Crossing the Canadian border with a minor

[bumbershoot]

A girlfriend and I took our girls shopping across the border into WA on a day trip, and got grilled and scolded on the way back because we didn't bring notarized letters with us. Me being who I am, I asked the border guard if she realized we were trying to bring them home.

Heh heh heh. So brave.

And, see, grilled and scolded isn't imprisoned". Even "how do you make money" isn't imprisoned.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I don't think you need it notarized. I've never taken a note that was notarized when I travel out of the country with my boys. But I do take a note.

 

[mousestellar]

My husband was questioned once when he traveled, by plane,from Canada to the US with our son, our son was 10 at the time. I had not given a letter but border patrol my son some questions and let them go. I have traveled many time with both my children, by car, over the border and was never questioned.

 

[rachelsmom97]

We live near Seattle and drive across the border to Vancouver several times a year for dance competitions. Yes, you can be asked for documentation from Canadian Border authorities. But, they do not always ask. I normally just handed the notarized letter (no copy of my husband's ID) with our passports from the time my daughter was 9 to about 16. After that I still had the letter but never handed it to them and they never asked for one. We had friends who forgot to bring it and they would just get the lecture but were allowed through - this was for pre teens.

You are probably fine without a letter as your son is 17.

 

[socababy]

I flew with my 3 kids to Vancouver for our cruise a couple years ago and I was asked A LOT of questions by the customs officer. He even looked over my husband's death certificate very closely. My kids are younger so maybe that's why they asked more questions?!

 

[Richard Howren]

Our cruise is coming up, and I am getting a little worried. We are driving from Seattle to Vancouver. My son is 17, and has an adult passport. His dad is not coming. Him and I were never married, and there is no official custody document anywhere. Do I need something from him for my child to be able to enter Canada? His dad is currently on deployment, and I am not even sure of our ability to get something from him. Has anyone gone through this?

We just returned from our cruise from July 25 to August 01 to Alaska. We drove from Seattle to Vancouver with our two granddaughters age 3 and 9. The Canadian border guard only asked about our stay and the purpose for the visit and how long. We presented him with 4 passports and all was fine. Where we had an issue, of which I had suspected we might, was after checkin at DCL we proceeded to US customs. There the border agent asked us about the children. What was our relationship and where were the parents/where do they live as it is different from our home address (different state). We presented a signed and notarized minor authorization form of which we received from our travel agent and all was well. Disney also wanted their own minor authorization form filled out and signed by the consenting parents, however it did not need to be notarized contrary to their own documentation as stated in their welcome aboard booklet. That - is our very recent experience along those lines. Age may play a role here.

 

[TrySomethingNew]

We recently travelled to Niagara Falls in June. Stayed NY, walked over to Canada. Dad was not with us, so we did take a notarized letter (gotten off either Canada or US border website). Kids were 17 & 9. Border agent was nice, inspected our docs (passports and Global ID), and yes, wanted to see the letter. He did indicate that it is not required to have a notarized letter, but a very good idea since it is dependant on agent you are dealing with. Given the older age of your child, and documentation you have, I wouldn't be worried- you have as much as you are able to get in your situation. Good luck.