How Student Parents Can Navigate Child Travel Consent Forms

At the University of Iowa, some of our students are also parents. This means balancing parental and academic responsibilities and can come with a number of challenges.

One such challenge is figuring out how to navigate travel arrangements for your child. However, there are plenty of services that offer a free child travel consent form (USA) if you need it.

In this article, we will walk you through these permission slips and when you’ll need to use them.

What is a Minor Travel Consent Form?

A minor travel consent form lets your child travel alone or with an adult who isn’t their guardian. These documents cover either domestic or international travel. You will need to sign for them for school trips, family visits, and even if they go on vacations with friends.

The US government recommends that any child traveling abroad have a consent form that they can show to the proper authorities. This form should include information on the child, yourself, and the adults they are traveling with, as well as full details of the trip (including arrival and return dates).

Tips for Using Child Travel Consent Forms

Travel can be stressful for any parent - doubly so if you aren’t going with your child. Figuring out how to use travel consent forms should help with this. With that in mind, here are some of the most important tips for student parents trying to figure out minor travel permission slips:

1. Complete Them Early

Any trip your child goes on without you can only happen if you complete the consent form. Don’t leave them until later; you could miss a deadline this way. This also gives you time to collect the information and get permission from the child’s other parent (if applicable). It will be a lot more convenient if you complete the consent form before booking any flights.

2. Research The Destination

If your child is going abroad, remember that other countries have their own rules about traveling minors. Make sure you look into this so you know the form you choose has the right details. For example, some countries ask you to notarize the consent form in advance. If you cannot find the rules for the country in question, contact their embassy.

3. It’s Fine To Worry

When it’s time for your child to go on vacation, don’t be afraid to check in with them or the adult who’s looking after them. It’s normal to worry, especially if this is their first time going away without you. This gives you peace of mind and helps you to focus on your studies without fear.

4. Make Several Copies

You and your child should both have a copy of the consent form. If your child ends up separated from their group, they can then contact you or another responsible adult. Another copy for each adult looking after your child will also be helpful. This can save a lot of time if they need to get a hold of the form quickly.

5. Talk To Your Child

Student parents often have trouble lining their schedules up with their children. If you have an important college assignment coming up, for example, this can stop you from going on vacation with your family. If this happens, take the time to talk to your child and explain that you wish you could go.

6. Be Ready For a Call

Some majors, especially ones that involve lab work, require you to be away from your phone for long periods of time. In some cases, keeping your phone on your person could even be a safety risk. It might help to ask a classmate to look after your phone while you work, in case somebody has to get in touch.

How Minor Travel Consent Forms Can Help Student Parents

As a student parent, your child’s semester might end before your own. This means you may ask a family member to collect them so they can still have a great vacation. If they’re coming back to the US, a consent form makes it easier for them to access the Trusted Traveler Program.

These forms are also vital for school trips. Many of these let parents join as chaperones, but you may be too busy with your studies for this. If the rendezvous isn’t at your child’s school, the form should also include how they will get to the meeting point.

With the right approach, student parents can rise above every challenge - including letting their child travel without them. By balancing your child’s independence with your own peace of mind, you’ll be ready for any trip they take away from Iowa.

This begins with filling in a minor travel consent form, so make sure you always choose the right template for your situation.