I called the US Embassy today about passport renewals and mentioned that I would be traveling with my son, and NOT with his Father to the USA in November. The Embassy informed me that due to stricter child-trafficking laws and international abductions by one parent on the rise that I should have a notarized letter from my husband stating that he gives permission for our son to travel with just me for the dates of travel. They said it wasn't mandatory, but some immigration officials might question me and that it would be better to have a letter just in case.

Has anyone had to do this before? Is this really necessary?

It is best to have that letter.

It could be a nightmare at LAX or NYC, if one suspecting officer mistakenly profile you for someone you are not.

The immigration officers at the border are kings.

They can hold you or release you with the slightest twist of your eyes, really.

I still become uneasy at the border even though I have done that over 2k times.

How do you get a notarised letter from a dead spouse?

Must admit i am quite surprised you as the mother have a problem, i thought it was only fathers that had stringent rules placed upon us.....join the club

'scuse me peeking into the ladies section.

I've travelled to the US and Thailand several times with my son (from when he was only 10), from Canada.

I always carried a notarized letter from his mother.

Never been asked for it.

Last Christmas I chanced a trip to the Seattle Museum of Flight for the day without one - if we were turned back at the border it wouldn't have been too big a deal.

By the way - an excellent museum.

Again - no one asked for a letter.

So that's now at least 7 times and never had to show the letter.

Now he's 6ft and 15, so I think I'll stop bothering to get one.

How do you get a notarised letter from a dead spouse?

Who said he was dead??

I was told it was for mother or father, especially if I was going to USA or to Europe.

I've traveled between UK, Thailand, UK & Europe & also within Thailand alone with my son, I had no paperwork from my husband & no one ever questioned me. This is from him being a baby to now he is 3 years old.

Kannon, I think that poster was asking for himself?

But I'd think that if one parent was dead then the death certificate would be sufficient to show you had sole custody.

I've traveled between UK, Thailand, UK & Europe & also within Thailand alone with my son, I had no paperwork from my husband & no one ever questioned me. This is from him being a baby to now he is 3 years old.

Kannon, I think that poster was asking for himself?

But I'd think that if one parent was dead then the death certificate would be sufficient to show you had sole custody.

With all due respect, dear Boo.

Imho, traveling to the U.S. is an entirely different story.

If I ever have a slim chance one out of one hundred that I might be questioned and interrogated at the U.S. Immi checkpoint regarding if I appear to fit the profile of a kidnapper or not, I would opt to have the suggested doc in hand, just in case, if nothing else.

I also traveled with my only son across the ocean many many times without once being asked to prove that the child should be traveling with me alone for weeks and sometimes months at a time.

Only need one fouled up to ruin the wonderful vacation you and your child so much deserved.

For me, I would opt for safety and prevention, for in my opinion, prevention is much cheaper and better than cure. Don't you agree?

my post was only to impart my experience so far not to comment on whether or not it was worth having

Good responses! I'm not taking any chances and will definitely have the notarized letter. I was interested in finding out if anyone had ever been stopped or questioned.

As for dead spouse, I see... for that poster, then I'd assume death certificate or sole custody letter, etc.

I travelled to Canada over the summer with my kids. I had a letter from my husband saying he knew we were there, blah blah blah. didn't bother to get it notarised. But he put his ID number and passport number and all that on it.

I was asked for it when we reached immigration in Canada. I showed it to him, just in a little notebook I had with me. The immigration guy looked skeptical at first but we had a chat about why their father wasn't travelling with us and he talked to the boys and then he let us continue on our merry way.

Also, 7 years ago I travelled with my son from NZ to Canada and we just about weren't even let out of NZ for not having that letter.

Probably worth it to have that letter notarized.

Cheers,

tt