Crossing the US/Canada border...

[Leah]

I think you're safe if you all have passports.

You do not need passports for children under the age of 16 years if you are travelling by land or water. In this case, you would need birth certificates for the kids.

We are in the (slow) process of getting our passports done for all 5 of us.

[scrapperjade]

Okay thanks much for the info ladies! I was confused, lol! We got all our passports last month so we should be safe. We got Ava's because we are planning to go to the Dominican this winter and we'd need it then anyways.

[Paula]

Jae, when my sister went to Canada last month, she was told by our immigration office that she didn't need passports for her children since they are all under 15 - but to take their birth certificates with them in case of any question. Only she and my brother-in-law had to have passports.

[juliemarie]

Passport or Passport card is all the adults need, and a birth certificate for anyone under 16.

Also, if you ever try to cross the border without both parents, I'd suggest a notarized permission slip from the parent not with (not sure if its necessary, but I can tell you from previous experience its helpful. And I can also tell you not to cross the border as a group and put the guys in one vehicle and the girls & kids in another, that really confuses them)

[newfiemountiewife]

Originally Posted by juliemarie

Passport or Passport card is all the adults need, and a birth certificate for anyone under 16.

Also, if you ever try to cross the border without both parents, I'd suggest a notarized permission slip from the parent not with (not sure if its necessary, but I can tell you from previous experience its helpful. And I can also tell you not to cross the border as a group and put the guys in one vehicle and the girls & kids in another, that really confuses them)

I agree with this. I took the kids to my mother's without Tony. I had a signed, notarized letter stating that I had permission to leave the country with the kids. I didn't end up doing so, but we had one just in case.

[scrapperjade]

I knew about the letter for going over the border without DH, but I won't need that - we are going on a family vacation this time!

[bexy]

jade - take both the passport and birth certificate. some of those border guards are picky and mean just for the sake of it!! i've been taken into the office driving thru a border more than once for the most insanely stupid reasons (once b/c i didn't have enough cash on me to support my whole trip. really dude? who carries around cash for a week's worth of food/lodging?). if you cover all your bases, you'll be a much happier camper in the end!

[wvasweetness]

We traveled back in June... adults need passports or passport cards. Kids under 16 only need birth certs.

At the border we gave them Wesley's passport and they didn't ask for anything else. I have heard that a notorized letter is required if BOTH parents aren't traveling with the minor, though...

But their website is really good - has all the facts.