? re: crossing border with step-son

[ChisJo]

I need advice on what to do. We are taking my Step-son to Yellowstone national park and then from there, I'm surprising him and his father with a trip down to Orlando (flying from Billings, MT).My question is....how does his mom write the letter of authorization to take him over the border without giving it away that I am taking them on a surprise trip? When we write the letter for her to take him over the border, we include the name of the city, the duration in the stay, the hotel they are staying at, etc. Do we have to include all of that information, or is it ok just to say that we are taking him to various places in the USA and are expected to return on so and so date?

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

 

[squirrel]

The notorized letter my sister gave me for my niece did say that we were going to WDW.

When we crossed the boarder, we handed the guard all of our passports and if he asked anything we said we were on vaccation to WDW. The guard never asked for a note or questioned why my niece (different last name) was with us (travelled with my neighbours).

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

I note from the childs mother stating permission to take child across the border for a -- vacation period should be good.

My question to you is when are you going to let the cat outta the bag? You have to tell the border guard something. I wouldn't lie to them they will figure it out when you tell them one thing on the way down and tell them something different on the way back.

 

[ChisJo]

I haven't quite figured it out yet....we are driving from Edmonton to Yellowstone National Park first, then flying from there. I didn't want to say anything until we were literally at the airport flying to Florida. I'm trying to figure out if its doable...

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

these guys are human, and a lot of them have families too, I would have his Mom write the letter with ALL the info, but do a cover letter letting the border personnel know that it will be a surprise, they might surprise you and wink and act all official about the trip to yellowstone...as long as they have the right info from the mom that's all they will care about...have a great trip!!

 

[OvertheRainbow]

We're bringing our daughter's friend with us to Orlando in november (she's 16). Do we need to have a notarized letter done up or can her parents just write and sign something? Also, do we need to get two seperate letters because the parents are divorced? Thanks OP for bringing this topic up, we just booked our flights yesterday so I was already wondering what needs to be done. Hope you don't mind me asking a couple of questions

 

[dancin Disney style]

A letter from the mom is not enough. You will need copies of the custody documents. Everything will need to be notorized as well.

Chances are they won't even ask at the border but have everything just in case. I've sent my daughter on several trips with her friends families to Europe and the US. I would say that 50% of the time the adults were asked to produce documents.

 

[OvertheRainbow]

Thanks for the info

 

[Tantor]

A letter from the mom is not enough. You will need copies of the custody documents. Everything will need to be notorized as well.

Chances are they won't even ask at the border but have everything just in case. I've sent my daughter on several trips with her friends families to Europe and the US. I would say that 50% of the time the adults were asked to produce documents.

DH is driving with DD to Vanc. via throw the states and we are getting a notarized letter. Better safe that sorry.

 

[princess pooh]

My notary drew up a letter that didn't include where we were staying in the US. It just stated that my husband gave me permission to travel with DS to the states, and the dates we were travelling.

 

[Tinkershelly]

When we travelled with my niece and nephew we used the form from Foreign Affairs and had it notarized just in case. Here's the link to the page: http://www.voyage.gc.ca//preparation_information/consent-letter_lettre-consentement-eng.asp

You can download it in Word and fill it out before printing and it looks great.

Good luck!

 

[granolacruncher11]

How old is your stepson? If he is 16 or older you won't need any documents except his passport.

 

[b-1]

we use the document linked by a PP.

We always get it if we are travelling seperatly. We have been asked to produce the letter at US Immigration on the way down as well as Canada Customs on the way home. I make 2 copies in case US Immigration keeps the letter ( they never have so far but weird things do happen).

I'd say we've been asked to produce a letter about 75% of the time we have travelled seperatly.

 

[TagsMissy]

I need advice on what to do. We are taking my Step-son to Yellowstone national park and then from there, I'm surprising him and his father with a trip down to Orlando (flying from Billings, MT).My question is....how does his mom write the letter of authorization to take him over the border without giving it away that I am taking them on a surprise trip? When we write the letter for her to take him over the border, we include the name of the city, the duration in the stay, the hotel they are staying at, etc. Do we have to include all of that information, or is it ok just to say that we are taking him to various places in the USA and are expected to return on so and so date?

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

I believe it has to be officially notarized...

 

[OvertheRainbow]

How old is your stepson? If he is 16 or older you won't need any documents except his passport.

So because my daughter's friend is 16 (turning 17 days after we return home) we won't need to get any paperwork done up?

 

[ChisJo]

My step son is 13. We've had all the letters notarized for his mother to take him over the border, and I know she will do the same for us.

As PrincessPooh said, we may just say that we are travelling to the USA with him on these specified dates. I will have a letter stating where we are going that is seperate from all the other documents just stating that the whole trip is a surprise and hopefully I get a nice border crossing person. My step sons mom knows about the whole trip and has been great about it so far, so hopefully things go well.

Thanks everyone for your replies....wish me luck!

 

[dancin Disney style]

So because my daughter's friend is 16 (turning 17 days after we return home) we won't need to get any paperwork done up?

Yes you do. Any one under the age of 18 is still subject to custody agreements and considered a minor.

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

I had a bit of an issue travelling across the border with my DD who was 16 at the time. We had her passport, driver's license and her Birth certificate but no letter from her father (coles notes version: she hasn't seen him since she was 8 and there has been absolutely no contact since then either, his loss!). The US customs officer gave me a bit of a hassle because I didn't have a letter from her father. I told him I managed to get her passport without father's authorization and he told me the only reason he would allow our crossing is due to the fact that she is old enough to be aware of whether or not she was being kidnapped. As we were walking away my DD leaned over and told me she wished she was being kidnapped to Disney! That's my girl!
The experience you have at the border completely depends on the officer you get. It's best to be over-prepared IMO!

 

[OvertheRainbow]

I will definitely get the paperwork then, don't want to risk anything.

 

[wannago2disney]

I agree with PP, if you can get the paperwork....then get it. I live in a border city and we cross frequently...even just for a meal out....the way you are treated all comes down to chance. Even with both DH and I in the vehicle, they will still open the doors of our van to question our kids who are only 4 and 6. (and we all have passports and nexus). The last time, was just a few days after the little girl was kidnapped from Woodstock, ON...the woman asked my 4 year old what her address was (she knows) and what her full name was. Other times we have crossed and they just wave us through...So I would be prepared, you just might get that one person who woke up on the wrong side of the bed or likes to be exactly by the book