Solo Travel with Minor Letter?

[potatopie]

Is there a specific template for the letter you need to travel solo with a minor? The Canadian government has a nice fill-in-the-blank one, but it's Canada specific. Anything like that for the US?

Do they actually ask for these things? If so, what countries do the asking? I'll carry one, no problem, just curious whether to expect it requested and where.

[azure]

My American friend here used the Canadian form.
I've also used the Canadian form for travelling to countries besides Canada.

I'm not sure if it is required for travel to the US though.

I have been asked for it everytime I've entered Canada alone with M and once when returning to Europe at the Amsterdam airport.

[Brit]

I have used one, but I don't remember if it is standard or not. If you want I can post the format tomorrow.

[potatopie]

thanks. It seems like it can be pretty basic. do I just need a witness signature or should it be notarized?

[Brit]

We had it notarized, but only because H had a notary readily available at work.

[azure]

I used to get them notarized at our town hall for free, but they stopped that service in 2013. My last trip I just had H sign it and I had all previous letters with me as well. They just accepted the signed copy.

[Cicero]

I've had one but they didn't ask for it. The State Department recommends answering who, what, when , where, and why as well as providing the contact info for the non traveling parent.

[potatopie]

Mar 11, 2014 11:23:42 GMT -5 jamaicam said:

Whooops. I've never done this. I traveled on my own with my son at 4 months from Jamaica via the US to the UK. Both my son and I are dual UK/Jamaican citizens and no one asked us for anything!

My son and I have different last names, so it might be more likely that they ask. And I'm always one to be prepared for everything anyway!

[pittpurple]

I didn't have one either but I've heard the same - that if you have different last names it's more likely.

My (Irish) friend was travelling from Switzerland to the UK on her own with her (British) son and they almost got stuck at the airport since they didn't believe he was hers.

[azure]

Mar 12, 2014 4:27:05 GMT -5 potatopie said:

Mar 11, 2014 11:23:42 GMT -5 jamaicam said:

Whooops. I've never done this. I traveled on my own with my son at 4 months from Jamaica via the US to the UK. Both my son and I are dual UK/Jamaican citizens and no one asked us for anything!

My son and I have different last names, so it might be more likely that they ask. And I'm always one to be prepared for everything anyway!

M and I have different last names too, plus I am blonde and he is tan with dark hair and eyes. Maybe this is why they always ask me.

[anna7602]

I just made one up, didn't use a template. But I did have it notarized, per the advice of the agent with whom I booked my tickets to Cuba. I always need it for Cuba in both directions. I also had one for Argentina, but they only asked for it on the American side, not on the Argentine side.

I've had it ready for other trips, but have never been asked for it on domestic flights or when traveling to/from Europe. The last time I traveled from France with DD solo, I actually forgot to have one ready and had a minor heart attack when I realized DH would be difficult to reach since he was camping in the wilderness the weekend we were flying. No one asked for it, though.

[frlcb]

I've never been asked in Europe or the US either

[americaninoz]

I have never needed (been asked for) a letter while travelling with dd on my own between Australia & the USA. However, we do have the same last names

[Cicero]

Mar 12, 2014 4:59:08 GMT -5 pittpurple said:

I didn't have one either but I've heard the same - that if you have different last names it's more likely.

My (Irish) friend was travelling from Switzerland to the UK on her own with her (British) son and they almost got stuck at the airport since they didn't believe he was hers.

The Swiss seem to be pretty strict about this in a way I've not heard of other countries being. I know a few people who have had issues leaving CH because they didn't have a letter from the other parent. Fortunately they all lived in CH and were able to have the other parent come to the airport or bring a letter so it worked out.

[pippilongstocking]

I was never asked for anything when I travelled with DS from aus to the Us. We also have the same last name.

[potatopie]

I think it's also a matter of custody issues (i.e., some angry parent runs off with the kid), so they should be able to question everyone no matter the names or anything. But I'm sure they are less likely to in that case.

[lolo]

We were once stopped at the Canadian border and questioned when I was perhaps ten and my sister was eight. We were traveling with my dad and he didn't have a note. They took my sister and I to a separate room where they asked us repeatedly if he was actually our dad, if our mom knew we were with him, etc.

We had never thought to have a note before since we usually just did road trips within the US.

I'd be interested in seeing a template though.

[potatopie]

Mar 26, 2014 22:20:17 GMT -5 lolo said:

We were once stopped at the Canadian border and questioned when I was perhaps ten and my sister was eight. We were traveling with my dad and he didn't have a note. They took my sister and I to a separate room where they asked us repeatedly if he was actually our dad, if our mom knew we were with him, etc.

We had never thought to have a note before since we usually just did road trips within the US.

I'd be interested in seeing a template though.

That must have been scary at that age! But I suppose it's good they watch for these sorts of things.

[lolo]

Mar 27, 2014 2:39:30 GMT -5 potatopie said:

Mar 26, 2014 22:20:17 GMT -5 lolo said:

We were once stopped at the Canadian border and questioned when I was perhaps ten and my sister was eight. We were traveling with my dad and he didn't have a note. They took my sister and I to a separate room where they asked us repeatedly if he was actually our dad, if our mom knew we were with him, etc.

We had never thought to have a note before since we usually just did road trips within the US.

I'd be interested in seeing a template though.

That must have been scary at that age! But I suppose it's good they watch for these sorts of things.

My sister was really scared, so I remember being grateful that they didn't separate her from me. I was scared that they wouldn't believe us, and I remember worrying that my dad was upset. But it was also really frustrating. We had just crossed over the border in the opposite direction, so it didn't make any sense if he was kidnapping us for that to happen.