Custody & Kidnapping

According to the US State Department website both parents/guardians must authorize the issuance of the child’s passport. It says, “the best way to do this is for both parents/guardians to go with the child in person to apply for the passport.” As you will see on their website, the only way that one parent can file for a passport on his/her own is if s/he has a legal document showing sole legal custody, s/he is the only parent on the birth certificate, or a few other circumstances exist. If you click on #7,” Show Parental Consent” on the website link above, you will see this information.

Here’s a link for getting a passport when a child is 16 or over. Below is some information on getting a passport for a minor when only one parent is available, and the minor is under 16.

[ADD IF THERE MAY BE DV OR SOME OTHER REASON THAT SHE CAN’T GET THE A’S SIGNATURE: As you will see from the information on the government’s website, form DS-5525 can be used if one parent cannot locate the other parent. However, in some situations, a victim of domestic violence who has a valid order of protection against the other parent may also be able to use this form in order to try to prove that s/he cannot contact the other parent. A victim may also be required to provide additional “proof” that s/he experienced domestic violence, which may include court documentation. Often, having an attorney’s help in filling out this form may be helpful to best be able to make one’s case that due to the danger, the parent cannot contact the other parent.]

However, in a situation where one parent is worried that the other parent may try to falsify his/her signature in order to apply for a passport or may apply for a passport without notifying the other parent, the concerned parent may want to register with the Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program.