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Parents With Different Surnames To Their Kids Urged To Take Birth Certificates To Airport

Parents With Different Surnames To Their Kids Urged To Take Birth Certificates To Airport

If you don't share the same surname as your child it might be time to prepare yourself and make room for extra documentation

Emma Rosemurgey

Emma Rosemurgey

From what we've heard (and seen ourselves) navigating through an airport with kids is a tricky job. There's rolling suitcases designed as tigers or zebras all over the show, then they might just decide to stop walking. Or even worse - begin to cry.

And if all the parents out there thought it was difficult - it could get a whole lot worse, we're sorry to say. Because parents who have different names to their children are being advised to bring birth or adoption certificates to the airport with them when they travel on holiday.

Families with different names will be asked to prove their relationship with children in a bid to deter child trafficking.

The Home Office made the warning in a tweet that read: "If your family has different surnames, please bring birth or adoption certificates to help get through passport control quicker.

"We have a duty to safeguard children and to prevent people trafficking, child sexual exploitation and other crimes. That is why Border Force officers sometimes need to ask additional questions."

According to The Guardian, 600,000 women have been stopped in the last five years, causing panic, embarrassment and even missed flights.

Further guidelines are provided on the Home Office's website, explaining that bringing along the necessary details will save the family from delays and will be carried out 'as quickly as possible'.

The guidelines read: "If you are travelling with a child (under 18) and are not the child's parent, or may appear not to be the parent (for example, if you have a different family name), we may ask you a few questions to establish your relationship with the child.

"We hope you appreciate the importance of the additional checks we carry out for children travelling into the UK and understand the reasons for them should you feel you have been unduly delayed.

"It may help you next time you travel if you could carry evidence of your relationship with the child and/or the reason why you are travelling with the child."

PA

Not everyone is happy about the new guidelines, with one frustrated parent tweeting: "Seriously? I am not taking my entire family's birth certificates with me every time we go abroad.

"What exactly is it that you are trying to establish? Surely all that matters is that we have valid travel documents?"

Another fumed: "I am fundamentally against this. My husband and I have different surnames.

"And our son bears my husband's. Not unusual for parents to have different surnames in the 21st Century. Appalling stuff by @sajidjavid and the Home Office."

Bet that upcoming summer holiday doesn't seem as exciting now, does it? Good luck.

Featured Image Credit: PA/Pixabay

Topics: Children, Passport, Airport, Interesting, Community