Alert - leaving Bogota with Children

[Danny&Adri 1]

Alert - -

We had a situation that I wanted to alert everyone too. To leave with her son, my fiancee had a notorized document from the father. She called DAS in advanced and double checked that this was all she would need. (Along with the passport and visa, obviously.)

When she arrived at the airport, they said that since the notorized permission was signed 7 months ago, it was too old. She begged and pleaded and begged and pleaded with the supervisor, they finally let her through.

Since many of us have been waiting long time to get through IMBRA paperwork, I thought others might also have "old" notorized permissions like this. BUT DAS did not say how current it had to be... i.e. what they considered the expiration of these forms.

Best of luck to you all. The good news is that I do have my new family here with me... safe and sound.

Danny

[Peter Miami 0]

Hi Danny,

Very good information. This should help out some people.

Thank you,

Peter Miami

[j and c 8]

found this on a website (not official DAS website)

Colombia's specific procedures mandate that minors (under 18), regardless of nationality, who are traveling alone, with one parent or with a third party must present a copy of their birth certificate and written authorization from the absent parent(s) or legal guardian, specifically granting permission to travel alone, with one parent or with a third party. When a parent is deceased, a notarized copy of the death certificate is required in lieu of the written authorization. If documents are prepared in the United States, the authorization and the birth certificate must be translated into Spanish, notarized, and authenticated by the Colombian Embassy or a Colombian consulate within the United States. If documents are prepared in Colombia, only notarization by a Colombian notary is required. A permission letter prepared outside of Colombia is valid for 90 days. A permission letter prepared in Colombia is valid for 60 days.

[j and c 8]

also, found this on the US Dept of State website

ADDITIONAL EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR MINORS: To prevent international child abduction, Colombia has implemented special exit procedures for Colombian children under 18 who are departing the country without both their mother and their father or a legal guardian. These procedures apply even if the child is also a U.S. citizen. Complying with the procedures can be complex and time-consuming, especially if an absent parent is outside Colombia at the time. Advance planning is essential.

The procedures are as follows: Upon exiting the country, the person traveling with the child (or the child him/herself) must present a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate, along with written, signed authorization from the absent parent(s) or legal guardian. The authorization must explicitly grant permission for the child to travel alone, with one parent, or with a third party, by name. When a parent is deceased, a notarized copy of a death certificate is required instead of written authorization. When one parent has sole custody of the child, that parent may present a custody decree instead of the other parent’s written authorization.

If the documents to be presented originated in the United States, they must first be translated into Spanish and then signed in front of a Colombian consul at a Colombian consulate. Then, upon arrival in Colombia, the documents must be presented to the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for certification of the consul’s signature.

Alternatively, the documents can be translated into Spanish, then notarized by a notary public in the United States, and authenticated by requesting an apostille from the competent authority in the state where the documents were prepared. The document, translation and apostille can then be presented to immigration officers at the airport when the child travels.

If the documents originated in Colombia and are written in Spanish, only notarization by a Colombian notary is required. For documents originating in countries other than the United States or Colombia, please inquire with the Colombian embassy serving that country.

In cases where the absent parent refuses or is unable to provide consent, the other parent can request assistance from the Colombian child protective service, Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar (ICBF). In appropriate cases, ICBF will investigate and may issue a document that will allow the child to travel without both parents’ consent. This process may take a significant amount of time and is not within the control of the U.S. Government.

[NArocks 13]

What we did as the mother is here in the US for my Stepkids is the mom went to the colombian embassy and did the letter to let the kids leave with their dad. After that this letter had to have a stamp from the colombian government available only in Bogota. It was done about 2 months before the kids left colombia. wE included the date they were leaving being 2/29/08 and it was hassle free at the airport with DAS as per the dad ( My Husband ) . They want to travel back to visit family and we have to do the letter all over again. The oldest wants to go by himself we will see how that goes. But yes this is great info J and C for all others who plan to bring the kids of the wife, husband or fiance.

Good luck..............