Letter of consent

[Ravenne]

Another post here regarding having letters of consent from exes got me thinking...

My husband and I are doing different excursions while in Alaska. He and one of our kids are doing the train that crosses into Canada, while I'm doing another excursion with our other kid. I typed up a letter of consent and signed it just in case, but do I need to have it notarized? Will he even need a letter of consent from me just in case?

 

[bumbershoot]

Canada *can* get serious about this. I probably would have a letter for both of you and have it notarized. Most Us banks have notaries that you can ask to help for free (if it’s your bank).

 

[MelSpees]

Is he going on a DCL excursion? If so, I wouldn't worry about it personally.

 

[Dug720]

Is he going on a DCL excursion? If so, I wouldn't worry about it personally.

DCL excursion or not, I would have the letter because as a PP stated, Canada can be much more strict about these things than even DCL. I would not want to be the reason the group was held up or worse be pulled from the group and left behind for not doing something so simple as getting that notarized letter.

 

[abbiep]

We have been on 2 Disney Cruises and one NCL. We take our granddaughter without her parents and the last time had a friend with her. The NCL cruise took us to Canada. I always have the forms with permission from parents to take them but have never been asked for them. If we cruise in the future I will still get the forms because you just never know and it will only take one time to need it, not have it and either be denied boarding or not being able to do an excursion. But then I am also a firm believer in Passports and ins. You just never know what could happen.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

While I doubt that you need to have the letter, I fall into the camp of it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Hmm. I've always assumed just having the letter was sufficient. I've never thought about it being notarized or not, so I went on to the Canadian website about it and found this:

Who can witness the signing of a consent letter?

The signing of the letter may be witnessed by anyone who has attained the age of majority (18 or 19, depending on the province or territory of residence). However, we strongly recommend having the letter certified by an official who has the authority to administer an oath or solemn declaration, (e.g. a commissioner of oaths, notary public or lawyer), as border officials will be less likely to question the authenticity of the letter.

Outside of Canada, the signing of a consent letter may be witnessed by anyone who has attained the age of majority, including a consular officer at any Canadian government office abroad (fees apply).​

For anyone interested or for whom it is appropriate, here is the link to the Canadian instructions for writing a consent letter. There is also an interactive form you can use.

https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/children/consent-letter

 

[TestingH2O]

Here is the US version for US citizens. This is what I always have drawn up. Only in Canada have I ever been asked to show it.

https://www.us-passport-service-guide.com/minor-travel-consent-form.html

We always get our letters notarized at our bank.

 

[professorandmom]

Here is the US version for US citizens. This is what I always have drawn up. Only in Canada have I ever been asked to show it.

https://www.us-passport-service-guide.com/minor-travel-consent-form.html

We always get our letters notarized at our bank.

just noting that this link isn't from the US border control...it is not offical

I always worry that these links imply the letter is required! It is a good idea? Yup...is it possible in all circumstances...definitely not

I am not trying to open the floodgates as these topics always seem to attract. As a single mom whose ex was not cooperative (kids are now adults) the stress of these discussions can be unmooring, in my opinion

 

[TestingH2O]

just noting that this link isn't from the US border control...it is not offical

I always worry that these links imply the letter is required! It is a good idea? Yup...is it possible in all circumstances...definitely not

I am not trying to open the floodgates as these topics always seem to attract. As a single mom whose ex was not cooperative (kids are now adults) the stress of these discussions can be unmooring, in my opinion

Thank you. I clearly copied the link quickly without carefully making sure it was what I meant to link. TBH, I wrote the letter several years ago and just update it with each trip. Here is the actual government link.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/de...sion/L3RpbWUvMTUyNDg3MzgwNS9zaWQvcnVva1hmTG4=

While I agree that there is a lot of stress associated with the logistics for single parents, I'd think it is a better safe than sorry thing. You just need one agent who strictly adheres to policy for things to get bonkers.

 

[cruiser21]

I've traveled to Canada and Europe with just my kids and have never been asked for a letter of consent. I've never taken one. I'm not divorced though.

 

[Ravenne]

Is he going on a DCL excursion? If so, I wouldn't worry about it personally.

No, it's an excursion we booked independently.

