Single parent travel

[baleeve]

I am traveling on our cruise without my husband. Is there a form I need him to fill out and get notarized giving me permission to take them out of the country?

Thanks!

I'm a divorced parent and there is a form on the website. I had my ex sign it but was never asked for it. Better safe than sorry I always say!!

 

[JohnDS]

Whenever I travel out of the country, I carry a notarized letter, signed by my exhusband.
This was recommended by my lawyer. I remarried so my son and I now have different last names.
I've traveled to/from Canada often since my current husband is a Canadian, I've been harassed by immigration a few times for no reason. I have heard that Canadian and Mexican immigration agents are a lot more strict because child abduction is more common.
When I traveled to Japan, there was no issue.
I carry notarized letter, divorce papers which states that I have physical custody of my son, both of our birth certificates (which has my original name on my son's) and my new marriage license. I know it's ridiculous but some agents ask lots of personal questions sometimes (which is none of their business) but I've had to pull out everything to prove that I wasn't abducting my child.
I wouldn't offer all the documents if not asked but it's safer to be prepared.

It seems ridiculous, and once you've shown some proof they really should let you go on about your business. Imagine though if it was someone who was in fact abducting a child, and a few questions at the border could have stopped it before they are out of reach of law enforcement.

On a slightly different travel security note, when asked by Homeland security at the airport what is taking you to your destination, they mean is it business or pleasure, the correct answer is not "an airplane".

 

[SteelersLover]

I've travelled 4 times on DCL without a letter from my ex husband. My son only has a birth certificate and no one at DCL has ever given me a hassle. I called and asked a DCL agent if permission in writing was required prior to our first cruise and the response was no. My advice is to do what makes you most comfortable. Its written in my divorce decree that I do not need my ex husbands permission to go on vacation (for good reason), so having a letter from him is not necessary on my part.

 

[Bjornda]

I've traveled to/from Canada often since my current husband is a Canadian, I've been harassed by immigration a few times for no reason. I have heard that Canadian and Mexican immigration agents are a lot more strict because child abduction is more common.

I apologize in advance if this starts a disagreement as that isn't my intention. But I feel like I have to stick up for my country here. I just did some quick research to determine if your comment was indeed true. It is not. There are approx 800,000 children reporting missing in the US each year (per the Department of Justice). Per the RCMP, only approx 50,000 children are reporting missing in Canada each year.

Now, the US has a higher population of course, but only by about 10 times. Extrapolating the Cdn statistic would be approx 500,000. Which leads me to conclude that child abductions are not more common in Canada than the US.

Again, not trying to start a disagreement, just wanted to share the results of my research .

 

[Bjornda]

Sorry!! I don't know why my response is in the quote box above....

 

[tajz90]

I've cruised and traveled out of the country with both of my kids several times and have never been asked a single thing about their dad.

 

[Canadian Girl]

I am a single mom who has internationally adopted children. I have been stopped and asked for paperwork by Canadian customs even though my child had a Canadian passport and we were returning to Canada. Luckily, I had thrown her adoption papers into my luggage at the last moment. Now I carry notarized copies for both my daughters which clearly show I adopted as a single parent. Both also have Canadian passports. I have not been asked since and we have gone to Disney four times as well as on a cruise, but it is good to know I have them if necessary. Just depends which agent you get sometimes.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Here is a link to the Customs and Border patrol website with their position on the subject.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/268

Due to the increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and as possible victims of child pornography, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, the adult have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, friends, or in groups*, a note signed by both parents) stating "I acknowledge that my wife/husband/etc. is traveling out of the country with my son/daughter/group. He/She/They has/have my permission to do so." See our Q&A parental consent.

CBP also suggests that this note be notarized.

My cousin is a Canadian customs officer and he's told me that when he travels out of Canada with his children he completes the letter above and has it notarized by a lawyer. I'm guessing if he does that as a customs officer it's a good thing for me to do too when I travel with my niece.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I am a single mom who has internationally adopted children. I have been stopped and asked for paperwork by Canadian customs even though my child had a Canadian passport and we were returning to Canada. Luckily, I had thrown her adoption papers into my luggage at the last moment. Now I carry notarized copies for both my daughters which clearly show I adopted as a single parent. Both also have Canadian passports. I have not been asked since and we have gone to Disney four times as well as on a cruise, but it is good to know I have them if necessary. Just depends which agent you get sometimes.

My situation is similar to yours. I adopted my amazing daughter from China as a single Mom. Whenever we travel to the US I travel with notarized copies of her adoption paperwork. I have never been asked to show them but I'd rather be prepared than sorry.

 

[SamIam929]

Hadn't even thought about this. I'll very likely be taking my youngest two on a cruise next year (big brother & big sister already out on their own). They'll be 10 or 11 depending upon when we decide to go. I'll make sure I bring my husband's death certificate just in case.

 

[ocspartan]

Still curious if any one has ever been asked for anything in a US port like port canaveral.... So far it does sound like coming and going from Canada is a bit more strict.

 

[luv2sleep]

Still curious if any one has ever been asked for anything in a US port like port canaveral.... So far it does sound like coming and going from Canada is a bit more strict.

Ive been through customs and check in at PC and the port of LA. No one has ever asked me for anything. I present our passports and that's it.

 

[Dug720]

Still curious if any one has ever been asked for anything in a US port like port canaveral.... So far it does sound like coming and going from Canada is a bit more strict.

Even if no one has yet (and remember, this group is a TINY percentage of DCL guests), why would you want to take the risk? Getting a letter notarized is not that expensive, so I would think the peace of mind from having it "just in case" would be very much worth it.

(Just as an example: say you are on your cruise and while you are vacationing without a letter because no one else has needed it, there is a case of cross-border parental abduction and they crack down and require letters. What then? Especially as has been quoted they strongly encourage you to have one.)