Crossing the Border?

[Mariano_Deals]

Hey Guys I have a little question to ask about crossing the border, well are going to New York this coming weekend but in our party of 15 there is going to be a teenagers ( 17 & 18) are they going to have a problem with getting over the border since they will not be going with there parents. Has anyone had any kind of experience like this before? We just don’t want any surprise or delays on our way there!


Thanks for your Help Guys!

[MkmBandit]

They shouldnt hassle you much, although expect firm questions. If you're holding valid identification, they have no reason to not allow you enterance into the counrty. I went on a road trip shortly after getting my license at 17, between the of us, all under 18, we had no issues. But that was before this 9/11 fiasco.

[thezone]

Get their parents to write a letter saying that they are allowed to go with you guys on the trip. Make sure there are names to whom they are allowed to go with and contact to the parents.

[CSK'sMom]

As thezone has said, to avoid any possible problems make sure you have a letter of permission from both their parents. The concern at the border is parental abduction and stranger abduction. We routinely take friends of our teenagers across the border and it's best to have the letters. Sometimes they ask, sometimes they don't. Make sure they also have birth certificates and photo ID or other relavent papers if required.

[cwb27]

By the books the method is.
A letter of intention of what the young person will be doing in Canada, how long they will be in Canada, who they will be travelling with and a contact phone number for mother/father. Letter must be signed by mother and father (in a situation assuming that both parents are together) and notarized by a lawyer/notary public.

In some situations you won't be asked for the letter, the officer may simply speak directly to the child. Other times the officer will ask if there is a letter and if you can't provide one you may be kept waiting for a bit while the process you thru immigration to ensure everything checks out.

[etcbq]

17 and 18 - give me a break. These are young adults and not young children. No worries. Although generally persons younger than 18 years of age could be considered children, I don't think you'll have any problems unless the kid is 12 and below.

[GangStarr]

^
true but I would say 16 and below

[CSK'sMom]

Wrong guys. We took a van load of teenage boys over to the races in June. All were 17 yrs old. We were asked for letters for each and every one of them. The boys were actually joking around after we got across the border that the US immigration agent must have thought hubby and I were running a body house for pedophiles... ;)

[cwb27]

17 and 18 - give me a break. These are young adults and not young children. No worries. Although generally persons younger than 18 years of age could be considered children, I don't think you'll have any problems unless the kid is 12 and below.


^
true but I would say 16 and below


Unfortuantly nether of your personal opinions are the law. The law says 17 years and younger. So yes, you could have problems if you think your opinion is right and the law is stupid if you decide a 17 year old doesn't need a letter.

[Rocketo]

if you are from a middle eastern background it's going to be a hassle...they tend to give minorities so much trouble.