Hi all

I have just booked and payed for a 2 week holiday in May for myself and my 12 year old son to Mexico. However i am now a little worried about entering Mexico without consent from his father.

I was married to my sons father when he was born (this gives him the same paternal rights as myself). We split up and divorced around 3 years later and since then his father hasn't wanted (or tried) to have any contact with our son (we still live at the same address). His father has recently been 'forced' to pay some maintenance towards our son, but still he hasn't tried to make any contact.

I was reading this morning about exit departure and tourist cards for our trip to Mexico, when i came across information stating if a child is to enter Mexico with just one parent then the absent parent's consent must be given in writing upon arrival.

If this was the case then i am stuck. I do not know the whereabouts of his father or know any way of finding out (the child support agency he pays will not give these details). Also, even if i did ever find out his whereabouts i know for a fact he wouldn't sign anything 'purely out of spite'.

I rang the Mexican Embassy in London who put me through to the Mexican consulate in the UK, and they assured me that it is 'NOT' law that i need his fathers written consent and i would be fine, because he said "the childs father already gave permission when he signed his passport".....however his father didn't sign his passport when i renewed it last year (due to him being unobtainable).

I do hope we will be ok. Its taken a lot of saving up for this holiday and would be a total nightmare to travel 4 hours to our airport, then an 11 hour flight, only to be refused entry

Has anyone else experienced problems at Mexico (Cancun) recently or also had an unobtainable ex partner???

P.S. I have taken him abroad many times in the past with no problems.

Thanks - Malita