Irrational fears as a first timer

[MorningGlory]

Did anyone have anything that stuck in the back of their mind prior to their first visit to the US?

I can't wait for this holiday to begin, and thanks to all of the info I have found over the past few months thumbsup2 ), im entirely happy and not in the slightest bit worried about anything that is within my control. Busy parks, fatigue, etc I can do something about. Getting to the airport on time isn't giving me one bit of worry, since we are travelling down the night before and staying at the airport. But, there are a couple of things that have been niggling at me for the past couple of weeks, and I really can't do anything about them until we confront the situation.

Firstly, immigration at MCO. Although I have never at any time been in trouble with the police, I have this stupid fear that somehow, for some reason, I am going to be denied entry to the US. Some of the fear stems from the fact that it is just me and my son - are they going to want proof that his mum is happy (nay, delighted!) that he is getting this holiday? Also, are they going to question me about the fact that he is out of school? I have heard before that they have really took people apart over this and are quite strict with it. His school, however, are also very supportive of his holiday and have said that they will give him some small tasks (keep a diary, take photos etc) so that he can relate it all to his school friends after the summer holidays. Despite this, it still worries me and I don't know anything that I can do to allay my fears

Secondly, and probably not so irrational, I have a fear that im going to get some ignorant person at the Dollar car hire desk who, despite me being given repeated assurances from my UK agent that they will accept a cash deposit (she even changed my booking from Budget to Dollar on the basis that Dollar will accept cash deposits), they will refuse me and we won't get our hire car. Although being refused a car would not be totally disastrous, it would really curb the things we wanted to do, especially our planned outing to St Petersburg for the baseball. Also, since I booked it through a private agent who works from her home and it will be around 12 midnight in the UK, there is probably no chance of me getting to contact her if I have any problems. Im kinda kicking myself now for doing this. Thankfully I haven't told Junior yet about the convertible, as he will be gutted if we don't get it. I think I might annoy the girl I booked with one more time, and ask her if she can get me some kinda written confirmation from Dollar, or a person's name that has confirmed I can do this?

Am I worried for no reason?

 

[jtlover]

Does your son have the same surname?

I would suggest ringing the airline to check or the US embassy in London - I cant imagine it is an issue at all. If anything they might suggest a letter from the mother authorising the holiday. I do recall grandparents taking their grandchildren and they dont have problems.

Regarding the car hire - they are very different now than what they used to be and you wont have a problem. You will have a great holiday.

 

[Netty]

Paul why don't you email dollar, they are usually quite quick to reply back. also as said before, get a letter from your sons mum authorising the holiday.
over the fear of not getting through immigration, i think everyone goes through that feeling of being not allowed in to the USA!!-its normal
I have on a few occasions took the kids out of term time, the us authorities have never questioned that, and to be honest i have never heard of them ever doing this.
Relax and look forward to your Floridays!!

 

[MorningGlory]

Does your son have the same surname?

I would suggest ringing the airline to check or the US embassy in London - I cant imagine it is an issue at all. If anything they might suggest a letter from the mother authorising the holiday. I do recall grandparents taking their grandchildren and they dont have problems.

Regarding the car hire - they are very different now than what they used to be and you wont have a problem. You will have a great holiday.

Yeah, same forename as well (although he has 2 middle names - both his grandad's)

I remember there was a premium rate number where you could phone regarding Visa Waiver queries, but im sure I remember reading that they cant give specific answers to questions like 'will I definitely be given entry'. I know in all probability we will be okay.....but what a sickener it would be if it were to happen, and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it Like I said, probably quite irrational

About the car....do you mean they are more relaxed now on how they accept deposits and stuff? I actually remember reading somewhere that someone just had to show their return ticket and debit card to Dollar, and no cash deposit would be taken. Would be great if this were to happen, but I have no qualms about paying the $500 deposit quoted by the agent if it means getting the car.

Thanks for your reassurances

 

[wicket2005]

Immigration worries are perfectly natural, I am totally innocent of any crimes but still feel 'guilty' when I have to go through. It does depend on what type of immigration officer you get which sets the whole experience. Last year we had a really scary one but the year before one that joked with us. I wouldn't imagine they would be any problems with a father and son travelling together. I think they only question people who have kids who don't belong to them, and they are required to show some form of confirmation from the kid's family that they have given permission for the child to travel with another family.

It sounds like you have not taken any car insurance out with Dollar and if so I would strongly advise you to do so. The last thing you want is to have an accident then have to pay all the costs if it was your fault and face being sued by the other person.

 

[MorningGlory]

Paul why don't you email dollar, they are usually quite quick to reply back. also as said before, get a letter from your sons mum authorising the holiday.
over the fear of not getting through immigration, i think everyone goes through that feeling of being not allowed in to the USA!!-its normal
I have on a few occasions took the kids out of term time, the us authorities have never questioned that, and to be honest i have never heard of them ever doing this.
Relax and look forward to your Floridays!!

I hadn't even thought about emailing Dollar Im definitely going to do that. If they assure me it's okay, I can just print that off and take it with me. I'd feel alot better knowing I had something concrete from them.

About the letter from Paul's mum. I suppose I should do it - although part of me feels why the hell should I have to. But, that's a totally different matter altogether. All that matters is we don't have any problems, so if it helps in that respect, it's worthing doing.

