@Braulio ********

no child passes immigration on their own. Kids “flying alone” are accompanied the entire way. They are the first/last to enter/exit the plane and do so with an appointed airline staff member who does everything with them from waiting outside the bathroom to security checks to immigration to baggage and stays with them during layovers or they are sent to a holding area and then taken to their gate for the next flight.

The only thing they actually do alone is FLY, and the air staff know who they are and take over in flight. Upon landing they are handed off to the next appointed airline ground staff who gets them safely to their next flight or through immigration, collecting bags to their waiting guardian.

@Wayne *******

I didn’t say there was. I said buy direct meaning from the airlines website, not a website like Kiwi that doesn’t guarantee connections and often paste together two separate tickets that you might have to check in for separately. Hence saying the journey has to be on 1 ticket. Sorry if I didn’t make that clear.

@Wayne ********

probably all airlines do. 🤷🏻‍♀️ It’s a big responsibility that they take seriously with many people helping.

@Jack *******

the original post said they were getting it from AA. I assume with a co share partner…

Not my ticket. Just answering their question.

Yes. Unaccompanied minors will have an airline escort for the entire duration of their journey. Helping with immigration and finding gates and boarding. They are not just left alone. When you book the ticket you can state this and call the airline to confirm. Staff should meet the child at check in and they will be literally tagged with a neck ID card and helped the entire way until a parent or guardian signs off for them on the final destination.

(Journey must be on 1 ticket of course, buy direct and not from a site like kiwi)

Google Unaccompanied Minors on the AA website and there should be a whole section on children traveling alone.

@Donna *********

does his father have legal custody? Do you share your child’s last name? Do you appear on his birth certificate? There are 2 issues here. One is leaving the USA. And one is entering/leaving Thailand. Both countries seriously protect children from trafficking and kidnapping. Both immigrations could ask.

You could also write the letter, have it notarized and mail it to him for the immigrations which he will go through alone. This might work unless his father holds sole physical custody.

It’s ridiculous his dad would send him off alone without doing this. I literally got the travel letter notarized in Canada for $15 and took me 30 mins.

@Donna *********

“U.S. citizen children traveling abroad

Ports of entry in many countries have security measures to prevent international child abduction. If you are traveling alone with your child, you may be required to present documentation proving you are the parent or legal guardian. You may also need a letter of permission from the other parent for your child to travel.

If your child travels alone, depending on the country, they may be required to present a notarized letter from both parents or their legal guardian. If a minor is traveling abroad and is not accompanied by both parents or a legal guardian, contact the embassy or consulate of the country you will be visiting and ask about entry and exit requirements for that country.”

%20letter%20should%20say%20%22I,of%20the%20other%20parent's%20letter.

@Donna *********

here is more information to pass to your Ex husband. I wouldn’t just send a 15 year old off on a one way ticket to thailand

%20Child%20Travel%20Consent%20Letter,by%20another%20adult%20or%20alone.

@Donna *********

it’s super easy to find online on multiple websites. Here is a 2 min search for a USA site

“For minors under 20 years old, please provide additional documents:

– Copy of a birth certificate

– Copy of a marriage certificate, in case of sole custody notarized copy of the court order, must be provided.

– Copy of passports or ID of mother and father/ legal guardian.

– Original letter of notarized consent for the minor to travel abroad from mother and father/ legal guardian if the applicant is traveling alone”

Get a notarized letter from his father stating that your son is allowed to travel on his own and that YOU are allowed to travel with your son without his father/your ex.

Thailand requires this when flying out. If you did a short holiday somewhere you could be asked to present a letter of parental consent for traveling.

Your son may need this for his flight home as well.

Apply for a 60 day tourist visa online. Can extend one time.

If you can get the multi tourist visa better. Then he can stay much longer with exits and extensions.

He NEEDS an exit ticket. Can be by boat even. Just an exit ticket for his first visa allowance.