Crossing the Border with Kids W/O Spouse?

[Boncho]

My son and I always go to WDW without my husband. I always get the permission letter and I am always asked for it - I wouldn't go without it.

 

[tmli]

Here in Kitchener we go to city hall, they have a form that needs to be filled out then signed by the parent giving consent. They swear it and sign it and it is free.

In 9 years of travelling with my son without his father (when we were married he never travelled with us) I have never been asked for the letter. Of course the first time I don't bring it you know what will happen!!

 

[nosnobunny2006]

Here in Kitchener we go to city hall, they have a form that needs to be filled out then signed by the parent giving consent. They swear it and sign it and it is free.

In 9 years of travelling with my son without his father (when we were married he never travelled with us) I have never been asked for the letter. Of course the first time I don't bring it you know what will happen!!

I happen to work in Kitchener's City Hall. The only place you MAY get this letter signed would be the Info Ontario kiosk in the rotunda, a provincial office. If anyone else is signing your letter, they shouldn't be.

Beth

 

[tmli]

Yes that is where and they have done it every time I have crossed the border for the last two years. Many of my clients, colleagues have as well. They have forms there that you fill out, you sign it, they swear it and stamp it.

Whats with the MAY?? I said I HAVE had it done there. I am a fairly intelligent person and know better than to have any random person sign a form without appropriate authority to do so

 

[nosnobunny2006]

Yes that is where and they have done it every time I have crossed the border for the last two years. Many of my clients, colleagues have as well. They have forms there that you fill out, you sign it, they swear it and stamp it.

Whats with the MAY?? I said I HAVE had it done there. I am a fairly intelligent person and know better than to have any random person sign a form without appropriate authority to do so

The reason I said "may" is that Info Ontario has been inconsistent with what they will and will not sign. We have sent customers downstairs only to have them come back up telling us they won't do it. Since it's not one of our services, I would never say that they absolutely will do it. I was never questioning whether or not you had it done.

Beth

 

[purplepeg]

I checked out a number of notary services in our area and then I thought why don't I just call our lawyer who did our house closing. He was the most reasonable with $25 while I saw up to $79 for the same letter of consent.

Sorry I didn't reply sooner to your request for notary amts. We were on holidays. Your lawyer sounds really reasonable. Ours charged $75 I still think it's money well spent Hope you have a fabulous time at The World. Wish I could be there too

 

[MamaLema]

About a month ago, I paid $70 for a letter of consent from a lawyer because DH was taking 3 kids across the border without me.

He was not asked for it neither going there or coming back

I'm glad he had it just in case but I was pissed off because it felt like a waste of money. It's good for a year, though.

 

[calgarygary]

One small point, I'd check the USA Customs web site -- it's USA law you need to be concerned about, not Canada's.

Unless you don't plan on returning to Canada, you need to be concerned about the laws of your country of destination (in this case, the U.S.) and Canada's.

About a month ago, I paid $70 for a letter of consent from a lawyer because DH was taking 3 kids across the border without me.

He was not asked for it neither going there or coming back

I'm glad he had it just in case but I was pissed off because it felt like a waste of money. It's good for a year, though.

Yeh, but imagine how pissed you would have been if you had tried to save the money and then were refused entry because of the lack of a letter.

 

[101DalmFan]

Unless you don't plan on returning to Canada, you need to be concerned about the laws of your country of destination (in this case, the U.S.) and Canada's.

Great point! Unfortunately, parental abduction can also occur when a friend or relative who lives in the states uses a Canadian friend or relative to bring them across the border back into Canada. You need the proof for both border crossings. Sad but true

 

[MickeyMacks]

Here's some info that should be of use to you about traveling out of Canada with children, from the Consular Affairs website.


http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/before/children_travel-en.asp

Specifically, here's the consent form, I think another poster already had the link

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/before/consent_letter-en.asp

This is the letter I used. Photocopied the filled-out letter and took one with me, left one with the ex and left a copy at home too.

Never got asked for it, though Likely because we were travelling with the grandparents