Thanks Jeanette

 

[MorningGlory]

Hi wicket, thanks for the reassurance Good to know it's not just me that feels this way about the immigration thing. As well as my and junior having the same name, Dad and brother have the exact same name also - im not sure if this will cause laughter or confusion! Hopefully the former

Re the Dollar thing, we have paid the agent for a full package, including all insurance and taxes. It's just that the voucher we have from the agent still states deposit should be in the form of a credit card, and cash deposits are 'rarely acceptable' Im going to go email Dollar about it now

 

[eyoreaud]

Good Luck with the e-mail Paul, please let us know what they say about cash deposits when you find out this may be helpful to a friend of mine.

Try and not let yourself panic about getting into the US, a few years ago my Dd and i had to travel to Orlando alone as my Dh got held up at work and couldn't travel till a week later and the powers that be never gave us a second look.

Loads of single parents take their kids on vacation and theres never been a problem that i've ever heard of, not since All kids have had their own passports. Maybe if your Ds had still been in his mums passport it may have made a difference but that's not the case nowadays

Hope this helps

 

[MorningGlory]

Just sent the email away Audrey so I'll let you know what they say My Dad's debit card has not actually got anything on it that identifies it as a debit card (just a VISA logo and the bank name, unlike mine which says clearly VISA Electron and 'debit card' on the front) and he has been able to use it online for purchases that were marked as being only available to purchase by credit card. I've mentioned this to them in the hope they allow us to use that for the security. I can think of alot of things I would rather spend that $500 deposit on

Thanks for the info everyone

 

[carolfoy]

Paul, please don't worry yourself, immigration aren't as bad as all that, yes they're serious but they have a serious job to do, just be courteous and answer their questions politely and you'll be through in a few minutes. I have taken my son all over the world and the only place i've been questioned about his father was in canada, i didn't have a letter or anything with me but it was all ok. my sons dad has taken him a couple of places too and never been questioned.

Also as a travel agent I've had many dealings with cash only customers hiring through dollar and I've NEVER had anyone come back to me and say they've been refused the car.

 

[MorningGlory]

Paul, please don't worry yourself, immigration aren't as bad as all that, yes they're serious but they have a serious job to do, just be courteous and answer their questions politely and you'll be through in a few minutes. I have taken my son all over the world and the only place i've been questioned about his father was in canada, i didn't have a letter or anything with me but it was all ok. my sons dad has taken him a couple of places too and never been questioned.

Thanks Carol, good to hear it from someone who has had first-hand experience! I'll definitely be on my best behaviour going through immigration

Also as a travel agent I've had many dealings with cash only customers hiring through dollar and I've NEVER had anyone come back to me and say they've been refused the car.

Great! I wished id thought of asking you about this before!

I feel much more at ease now

 

[mark&sue]

Also I think the USA schools may be out of school in June so I am sure immigration would not know which school in which countries and to some extent which local authorities in these countries were having school holidays.

They would have no idea you were even taking your son out of school. I guess everyday people fly into Orlando with children and immigration would not know whether they had school holidays or not.

Have a great time and don't forget to come back here and tell us all about it.


Susan

 

[carolfoy]

Thanks Carol, good to hear it from someone who has had first-hand experience! I'll definitely be on my best behaviour going through immigration



Great! I wished id thought of asking you about this before!

I feel much more at ease now

i hope I've put your mind at rest Paul, you deserve a really great holiday - just one thing though unless we get a FULL trip report pics and all you may never be allowed back!

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Hi - For what its worth Susan is right - my half brother lives in florida and breaks up from school next week for the summer holidays - so no way will they question why your son is not at school!!!

Please relax - I am sure immigration will be fine - when I was little (about 8) the Immigration officer asked me (and told my parents to be quiet as they were speaking to me!!) why I was coming to Florida - I just said for a holiday and everything was fine!! - I'm sure if they are even slightly concerned they will just speak directly to your son and everything will be absolutely fine. (By the way that was just one occasion I was spoken to, in over a dozen trips when I was small (one trip was just with my mum and not my dad aswell).

And getting email confirmation from dollar would be excellent - then you will have no worries at all - just a fantastic time!!

 

[MorningGlory]

Good Luck with the e-mail Paul, please let us know what they say about cash deposits when you find out this may be helpful to a friend of mine.

Hi Audrey. Well, after 11 days I still hadn't received a reply, so I tried calling Dollar in the US this evening.

Got a quite ignorant woman on the phone who was obviously not interested in being helpful at all. I told her I had an email tracking number from them from when I sent my email - her reply was 'im not interested, just tell me your query'

When I asked her about the cash deposits at MCO, she said 'definitely not at Orlando', then hung up before I could ask any more!

Dont know what to do now

 

[wicket2005]

Can you not just buy the insurance and cover yourself. I would not consider driving without insurance over there. I am presuming this is why you have to leave a deposit, I know years ago this was the case if you didn't take the insurance out.

 

[MorningGlory]

Can you not just buy the insurance and cover yourself. I would not consider driving without insurance over there. I am presuming this is why you have to leave a deposit, I know years ago this was the case if you didn't take the insurance out.

No, you must pay a deposit regardless of what insurance you have taken (afaik).

We are fully insured (I should think so at £175pw )

 

[wicket2005]

I have never heard of anyone (barring you) having to leave a deposit when you have taken out insurance. What is the deposit for then? I am quite intrigued.

 

[MorningGlory]

The cash deposit is in lieu of a credit card imprint, as I dont have a CC.

Most car hirers require something like this I think. Dollar certainly do.

 

[wicket2005]

Ahh. The penny drops from a great height. Thanks for that explanation.