daughter travelling to US with friend's parent

[oxocube]

My daughter will be travelling to the US in a few months with her friend and friend's dad. What is the protocol here re permission for her to fly without a legal guardian? Do I have to supply a letter to the dad for him to show at check in giving my permission to take my daughter out of the country? She will be flying back as an unaccompanied minor and is 12 years old.

Any information would be very useful, thanks

Check the Border Agency website for the UK stance on things, and maybe US immigration for their rules. I imagine you'd need to provide something.

Was a looong time ago but my godmother took my brother to US. She had letters from both my parents (they were divorced). There was no problem leaving the UK with the letters, but she was grilled at US immigration. It is worth making clear where your daughter is going in US (with proof if possible). In my brother's case he was visiting my dad and stepmum and eventually they confirmed this and let them in! He flew back as an unaccompanied minor too by the way and loved it!

Thanks for the replies. I'm sure it sould be fine but I'm just trying to prevent any possible problems. My daughter's friend's parents are divorced, the dad is American and they are flying to celebrate his daughter's batmitzvah. We live in Holland but they will be flying from London. There seems to be nothing on the Heathrow website which is helpful. I read something on an American site about letters/proof of permission to travel having to be signed by an attorney and am hoping this isn't the case!

I'll check the Border Agency site, thanks

My 12yo DD is flying alone tomorrow (not to the US though) and we have done her a letter that she can produce if necessary saying that we authorise her to travel (you should mention who your DD is travelling with), who is meeting her, your address and addresses of the people she is staying with, emergency phone numbers etc

Signed by both parents.

As well as the Border Agency, I would check the US Immigration / US Embassy sites IIWY - as others have said, getting into the US is likely to be harder than getting out of the UK.

That's what I was thinking about - getting into US rather than getting out of UK might be the problem. Thanks and will keep checking!

Hi oxocube

"I read something on an American site about letters/proof of permission to travel having to be signed by an attorney and am hoping this isn't the case!"

Re your above comment I think you will indeed need something official here particularly as this involves admittance into the USA. I would ensure your DD has a notarised (i.e Solicitor/lawyers) letter signed by both parents giving permission to travel with this family.

Heathrow's website anyway would not assist here; you would also need to speak to the US Embassy at Grosvenor Square in London.

If she is travelling with an adult, is she an unaccompanied minor?

Mumofmonsters, my daughter will travel home as an UM but not TO the US. On the outward journey, she will be travelling with an adult who is a family friend but who has no legal guardianship/responsibility which is why I am questioning the paperwork

Attila, I'll check with the US Embassy, thanks. I know it might seem like I'm being over cautious but I would hate anything to go wrong to spoil this trip of a lifetime!

Have you checked with your airline? They will be very familiar with this situation and I would have thought will have latest requirements, as they won't be able to board a person who doesn't have the right paperwork/permits etc in place.