Forums > General > Traveling Mexico

La Guedita

Feb 20, 2011, 8:59 PM

Post #1 of 11 (5736 views)

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Grandparents bringing the kids back to the US

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Hello all,

In June, I will be flying to Ixtapa with my munchkins to attend a family reunion/graduation party. I will only be able to stay for about 5 days, so I want to leave the kids with their grandparents, who will be coming back the last part of July.

The kids are 8 and 6 and they both have their passports. They also have the same last name as their grandfather.

Are there any type of extra documents they would need to bring them back? They will be coming back by bus to the border, then my sister in law will drive them across the border at Mexicali to catch the bus in Calexico.

I am planning on typing up a "permission slip" of sorts and having it notarized.

Amanda
"Self-trust is the first secret to sucess" R. W. Emerson

Rolly

Feb 20, 2011, 9:11 PM

Post #2 of 11 (5729 views)

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Re: [La Guedita] Grandparents bringing the kids back to the US

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The permission letter needs to be signed by both parents.
It probably will never be looked at, but it's a good idea to have it.

Technically, you need the father's signature to bring the kids into México.
If the father is not available (deceased, or you have sole custody, etc),
you will need documents explaining that.
Usually the INM folks don't really care, but the airline might.

Rolly Pirate

jseaman

Feb 21, 2011, 6:20 AM

Post #3 of 11 (5679 views)

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Re: [La Guedita] Grandparents bringing the kids back to the US

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Last year I took a friend's 10 year old son to Oaxaca with me (to meet his grandparents, aunts and uncles for the first time). At just a glance it was very easy to see that we were unrelated. We flew down to Mexico City and then took the bus. I had the notarized letter from both parents along with his passport - no one (other than immigration) at any time asked any questions or for any papers. However when we arrived back in the US, immigration did a two minute private interview with him. They did ask me why the parents didn't take the kid ... I simply said that the parents were not legal and the INS guy said ok. They never did ask for the letter of permission.

But as Rolly said ... best to have them!

Georgia

Feb 21, 2011, 5:49 PM

Post #4 of 11 (5607 views)

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Re: [jseaman] Grandparents bringing the kids back to the US

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And then there was my friend who came down with her 17 year old daughter and no letter from the father. He had to quickly write a letter, have it notarized, and fax it to the airlines.

smokesilver

Feb 21, 2011, 6:35 PM

Post #5 of 11 (5592 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Grandparents bringing the kids back to the US

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Yes. Have all the required letters by all means. My wife & I took our oldest grandson of whom we have legal custody to Mexico and entered at Cancun. The agent with whom we dealt appeared unconcerned but he checked all documents, read them, and carefully watched as we were being checked. He looked us over quite a bit before passing us through.

Maesonna

Feb 23, 2011, 11:57 AM

Post #6 of 11 (5522 views)

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Re: [La Guedita] Grandparents bringing the kids back to the US

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Note that you can find templates for the travel consent form. (Careful, though, the current top hit is for this search is Canadian.)

BobC

Feb 23, 2011, 3:09 PM

Post #7 of 11 (5491 views)

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Re: [Maesonna] Grandparents bringing the kids back to the US

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I've certainly missed something here. Why would Canadian grandparents not want to travel with their grandchildren? In fact the wording suggests that Canadians might have some sort of ulterior motive in doing so.

Bob

prmjcm

Feb 24, 2011, 7:10 AM

Post #8 of 11 (5439 views)

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Re: [BobC] Grandparents bringing the kids back to the US

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I don't think not wanting to travel with the kids was ever mentioned, they asked what they needed in order to do so.

chinagringo

Feb 24, 2011, 7:36 AM

Post #9 of 11 (5430 views)

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Re: [BobC] Grandparents bringing the kids back to the US

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Admittedly, I was a bit confused too but after going to the link, it was quite clear. The search results had a link to a form that was specific to Canada at the top of the search results. The next couple of results were to sites which provided a form designed for the US.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

BobC

Feb 24, 2011, 7:56 AM

Post #10 of 11 (5420 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] Grandparents bringing the kids back to the US

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Thanks for the clarification. I assumed the link was to a form, not to a Google search. I guess what confused me was the use of the word "user" when what they really meant was "site" or "link" and were cautioning Americans to be sure they got a form that would work for the U.S.

Next time I'll check the link first!

Bob

La Guedita

Mar 3, 2011, 10:45 AM

Post #11 of 11 (5212 views)

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Re: [La Guedita] Grandparents bringing the kids back to the US

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Thanks for the info. The kids' dad is already in Mexico. They will be mostly staying with him while they are there...

But I do have a Power of Attorney from him, I'll attach a copy of that to the notarized permission slip.

Thanks Again,
"Self-trust is the first secret to sucess" R. W. Emerson