How can my son and I travel abroad on short notice?
September 26, 2011 3:44 PM Subscribe
Can I travel with my son to the States and then back to Europe, while Mom stays home with sis?
My grandfather just passed away. We can't all go to the funeral (day after tomorrow) but I wanted to take my son (7) with me so without thinking I went ahead and booked the tickets (after consulting with the wife of course). It's now just occurred to us that me travelling with just him might get tricky with documents and such.
Other important details:
He and I both have dual citizenship (U.S. and Belgian) but we'd be traveling under the U.S. one.
We have to leave early for the flight in the morning and there wouldn't be time to get anything notarized.
Is there still a way to make this work?
Are they going to make a problem when I try to leave the U.S. with him, even if they let us in? (We've both got Id cards).
My grandfather just passed away. We can't all go to the funeral (day after tomorrow) but I wanted to take my son (7) with me so without thinking I went ahead and booked the tickets (after consulting with the wife of course). It's now just occurred to us that me travelling with just him might get tricky with documents and such.
Other important details:
He and I both have dual citizenship (U.S. and Belgian) but we'd be traveling under the U.S. one.
We have to leave early for the flight in the morning and there wouldn't be time to get anything notarized.
Is there still a way to make this work?
Are they going to make a problem when I try to leave the U.S. with him, even if they let us in? (We've both got Id cards).
Best answer: It can absolutely be an issue, and from what I can find and have heard in the past it's very inconsistent when and where it's a problem. I have recently heard of parents being asked for this on internal US flights! I think it's generally more an issue of substantial extra questioning and hassle than of outright getting refused though.
If I were you I would call your airline, as they should be reachable 24/7 and are responsible for enforcing a lot of this kind of stuff, and I think you should bring a copy of your kid's birth certificate and letter from your wife that gives her permission and contact information.
posted by crabintheocean at 3:58 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
If I were you I would call your airline, as they should be reachable 24/7 and are responsible for enforcing a lot of this kind of stuff, and I think you should bring a copy of your kid's birth certificate and letter from your wife that gives her permission and contact information.
posted by crabintheocean at 3:58 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
You may need to have a letter that is signed and notarized by both you and his mom (or something like it) to travel with your son without his mom, so be sure to call the airline or find information from the TSA to be sure that your travel in and out of immigration will go smoothly.
posted by Yellow at 4:01 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Yellow at 4:01 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Theoretically it should be more of an issue when you're leaving than returning, but hey... Agree with Neekee that a check of Belgian policy might avoid some of the issues on the outbound journey - if they're okay then the US should be okay about you returning.
In the absence of notarized documents, just grab whatever recent stuff you can get your hands on that proves that you all live together - bills in the name of mr and mrs rudster, anything from your son's school addressed to both of you, that kind of thing. Make sure that your wife knows when you'll be going through US customs on the way back and is close to a phone and able to answer it, just in case. Sounds horrible, but if you can get a copy of the death certificate (scanned and emailed through?), that might also be helpful. And keep your outbound tickets.
Agree with posters above that it's far more likely to lead to delays / inconvenience than anything else, so don't worry too much, but maybe prepare your son for the fact that it may not be as straightforward as other trips he's made with both of you.
It's upsetting that you have to worry about this on top of dealing with your grandfather's death. Really hope the trip goes well.
posted by finding.perdita at 4:34 PM on September 26, 2011
In the absence of notarized documents, just grab whatever recent stuff you can get your hands on that proves that you all live together - bills in the name of mr and mrs rudster, anything from your son's school addressed to both of you, that kind of thing. Make sure that your wife knows when you'll be going through US customs on the way back and is close to a phone and able to answer it, just in case. Sounds horrible, but if you can get a copy of the death certificate (scanned and emailed through?), that might also be helpful. And keep your outbound tickets.
Agree with posters above that it's far more likely to lead to delays / inconvenience than anything else, so don't worry too much, but maybe prepare your son for the fact that it may not be as straightforward as other trips he's made with both of you.
