Not married, giving your child the fathers name and travelling?

[Magrijade]

Hello,

I've heard of many cases when travelling abroad if you aren't married and the child has taken its fathers name...being stopped by immigration etc.

However, I only seem to find cases where the parents are not of white Caucasian decent.

Has anyone else had this problem??

My bf thinks it's a plea to get him to marry me lol (maybe subconsciously) However I am planning to travel.... especially with my year off!

All advice gratefully received xx

I'm white with the same name as my children (all have my maiden name) and travelled frequently on my own with the DCs. I had sole care and control (now called PR).

I've been stopped several times but only in the US and Canada. After the first time in Toronto which was particularly horrendous coming off a flight with an 8month old baby and a 3 year old I was advised to always carry a letter. I had my XH write a letter "giving" me permission. The letter was never authenticated by anyone but was always waved through on the several occasions I was asked for it.

I am not proposing :)

We were questioned at Dover ferry when we had DD's DCuz with us. Immigration officer wanted to know why her surname was different from rest of family.
We had a letter with us from DCuz's parents, signed by both of them and all was fine.

Kids have my name, but dh has travelled with them several times without incident. He always has the birth certificate and I did write a letter giving 'permission' but he has never needed either. He says that officials always engage with the kids - to check they're happy to be traveling with him I guess - and that always seems to suffice.

Recently took DS overseas from UK without DH.

I found a template letter online that we filled in and DH signed, along with a credible witness (HR from his work, who attached a signed business card to the page). I carried that and DS's birth certificate but we weren't asked for either.

I also carried a copy of our return itinerary to show we had a flight booked (not that it means much, you don't have to show up!).

I've travelled with DS alone quite a few times and have never been questioned, although he is only 2.7yo.

Been questioned many times as ds has fathers name while I have mine, always carry a copy of the birth certificate just in case. Have had questions almost every time due to different names. Thankfully I haven't taught ds to use my real name like other members of my family, so he answers mummy when they ask him who I am. We are all white btw so skin colour doesn't matter.

I've been stopped a few times coming back into UK with DC who has father's surname: didn't have birth cert with me the first time which led to some awkwardness in middle of the night on Calais/Dover crossing. There & then I determined the next one would have my surname just to make it equally difficult for DP