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July 2012 Moms
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Traveling alone with LO across the border

Barefoot84Barefoot84 member
in July 2012 Moms
Tumaini and I will be visiting my parents in Florida in a few weeks. I've heard that when a parent is traveling alone to a different country, they should bring a letter from the other parent authorizing travel, and that the letter must be signed by a notary. Those of you who have traveled to Canada or the States alone with LO, did they ask you for this letter? Is it worth paying the 100$ fee for the notary stamp? Or do I just feign ignorance if they ask for the document, and hope they let us get to our destination? Or do I get H to sign the letter, but simply feign ignorance that it needed to be authorized by a notary?
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Re: Traveling alone with LO across the border

  • Barefoot84Barefoot84 member
    cbear2010 said:
    Whaaat a notary fee is $100?? Im a notary at work (bank) and we don't charge anything!
    You would stamp my letter for free? Why do we not live in the same city/country! Maybe it's a Canadian thing? It's the going rate for a stamp, because of minimum fee and bla bla bla, even if takes them a minute to verify our identity. We've done it a few times when traveling to the United States and to Europe with my niece, but neither of her parents were traveling with us and I'm too young to even give the impression that she could have been my daughter. I'm just not sure it's worth if for LO, especially since I've never been asked for the document when traveling with my niece.
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  • sarahandeddiejune212008sarahandeddiejune212008 member
    My sister had to get something signed by her b/f to get their sons a passport when they went from the US to the Caribbean. The only reason she had to do that was because they weren't married at the time. I think as long as you're married you don't have to worry.
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  • julymommy12julymommy12 member
    I am from Ontario and have traveled to florida with lo 6 times. The first time I had my friend who is a lawyer stamp and sign the consent letter but all the other times I have had my mom sign it as a witness. Sometimes they want to see the letter on the way down sometimes they dont ask for it till I arrive back in Canada.

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  • julymommy12julymommy12 member
    Ps. If you Google consent letter for child traveling with one parent it should take you to a government website where you input your info and can print it off. Sorry mobile now so can't remember the actual website.

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  • Barefoot84Barefoot84 member

    julymommy12 said:
    I am from Ontario and have traveled to florida with lo 6 times. The first time I had my friend who is a lawyer stamp and sign the consent letter but all the other times I have had my mom sign it as a witness. Sometimes they want to see the letter on the way down sometimes they dont ask for it till I arrive back in Canada.
    I might steal the witness idea. Thank you!
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  • julymommy12julymommy12 member
    I figure if they have any problems they can call my husband. Also make sure you have your documentation for your return flight. I was asked for that once.

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  • zyaszyas member
    As a Canadian living in the US and having traveled across the border like 10 times now with Ava alone, I'll chime in here.

    I know the notary fees are ridiculous in Canada but I was able to find some as cheap as $50, try calling around and see if you can find a better deal. I was shocked when I moved to the US and went to get my first thing notarized (at the UPS store!) and it only cost $1. I thought the guy was joking. lol

    That being said, I definitely recommend bringing a letter with you. I know someone that didn't have a letter and they wouldn't let her through. What a pain in the a$$ that must have been.

    Several times we breezed right through customs and they didn't ask about the letter but most of the times they did. I also recommend photo copying your husbands drivers license and attaching that to the letter as they looked at that to match up his signature. It totally depends on the customs officer you get and what kind of a mood they are in that day. 

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  • julymommy12julymommy12 member
    You need a letter whether you are married/divorced/seperated whatever. Both parents have to agree with the travel plans.

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  • Barefoot84Barefoot84 member
    zyas said:
    As a Canadian living in the US and having traveled across the border like 10 times now with Ava alone, I'll chime in here.

    I know the notary fees are ridiculous in Canada but I was able to find some as cheap as $50, try calling around and see if you can find a better deal. I was shocked when I moved to the US and went to get my first thing notarized (at the UPS store!) and it only cost $1. I thought the guy was joking. lol

    That being said, I definitely recommend bringing a letter with you. I know someone that didn't have a letter and they wouldn't let her through. What a pain in the a$$ that must have been.

    Several times we breezed right through customs and they didn't ask about the letter but most of the times they did. I also recommend photo copying your husbands drivers license and attaching that to the letter as they looked at that to match up his signature. It totally depends on the customs officer you get and what kind of a mood they are in that day. 
    That's great advice. Thank you!
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