Philippines DSWD Travel Clearance for Minor

[AB0124 0]

Hi, my wife is going to be traveling here with her two year old son on a K2 visa (already approved). The son carries the fathers last name(who is listed on the birth certificate), but they were never married. She has no contact with the father. Will she need the fathers permission to travel abroad with her child? The DSWD website states:

Who does not need a DSWD Travel Clearance to leave the Philippines?

• A Filipino minor traveling with either parent, with his or her solo parent or legal guardian;
• A Filipino minor whose parents are in the Foreign Service
• A Filipino minor who holds a temporary or permanent resident visa of another country and is rejoining the parents in that country
• A child holding a foreign passport

So I don't think she would need the fathers permission, but she has friends telling her it is needed. Does anyone have any similar experience? Thanks.

[apple21 953]

The child does not need a travel clearance since he is traveling with his mother.

[C-ma'am 684]

**Post moved from K1 to Philippines

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hi, my wife is going to be traveling here with her two year old son on a K2 visa (already approved). The son carries the fathers last name(who is listed on the birth certificate), but they were never married. She has no contact with the father. Will she need the fathers permission to travel abroad with her child? The DSWD website states:

Who does not need a DSWD Travel Clearance to leave the Philippines?

• A Filipino minor traveling with either parent, with his or her solo parent or legal guardian;
• A Filipino minor whose parents are in the Foreign Service
• A Filipino minor who holds a temporary or permanent resident visa of another country and is rejoining the parents in that country
• A child holding a foreign passport

So I don't think she would need the fathers permission, but she has friends telling her it is needed. Does anyone have any similar experience? Thanks.

Go by the DSWD information, nothing is needed from the father. In the Philippines the mother has sole custody of the child unless there are court documents stating otherwise.

.... obviously her friends are a bad source of information.

[ljmp_10 105]

I traveled with my 4yr old daughter to the US but no travel clearance was asked. And since my husband is the petitioner its ok. Im not sure with your case, since the father is not the petitioner. You may want to contact the DSWD regarding your case.

When my sister inquire regarding a parent traveling with a child, they told her to secure a letter from the father allowing the mother to travel with their child.

Case to case basis i think.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Its not a case by case basis, many here on VJ (and I do mean MANY) have traveled to the USA with their children without a letter of any type from the father.

From DSWD website:

Who does not need a DSWD Travel Clearance to leave the Philippines?

• A Filipino minor traveling with either parent, with his or her solo parent or legal guardian;
• A Filipino minor whose parents are in the Foreign Service
• A Filipino minor who holds a temporary or permanent resident visa of another country and is rejoining the parents in that country
• A child holding a foreign passport

Edited July 15, 2013 by Hank_

[rochay2003 0]

Hi there this is my problem too, so it means i dont need to get the affidavit of consent to the father,. I dont have communication with the father we are not married too but may daughter's surname is with him.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Hi there this is my problem too, so it means i dont need to get the affidavit of consent to the father,. I dont have communication with the father we are not married too but may daughter's surname is with him.

That exactly right. You don't need any additional documents such as travel clearances for your child or permission from an estranged father.

Edited November 29, 2015 by Greenbaum

[rochay2003 0]

Thank you so much for the information