Documents needed for kids travelling with only one parent?

[pta-mom]

Quickie question for my knowledgeable Canucks.....

.....I am heading to the World in less than a month (trying not to gloat here!) along with my two sons but my DH has opted out of this fun excursion... ....honestly, his choice! Anyway, question....other than passports for me & the boys, do I need anything else to get out of dear old Canada via the plane?

Just want to make sure that security doesn't think I'm trying to flee the country with my 5'9" twelve year old son & his ten year old brother!!

Thanks!!

 

[dvcdisney]

I remember reading somewhere, at the passport office I think, that you will need a signed letter from your husband stating that he is giving you permission to take the children out of the country. I don't know if it has to be notarized. I would call them just to be sure.

Did you just say your husband chose not to go? Is that even possible that someone chooses not to go to Disney

 

[tricia]

Yes, you should have a letter from hubby. My kids and I flew down a few days before DH a couple of years ago. The customs guy asked why we were travelling without him and asked if we had permission. I showed him the letter and there was no problems. Here is the one that I used http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/before/consent_letter-en.asp

 

[disneyfan2]

I am going this December without DH,. He went on the last trip and is all Disneyed out! But i have traveled with kids too, i had to have a letter notorized but our last trip in 07 they did not even ask to see it, however, i would not take the chance and make sure you have it just in case.

 

[TraceyDisney2008]

Tricia, did you have your letter notorized or did you just use a friend as a witness?

 

[disneymath]

I'm not Tricia ... but I would recommend getting it notarized! Our city clerk is a public notary and does not charge for this service.

We've travelled with my young cousins twice ... both times had the notarized letter ... both times they weren't interested in seeing it on the outgoing flights or on the flight back into Toronto, but they DEFINITELY did want to see it as we came back through Canadian Customs.

 

[drag n' fly]

It has to be notarized. They are very strict about it out west (sounds like not so much out east) and check every time

 

[tricia]

I did not have mine notarized. Just had an employee at my dad's business sign it. they also provided all of their telephone numbers just in case someone wanted to contact them. Also, my husband provided his phone numbers and made sure he was near one of them on the day we travelled in case someone wanted to verify with him.

 

[pta-mom]

but they DEFINITELY did want to see it as we came back through Canadian Customs.

Really? Why? Did the child not have a passport?

This seems so silly...guess it's just a sign of the times. Anyone know who I can go to in Ottawa to have this letter notarized, perferably cheap? Makes my blood boil that I have to pay to have someone who doesn't even know us sign some stupid letter to prove that MY kids can go on holiday with me! Doesn't matter that I've already paid to have passports & that their father will be waving good bye to them at the gate...no!! Doesn't matter that the kids are old enough to say that we are attending DW & returning home in time for school! Or that their parents have lived together for almost twenty years!! No must be notarized!!

Aaaahhhhhggggg!!!

Sorry...a little annoyed....must be that time of the month! LOL!

 

[Sneakiestpete]

I thought you only needed the letter if you were no longer with your significant other, ie seperated or divorced?

Even if you are still married you need to have the letter now? This is news to me.

 

[tricia]

Yes, even if you are still married. The agents have no way of knowing for sure your marital status.

 

[disneymath]

Really? Why? Did the child not have a passport?

This seems so silly...guess it's just a sign of the times. Anyone know who I can go to in Ottawa to have this letter notarized, perferably cheap? Makes my blood boil that I have to pay to have someone who doesn't even know us sign some stupid letter to prove that MY kids can go on holiday with me! Doesn't matter that I've already paid to have passports & that their father will be waving good bye to them at the gate...no!! Doesn't matter that the kids are old enough to say that we are attending DW & returning home in time for school! Or that their parents have lived together for almost twenty years!! No must be notarized!!

Aaaahhhhhggggg!!!

Sorry...a little annoyed....must be that time of the month! LOL!

Not sure why they were so interested on the way back but not on the way out ...

First trip ... no passports just birth certificates (back in 2003)

Second trip ... all of us had passports (2006)

.. both times the customs agent also decided to "question" the youngest member of our party by asking where we had been, where we lived, and how old he was. (Problem was, my cousin had celebrated his birthday while we were in WDW and didn't know if he should tell them his old age or his new age!) No real hold up though.

A similar situation happened to a happily married co-worker of mine last summer (2007). She took her young (<6yrs old) daughter to Europe for a month and had no trouble leaving, but was asked to provide a letter once they had landed back in Toronto.

Guess it's hit or miss - as much as it's a hassle though, I guess it's better to be prepared though!

ETA: In the same vein, if you are travelling with a child who has a deceased parent, make sure you have a copy of the death certificate.

 

[Jen M]

I am surprised at the problems people have had. I have not travel in to the US by air but do it alot by land with my sons and have never had a problem. I live close to two US borders and have only been asked once who's children I had in the vehicle.

It's good to know that I might need a letter.

 

[disneymath]

Just want to make sure that security doesn't think I'm trying to flee the country with my 5'9" twelve year old son & his ten year old brother!!

FWIW, the first time we took the cousins they were 12 and 9 turned 10
and the second time they were 15 and 12 turned 13. (I only call them young cousins, since I'm more than a decade older than the oldest.)

 

[sunshinemummy]

I took my DD (11) to Las Vegas in Jan without my DH or son. I freaked out at the airport because I forgot to do the letter. They never asked for one which really surprised me. I think it depends who you get, if all your surnames are the same & where you are travelling. They did ask why we were going to Vegas and I told them that we were travelling to see the Hanna Montana concert and that's all they asked. When I travelled to the US by car with my girlfriends daughter they did ask for the letter (not notarized) and that was just fine for them too.

 

[b-1]

I have been asked for the letter both ways on the same trip and never asked either way on other trips.

Get the letter and have it notarized. Much better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

 

[pta-mom]

Have you, or anyone you have heard of, ever been denied entry into the US if the kids have valid passports & have the same last name as the mother? Or, even better, the parent has a note from the missing parent but it is NOT notarized?

I don't mind bringing a note from my husband but I don't want to have to PAY for it!!

 

[disneymath]

Have you, or anyone you have heard of, ever been denied entry into the US if the kids have valid passports & have the same last name as the mother? Or, even better, the parent has a note from the missing parent but it is NOT notarized?

I don't mind bringing a note from my husband but I don't want to have to PAY for it!!

No ... and there's a good chance that you won't have any problems with an unnotarized letter - but you are taking a chance ... I would seriously hate to read on here after your trip that you ran into problems with customs!!

I'm not sure how much it costs to get something notarized where you are ... I can't imagine it would be that much if you are simply presenting the letter for the notary to sign (as I mentioned previously, our City Clerk at City Hall is a Public Notary and does it for free).

Oh, one thing though, your DH might need to sign the letter in front of the notary.

 

[disneyfan2]

I agree, check out the options just in case. I think because you are leaving from Canadian Airport you will need it more so??? I have had to present it when going to the Caribbean years back with DD(leaving Cnd airport ) and i have not had to present it from US borders flying from Buffalo. but i had it in case. They did ask the kids questions about where we were going.

IF you are adament about NOT doing a letter, as a backup bring photocopies of your hubby's id(DL with signature ) so that they can check the signatures. As any one can claim to have signed it. But the more backup info you have the better.

 

[Boncho]

For the little it would cost you (the most I've had to pay is $15), why would you take the chance? It's better to be safe than sorry, I always get the letter,sometimes I'm asked for it and sometimes I'm not - either way I'm ready so that I'm not going to have a problem that would start or end my vacation on a sour note.