It's upsetting that you have to worry about this on top of dealing with your grandfather's death. Really hope the trip goes well.
posted by finding.perdita at 4:34 PM on September 26, 2011
CBP says you should have a notarized note saying it is fine for the child to travel with only one parent:
posted by Mitheral at 4:35 PM on September 26, 2011
While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if we do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed.Canada's rules, if you are flying through there, are more restrictive; you pretty well need the right form notarized. When we did this (in canada) both parents were required to go to the notary.
posted by Mitheral at 4:35 PM on September 26, 2011
I'm sorry for your loss. I don't know about the rest of it, but you absolutely can get something notarized right now if you're willing to pay a little extra for the service. Notaries advertise in phone books, etc, and often do it as a side job. In a town of any size someone will be willing to notarize for you this evening.
posted by Nelson at 4:50 PM on September 26, 2011
posted by Nelson at 4:50 PM on September 26, 2011
Best answer: Theoretically it should be more of an issue when you're leaving than returning
Fortunately or unfortunately, when you're a dual national making a trip like this you're "leaving" when you travel in both directions.
Nelson: The OP is in Europe right now, where it's later and things work differently.
I think gathering up all the evidence you can and preparing for some hassle is your best bet at this point.
posted by crabintheocean at 5:00 PM on September 26, 2011
Fortunately or unfortunately, when you're a dual national making a trip like this you're "leaving" when you travel in both directions.
Nelson: The OP is in Europe right now, where it's later and things work differently.
I think gathering up all the evidence you can and preparing for some hassle is your best bet at this point.
posted by crabintheocean at 5:00 PM on September 26, 2011
Best answer: While caution is the best, as I understand it in the U.S., a passport for a minor is prima facie proof that the child is authorized by both parents to travel, as both must be present for the initial application. This site for divorced parents traveling more or less sums up what I know. As to dual citizenship, my guess is you could get a different answer depending on whom you get at the airport. Good luck.
posted by wnissen at 6:44 PM on September 26, 2011
posted by wnissen at 6:44 PM on September 26, 2011
Best answer: For what it's worth, I have travelled internationally with my kids who are a different race than I am, and who have a different last name than I do, without ever having a problem. Bring the birth certificate, but I wouldn't worry otherwise if you can't get anything notarized.
posted by bluedaisy at 7:40 PM on September 26, 2011
posted by bluedaisy at 7:40 PM on September 26, 2011
Best answer: If the son is old enough that someone might ask him a couple of friendly questions, you should brief him that he needs to be straight and honest with the border guy; when I was 14-ish and travelling with my grandparents across the border, I was asked whether my parents knew I was there, a few other questions that might indirectly detect a familial kidnapping.
posted by Sunburnt at 9:30 PM on September 26, 2011
posted by Sunburnt at 9:30 PM on September 26, 2011
I took my brother's child to my sister's wedding in India. I had the proper paperwork saying I could take her (notarized by both parents) as well as a permission slip for medical care.
No one asked to look at it. I'm still kinda mad about it, because it was a lot of work coordinating the parents. Plus I could've been kidnapping her, and no one would've stopped me.
We didn't have the same last name, but we do look related.
It seems to me that if you can leave the country, you could have your wife overnight ship the documents to you.
posted by Monday at 10:18 PM on September 26, 2011
No one asked to look at it. I'm still kinda mad about it, because it was a lot of work coordinating the parents. Plus I could've been kidnapping her, and no one would've stopped me.
We didn't have the same last name, but we do look related.
It seems to me that if you can leave the country, you could have your wife overnight ship the documents to you.
posted by Monday at 10:18 PM on September 26, 2011
Response by poster: No probs so far (on the way here), thanks for all the helpful advice.
posted by rudster at 5:53 PM on September 27, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by rudster at 5:53 PM on September 27, 2011 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: So in the end no questions were asked on the way back either. Guess I was making a mountain out of a molehill, but it certainly eased my mind to take the precautions you guys suggested when departing.
FYI there is nothing like a 24 hour notary service here in Belgium (or in the surrounding countries as far as I know). The whole notary system is set up quite differently here as far as I understand. Also nothing like 24 hour customer service lines over here, at least as far as airlines go.
Thanks again.
posted by rudster at 3:46 AM on October 2, 2011
FYI there is nothing like a 24 hour notary service here in Belgium (or in the surrounding countries as far as I know). The whole notary system is set up quite differently here as far as I understand. Also nothing like 24 hour customer service lines over here, at least as far as airlines go.
Thanks again.
posted by rudster at 3:46 AM on October 2, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Neekee at 3:47 PM on September 26, 2011