V-Flyer

I have emailed Virgin cust. service twice in the last week and no answer so maybe someone here knows...
I am on VS46 Nov 1st and flying with my 6 year old. I carry a UK passport and she has a US passport. When we arrive in LHR I know that UK holders go through 1 line and other nationals go through another line. Does anyone know if we can go through the same line since I'm not leaving a 6 y.o. to fend for herself? Last year my husband was with us and she went with him so I'm not sure what to do. Thanks!!

If the immigrations officers are able to process a non UK/EU passport, I'd go through that line.

VS.

My wife has a Japanese passport and I have a UK one. My daughter has both passports. When travelling together we have been told on 2 separate occasions to pass through immigration as a family together. So I believe they would prefer famiies to be together. However, this advice is not consistent with others that I have spoken to in the past.
I think I would keep my child with me and go in the UK line and deal with the problem (of immigration officer stupidity) only if it arises. They are entirely capable of processing international passports in the UK line.

Originally posted by leyla625
Last year my husband was with us and she went with him so I'm not sure what to do.

Is this the first time the two of you have traveled alone? If so, I strongly suggest you check the immigration requirements for both the UK and the US as per children traveling with only one parent. The fact that she has a passport from another country will get their attention on you - and you don't want that to happen in a bad way.

AFAIK, you should still need a written, notarized document to take your daughter into another country without him being present, and also to return to the US. Too many child abductions are taking place nowadays for Customs/Immigration to turn a blind eye any longer.

VS might answer you, but I recommend you get the info straight from the source. Check with a local consulate if you're not in the UK, or your passport-issuing agency. You could also try a good travel agent for numbers and/or addresses to try for information. The TA may give you an answer - I'd still double-check it.

Please double-check any information you are given as per the required wording/legalese/signatures/stamps required; once you are on the road it will be much harder (if not impossible) to get whatever documentation you might require. Since both adults are nationals of different countries, you may even need to carry a certified copy of your marriage license. I'd check that too. And last, but not least, ask how long the documentation is good for - each trip, 1 year, until minor child is xx years old... you get the idea.

Give yourself time to get all of this; it might take longer than expected. Once you do it the first time, though, it's a breeze from then on.

Good luck and happy travels!

^^^ you know I didn't even think of that. I was actually a victim of parental abduction myself. My Iranian father took me there in the midst of a divorce from my British mother. There is a travel agent acorss from my work so I will go there pronto!

Here's a link to a webpage with a sample letter, and some more helpful info - I would still double-check it! It also mentions one thing I forgot: medical permission forms! Hopefully never needed, but best to carry anyway.

Takes a while to load, please give it time.

If your passport is not in your married name, I highly recommend you get a certified copy of your marriage license to go with the above letters, even if you are told you don't need it. If you don't have one to hand, I hope it's close enough that you can drive to the courthouse/records location, as if it's a US document, the lag time can be more than 30 days just to look it up if ordering a document by mail![n]

Again, happy travels!

My experience (as dual citizen) is that you can go to UK immigration as family, no worries, but should have a notarized letter from your husband that shows his knowledge and approval of your travel with your daughter

Expect a conversation!

RR;)

Thanks for the help! I got my papers printed, signed and sealed by a notary today!

I raised a similar topic a while back regarding which line to use for me(UK) and wife (China), the advice was both use the EU line, which we duly did. My wife had the usual questions regarding length of stay and return tickets, but it all went smoothly, and she was very glad to have jumped the long long non EU queue.