GillR

Hi...Need advice or pointing in the right direction pls...Have two family friends staying with us in Canada they are aged 15 and 17..when they arrived at Toronto they were pulled over by immigration and asked lots of Q's..we all suspected that might happen anyway..however, now they want to go over to Buffalo for the day with us for a visit to a theme park...the worry I have is a)Getting there and they dont let them cross into US or b) Being let in to US and then not allowed back into Canada!! :scared: I just dont think their mum and dad back in UK would appreciate me calling them to say their kids are stranded in US

PMM

HI

Do you have a notarized letter from the parents stating that you are responsible for them and that you have their permission to allow them to accompany you to the US and to Canada. If not don't take the chance.

Mans

Totally agree with this advice.

i just flew into London with my son yesterday. (wife stayed in Canada as i'm on business for a week and my son wanted to catch up with some friends)

I was grilled at Uk customs as to why I have no letter of authority to travel from Mum.

Rgds
Mans

stepnek

Out of interest would the letter have needed to be notarized? We recently renewed my 16 year old daughter's British passport here in Canada and the application was sent back requesting a letter from her Mum (my ex-wife) giving permission for my daughter to renew her passport. There's a certain irony in all of that considering her Mother lives in the UK and without a passport she wouldn't be able to get back to see her. Anyway her Mum sent over a letter (not notarized) and this was accepted. I thought it was strange that just a hand written letter that didn't really prove anything was acceptable.

Mans

I was told that I should carry a letter signed by the mother...there was no mention of it being required to be notorised.

Rgds
Mans

babsi

With regards to the letter, I entered the UK with one and was never asked for one.

Got back to Canada and I showed it and they said it had to be notarized. I was given such a hard time, I was travelling on my own with a 6 month baby, I find the whole flying thing stressful and I was asked so many questions, why my husband didn't go, who i was staying with, where I was staying, how much I spent when I was there etc etc. TBH it was none of there business as I was re-entering Canada. There was another woman with a baby as well and she was being subjected to the same questioning.

I never realised that it is was so suspicious a woman travelling on her own with her baby (and remember this all happened when I was coming back which makes it even more strange)

JAJ

Not sure what a "notarized" letter really proves either, if someone is minded to fake it.

Mans

What a nightmare....last thing you need after a flight with a baby

I fly back to Canada on Saturday with my son.....i have no letter from mum :scared:

Mans

sysclp

Don't take the risk, just take them to Canada's Wonderland instead. It is much closer and from what I hear just as good at Darien Lake.

fuzzbuzz

I have found that a letter is Ok, it didn't have to be notarised but did have to have contact details etc, should the authorities want to contact the parents.

As others have found the biggest hassle was on re-entry to Canada.

PMM

Hi

Because CBSA is very concerned about parental abduction.

JAJ

Canada is a Hague Convention signatory, no reason for them to be concerned.