Driving across border with kids - do both parents need to be there?

[peacefrogdog]

I've heard stories of single parents travelling with their kids internationally, but without their spouse. They were asked to show something from a lawyer or notary 'allowing' them to travel with their kids by themselves (i.e. without their spouses) (I assume it's some sort of safeguard to prevent one parent from leaving the country with their kids without the permission of the other parent).

We will be driving across the Fort erie border. My wife will be with my kids, and I will be driving with my parents (who don't feel comfortable driving). Will it be an issue for my wife when she goes across the border (and I won't be in the car with them)?

 

[hockey mom]

Not at all My DH and myself have crossed that very same border many times on our own with our kids.

 

[rjan67]

Will you be in the car directly behind them? If so, no it will not be a problem. I would line up in the same car line. If you were truly alone you would need a notorized letter (which you can get off the Canadian border website). It is very border crossing dependant. I live in a border city and cross frequently without my husband and have not had a problem. Last March my dh flew to Orlando while we drove and they only asked where he was and laughed when I said he couldn't leave early because he couldn't get the time off work.

 

[Tinkermom76]

I have never crossed at the border but when I fly I always get asked. Better to have it and be safe then to get stopped and turned around

 

[jtdl]

If you were flying I would say definitely get a notarized letter just to be on the safe side. If you are in a car behind them - no you won't need one. I live in a border city, cross on at least a monthly basis with my kids and have never been asked to show a letter. I have taken children other than my own over to a campground in Michigan and have always been required to show a letter from the parents - never been notarized though, just a letter stating that I have been given permission to take the child to the name of the campground in which city on which dates, signed by the parents, including a phone number where they could be reached at the time I was crossing. Never had a problem with it not being notarized.

 

[dopeyluvsgrumpy]

I would take a letter just in case. Its whenever you don't have something that your always asked for it. We've had great border crossings and some not very friendly border crossings. I have been asked for a letter in the past and didn't have one (and it was coming back into Canada!) so now I always make sure that I have all my bases covered to save time and frustrations.

 

[sjsjbrook]

if you are at all worried you can get a letter commisioned from service Ontario (these are accepted just as notorized letters) best of all it is free. You just have to make sure the location of service Ontario you go to has a commisioner of oaths.
They even have fill in the blank forms for parents to complete.

I used this service to send my dd to england with her grandmother.

 

[snickerboo]

It will not be a problem. If you're worried do up a letter and get it witnessed by the school principal or your doctor or your minister or your lawyer or the boss of your company. There is a governement webpage on this where you can just download a sample letter and fill it out.
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/preparation_information/consent-letter_lettre-consentement-eng.asp

I have crossed the border many times with my daughter and never ever been asked anything about custody, her father, permission. I am married to her father. I take dd over for concerts, events, shopping....Never a problem.

 

[vacation_junkie]

I've heard stories of single parents travelling with their kids internationally, but without their spouse. They were asked to show something from a lawyer or notary 'allowing' them to travel with their kids by themselves (i.e. without their spouses) (I assume it's some sort of safeguard to prevent one parent from leaving the country with their kids without the permission of the other parent).

We will be driving across the Fort erie border. My wife will be with my kids, and I will be driving with my parents (who don't feel comfortable driving). Will it be an issue for my wife when she goes across the border (and I won't be in the car with them)?

I cross the boarder just my son and I atleast 3-4 times amonth to do some shopping and I've never had an issue. I just show our passports and we are on our way!

 

[lee-annl]

On my last trip across I was questioned on the way back into Canada about papers stating this. My children have my husbands last name & I have kept my maiden name. They said also having the long birth certificate form would suffice.