msrla
Nomad
Posts: 128
Registered: 11-5-2003
Location: Foothills of LA
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travelling with minor who is not related
hey nomads - we are flying to LP from Cali and the kid is bringing a friend - it's been a while since we did this - what paperwork do we need to bring
along, is it still a notarized letter from the parents (one or both?) giving permission for her to travel with us? Thanks for any info on this one!
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BajaParrothead
Nomad
Posts: 460
Registered: 12-4-2012
Location: Portola, CA / Los Barriles
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msrla,
We had this issue in 2004. The minor was 12 years old and his mother and step-father were with us on the same flight. The agent at the airline
check-in (Alaska Air)would not give him a boarding pass until they were presented with a notarized statement from bio-dad giving his permission for
the child to leave the country with the mother. It did not matter that the mother had 100% custody and the bio-dad was nowhere to be found.
Needless to say, the stepfather adopted the child when we returned from the trip to Cabo.
Greg
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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Hope This Reads Simple:
Immigration wants to see a notarized statement from both parents. + A photo ID of the child. A copy of school registration records seems to be
satisfactory.
If one or both parents cannot furnish a notarized letter authorizing the adult to take the child to Mexico then a letter from the court* must be
presented showing cause for the adult having clearly explained authorization for the adult to take the child into Mexico. The letter from the court
need not be notarized but it must be the original. The letter must show approximate entry and exit dates for the child.
*Desertion, death, divorce, single parent
I've heard of airlines being more lenient at times but then this is what happened to me and to several other extraneous I know.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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msrla
Nomad
Posts: 128
Registered: 11-5-2003
Location: Foothills of LA
Member Is Offline
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great thank you both for the info - I assume a passport is adequate for photo ID since she has to have one of those anyway?
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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Yes. I forgot the law had changed.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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Terry28
Senior Nomad
Posts: 825
Registered: 8-25-2007
Location: S.Calif mtns.
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Mood: Thirsty
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We had the same problem with a child...airline refused to issue a boarding pass....But they sent us to a kiosk in the airport that had a notary 24/7
this was at lax...all i had to do was swear that the child had her parents permission to travel with us, then the notary stamped the form letter and
we were good to go......
Mexico!! Where two can live as cheaply as one.....but it costs twice as much.....
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65106
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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For those who drive into Mexico with kids... Never had an issue as a single parent nor when we took Chris's friends to Baja a couple of times.
However, I had a notarized permission slip signed by both parents of the friends... plus a note to allow me to authorize medical treatment if needed.
My kids' mother never took time to provide a note for me to have (the kids lived with me), but I was never asked for one all the trips south with them
as a single parent... trips were from 2001 to 2008, when the youngest turned 18.
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bkbend
Senior Nomad
Posts: 695
Registered: 11-27-2003
Location: central OR or central baja
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Driving is different than flying. The rules are technically the same but nobody checks you when you leave the country when driving across the border.
Kinda makes me wonder why they make you go through the hassle when flying.
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
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Mood: thriving in Baja
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My take on this is that you only need that documentation to present when applying for a FMM (mandatory when flying and
advisable when driving beyond the border zone). My daughter and son-in-law just drove down this weekend with their 11 year old grand
daughter (one of my 5 great grand children) without any documentation except her passport and had no problem but they did not stop to get the FMMs.
Since her last name is different than theirs CBP did ask her if they were related when going back into the USA at Tecate.
[Edited on 6-19-2013 by durrelllrobert]
Bob Durrell
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bkbend
Senior Nomad
Posts: 695
Registered: 11-27-2003
Location: central OR or central baja
Member Is Offline
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When I took the kids (driving) without Mom ( I always had the notarized letter) I was never questioned while getting the FMT/FMM nor when returning
into the US. Just sayin. My kids are old enough now to not need it, and no grandkids yet, but I'd still carry the paperwork just on the
off-chance...
My only point was it seems a waste of time and resources for the government to to strictly enforce something when flying and ignore the rules when
driving.
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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Notarized approval from the "other" parent.......or parents if the child is a friend.
For sure.....get a Notarized approval to "sign off" for any emergency medical issues to the child(s).
Take current pictures of all kids and adults.......keep a copy set in the glove compartment. This is in case one gets lost or ......................
Collect all of their meds and prescriptions......place into a zip lock bag with family med cards and names/phone numbers of family Doctor.
Been going to Mexico for 20 plus years with little kids and adults.....never have been asked for any of the above.
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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CaboMagic
Super Nomad
Posts: 1113
Registered: 4-30-2005
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msrla - respectfully suggest too you check with airline for any current changes/revisions to requirements .. and mcfez's suggestions are great .. also
check w/parents about medical insurance <better safe than sorry>
enjoy the trip!
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13212
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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well I once went to Brazil with one of my kids and my husband stayed home in San Diego. Get this: Brazil DID NOT WANT TO ALLOW ME TO RETURN with my
kid.
Eventually they relented since I was undone at this point - I had to be at work and would surely get fired if I was not back. And daddy was where we
were GOING. What a nightmare.
After that I always took notarized letters of permission and every document imaginable.
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