be once through security.
just make sure they have charged phones (spare battery bank) that you can reach them on before they board and once they land and get through immigration. It will give you peace maybe if you put a tracker like Life360 on and you can see where they are.
ultimately though you would be unreasonable to not let them go. They’ll be fine.

The rules apply to everyone, I was born and registered in the U.K.
I was still automatically born a U.S. citizen.