US Passport question for grandchild?

Question

We need to find someone that can help us (a contact) with getting a passport for our grandchild. Our daughter had full legal custody of her child and left her with us 2 years ago. She gave us a notarized paper assiging us (her grandparents) custody. She left the country immediately and hasn't been heard from since. We talked to the Passport Ofc and were told what we had was fine (the divorce decree and notarized paper). We sent in the app for a passport for our grandchild (we're planning a trip to Mexico) and it has been denied. They now say we need our daughter's notarized permission to get a passport. This is after they said the paper we had was sufficient. Does anyone have any contacts or suggestions?

Answer 1

Apparently, on reviewing the document itself, it was found to be insufficient.

Because of the US Gov's very high sensitivity to parental rights and international child abduction issues, it is very difficult to apply for a child's passport if the parents are unavailable.  If the parents have absconded, you need either a document from your daughter specifically stating her permission for the passport application, or (best, since you will be needing this anyway) a court order establishing your legal custody, or a court order establishing guardianship.  If both parents have indeed vanished, it might be time to apply for such an order.

PS - regarding a previous answer, there is no "right to travel."  A passport can be denied to a US citizen for any number of reasons.

Answer 2

Execute an affidavit that the mother of the child can no longer be located and have this notarized.  Then present this affivavit to the Passport Processing Office for consideration since right to travel cannot denied to a person.