Divorced Parent Traveling Out of Country w/Child

[grsnovi]

The US CBP says that you need a "consent letter" and they say that it doesn't HAVE to be notarized. Does anyone have any recent experience with this? My son and his wife both have custody of their children from prior marriages and we're going to AK in a few weeks. Both ex-spouses are fine with doing the letter. Does the letter need to be notarized? Wondering if anyone has dealt with this in the past six months. TIA.

[Boatdrill]

It's best to have to have the letter notarized. Notaries are easy to find and there will be peace of mind that no one can dispute the signatures on the consent letter.  

Also, if the children are under 18 years of age and not using a passport book as proof of citizenship,.  be sure they have some kind of photo identification (driver's license, school id) with a recent photo.   A birth certificate without an accompanying photo id is worthless.   

Edited July 10, 2019 by Boatdrill

[Krazy Kruizers]

I do agree with Boatdrill -- get those notarized.

 

And make certain that they have photo ID's.

[ski ww]

We got a letter when we took our great grand daughter out of the country, we had a passport for her & a notarized letter from her parents which they had done at city hall. Enjoy your cruise.

[PoolSlider]

Do what you need to do. That said, in umpteen land and cruise trips with my kids abroad I have never been asked for documentation other than passports per usual and I've never volunteered further information.

[terrydtx]

We are leaving on the 21st with our 10 year old Grandson to Vancouver for our Alaska cruise. I checked with HAL and was told that a notarized letter from the his parents is required to board the ship and to clear Canadian customs in Vancouver. He has a passport so that part is covered. My TA also suggested that the letter give us the ability to make any emergency medical decisions while he is in our custody. 

[14 months and counting]

We have taken our grandchildren on trips and always have a notorized letter which gives us permission to travel with and seek medical attention for the child.  The children all have their own passports.  Twice we have not been asked for identification (land trips) but  both cruises ( HAL and Princess) we were asked for the letter and the person checking us in took the letter to a supervisor to approve.

 

I would never take the chance of being denied boarding and ruining the vacation.

[cat shepard]

Your local UPS shipping office often has a notary - at least on certain days & with a specific schedule of times he or she is available.  Many banks do as well. But some banks require you to have an account with them.

[grsnovi]

Thanks all. 

[Herfnerd]

Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.  

[bEwAbG]

5 hours ago, cat shepard said:

Your local UPS shipping office often has a notary - at least on certain days & with a specific schedule of times he or she is available.  Many banks do as well. But some banks require you to have an account with them.

 

Look for The UPS Store locations as well.  These are the retail stores branded by UPS versus the formal shipping offices.  A lot of them used to be Mail Boxes Etc. stores so they're usually in strip malls.

[kantonburg]

3 hours ago, grsnovi said:

Thanks all. 

 

My son has traveled to Europe from age 2 to now 17 with his mom.  Each time she was required to have a notarized consent letter for him to leave the country.