I've traveled to Canada and Europe with just my kids and have never been asked for a letter of consent. I've never taken one. I'm not divorced though.

We're not divorced either, so initially, it didn't occur to me to get anything notarized. Not until I read a post about it here. We're just doing separate excursions in one port.






Now conversely, would my husband need to get me a consent letter for taking our other kid on an excursion? I'm not crossing the border with the kid. We're doing the excursion in the same port we're docked in for that day, within Alaska.

 

[Shanti]

Another post here regarding having letters of consent from exes got me thinking...

My husband and I are doing different excursions while in Alaska. He and one of our kids are doing the train that crosses into Canada, while I'm doing another excursion with our other kid. I typed up a letter of consent and signed it just in case, but do I need to have it notarized? Will he even need a letter of consent from me just in case?

wrong post, sorry.

 

[cruiser21]

No, it's an excursion we booked independently.



We're not divorced either, so initially, it didn't occur to me to get anything notarized. Not until I read a post about it here. We're just doing separate excursions in one port.






Now conversely, would my husband need to get me a consent letter for taking our other kid on an excursion? I'm not crossing the border with the kid. We're doing the excursion in the same port we're docked in for that day, within Alaska.

You will not need a consent a letter.

 

[bumbershoot]

The “I’m not divorced” thing makes no sense. The border officers don’t know your marital status.

If one of them wants to know that you have permission to take a child across the border, then they want to know it. And a notarized letter is going to make that easier for you. In the US if your bank has notaries, it’s likely free. It’s a really easy thing to do.

 

[bbel]

Are they actually getting off the train in Canada or just turning and coming back down? I did it with another CM and we're not allowed our passports when we're onboard so didn't have them, and honestly didn't even think about it. They let us into Canada, but we just had to wait on the train while it turned around and went back, which is what we were going to anyway, but no one actually came to look at passports.
This boarding crossing is by far the tamest Canadian boarder I've been to and pretty much used only by tourists from the ships so they're used to it. (And yes, I've crossed the Canadian boarder by land, air and sea many many times. I've been taken into a room and questioned in Canada, and was with a friend when they ripped out her Canadian visa, so I can safely say it's very tame in comparison)

Also, the only time my cousin had issues was when she traveled alone with her two kids, and only with the eldest beceause they have different last names. Her younger kid has the same last name as her and they didn't even mention her on the same trip.

 

[cruiser21]

The “I’m not divorced” thing makes no sense. The border officers don’t know your marital status.

If one of them wants to know that you have permission to take a child across the border, then they want to know it. And a notarized letter is going to make that easier for you. In the US if your bank has notaries, it’s likely free. It’s a really easy thing to do.

Ive think your making a bigger deal out of this than necessary, but my all means get a letter of consent if it makes traveling less stressful for you.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Are they actually getting off the train in Canada or just turning and coming back down? I did it with another CM and we're not allowed our passports when we're onboard so didn't have them, and honestly didn't even think about it. They let us into Canada, but we just had to wait on the train while it turned around and went back, which is what we were going to anyway, but no one actually came to look at passports.
This boarding crossing is by far the tamest Canadian boarder I've been to and pretty much used only by tourists from the ships so they're used to it. (And yes, I've crossed the Canadian boarder by land, air and sea many many times. I've been taken into a room and questioned in Canada, and was with a friend when they ripped out her Canadian visa, so I can safely say it's very tame in comparison)

Also, the only time my cousin had issues was when she traveled alone with her two kids, and only with the eldest beceause they have different last names. Her younger kid has the same last name as her and they didn't even mention her on the same trip.

I know this is off-topic, but wow... they ripped the visa out of your friend's passport? Can I ask why (knowing full well it's none of my business, so it's okay if you don't want to say)?

 

[TestingH2O]

Ive think your making a bigger deal out of this than necessary, but my all means get a letter of consent if it makes traveling less stressful for you.

You could say the same thing about having a passport for a closed loop Caribbean cruise. You don't have to have one, but if you end up needing it, the ramifications are big.

I'm married but my husband doesn't like to travel much. Rather than risk needing the letter and not having it, we take the 15 minutes to stop by the bank and get it taken care of. I'm glad we did last summer when the agent asked for it. For us, the alternative of missing the trip makes the 15 minute time investment worth it.