For parents who fear international abduction in nasty custody disputes

[Horse with no Name]

We found this and registered today.

I had no idea it existed, but I am thankful it does.

http://travel.state.gov/abduction/prevention/passportissuance/passportissuance_554.html

The Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP) is one of the Department’s most important tools for preventing international parental child abduction. The program allows parents to register their U.S. citizen children under the age of 18 in the Department’s Passport Lookout System. If a passport application is submitted for a child who is registered in CPIAP, the Department contacts and alerts the parent or parents. The passport lookout system gives all U.S. passport agencies as well as U.S. embassies and consulates abroad an alert on a child’s name if a parent or guardian registers an objection to passport issuance for his or her child. This procedure provides parents advance warning of possible plans for international travel with the child.

The Office of Children's Issues, which is part of Overseas Citizen Services, is responsible for administering CPIAP.

[Bunny]

1. Seems odd that no one came up with this idea sooner.

[Horse with no Name]

2. We have just spent years in a nasty custody battle

They are rich and they didn't lose very gracefully. It took everything we had to fight them.
They own a home in a foreign country and they requested a passport for the child--it was denied.

But, when you have money and influence, people can be persuaded on the local end to overlook the passport qualifications. I like it that this catches it. I will rest a little easier tonight.

[lapislzi]

3. It's been around quite awhile.

I registered my daughter in 1997. My ex is South African, and South Africa is not a signatory to the International Child Abduction Treaty. He threatened to take her to South Africa and that I'd never be able to find her.

We are now on better terms, but it's comforting that whenever her passport comes up for renewal I get a phone call.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. The way around this is if the child has dual citizenship in the eyes of the other country

they will issue a passport for them, and there will be no alert when they get it or leave the country.

[catabryna]

5. The US Passport Authorities

have always required the signatures of both parents to obtain a passport for a minor. The only thing different is the notification abroad.