China News Service, June 4th, according to the website of the Chinese Consulate General in New York, there have recently been several cases of impediment to travel by minor Chinese citizens alone in the eastern United States, posing security risks to relevant parties. The underage Chinese citizens departed from cities within the United States and planned to transfer back to China from a third country after passing through New York, but check-in was blocked at New York Airport because they were not accompanied by an adult, and they had to stay at the airport because they could not stay in a local hotel .
Here, the Consulate General in New York specially summarized the relevant restrictions on minors traveling alone and reminded them of it.
1. Airline regulations on minors flying alone
To ensure the safety of minor travel, each airline has a corresponding age requirement for minors to fly alone. For example, among some airlines currently flying on the New York route, Eastern Airlines and Swiss Airlines require that minors traveling between 5 and 12 years old (excluding) must choose "unaccompanied services"; KLM requires 5 Minors traveling alone until the age of 14 (inclusive) must choose "Unaccompanied Services"; Asiana Airlines, Korean Air, and All Nippon Airways require minors aged 5 to 12 years (excluding) to travel alone alone You must choose "Unaccompanied Services" when traveling. Relevant escort services can be submitted to the airline at the time of booking. However, affected by the epidemic, some airlines are currently not accepting reservations for new "unaccompanied services", the specific situation is subject to the relevant airline official website news.
2. US Border Law Enforcement Requirements on Entry and Exit of Minors
According to the information of the US Customs and Border Protection website, minors under the age of 18 who are not accompanied by their parents must enter the United States with a parent authorization; if only one parent is accompanied, they must hold a written authorization from the other party; When other relatives and friends travel together or join a group tour, a written authorization from both parents is required. U.S. border law enforcement personnel have the right to check the authorization letter. If an adult carrying a minor who enters or exits the country fails to present the relevant authorization letter, it may be detained by the border law enforcement personnel to fully assess the status of the minor Bureau official website query).
3. Local hotel restrictions on minors staying alone
Hotels in the East of the United States generally require people over 18 years old (some 21 years old) to stay alone. At the same time, there have been violent demonstrations in many places in the United States, and curfews have been imposed in cities such as New York and Philadelphia. Once a minor's flight or transfer in the eastern United States is blocked, and is not accompanied by relatives and friends, he will face the dilemma of being unable to stay at the hotel and being forced to stay at the airport, further increasing security risks.
The Consulate General in New York reminds that during the epidemic, minor Chinese citizens and parents should carefully consider the risks associated with independent international travel. If there is indeed a need for independent travel, parents should confirm with the airline when they purchase a ticket. Make follow-up arrangements steadily to ensure safety.
If Chinese citizens in the eastern United States need consular assistance, they can dial the consular protection line of the Consulate General in New York: 212-6953125. The Global Consular Protection and Service Emergency Call Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: +86-10-12308 or +86-10-59913991.