going through hong kong customs with 1 parent

B

babymommy2

Registered User
My husband is travelling on different dates than myself and our children. I've crossed into Canada alone with the children before and know what is required there, but I haven't crossed into hong kong alone before. Will a notarized letter (notarized in Canada) be sufficent. Thus far we have been scrutinized more at the Canadian border entering Canada than anywhere else in the world, which seems ironic considering we are canadian and are only going home. Just want to make sure there is no hold up at the air port in hong kong.
 
Do the kids have their own passport? They either need to have their own or be in yours and then there wouldn't be any problem. If they're in your husband's passport you may have a problem since then they don't have any valid travel documents so I wouldn't know how they could enter the country.

Other than that I am not sure what you mean ...
 
I think u are talking about a rule iN South America ( Chile) Where if one parent is traveling with the children they need the consent from the other parent. In Hong Kong u dont need that as long as the kids have their own passports or are on your passport.
 
Our kids have their own passports, and I've entered HK with them on a number of occasions by myself when my husband has travelled separately - never had a problem. I do carry a copy of their birth certificates and our marriage certificate (as I've kept my maiden name, hence different surnames) but never been asked to produce them.
 
actually, it's not just south america that a letter is needed.

if you have joint custody (including if you are still married), a letter from the second parent is not necessary, but is STRONGLY recommended, when travelling to Canada and the USA as well.
 
carang said:
actually, it's not just south america that a letter is needed.

if you have joint custody (including if you are still married), a letter from the second parent is not necessary, but is STRONGLY recommended, when travelling to Canada and the USA as well.
Click to expand...

Wow, I never knew that. No problems going in or out of Australia with kids and without hubby.

What about other countries? I've been to Singapore without an issue. Anyone know the situation in Thailand?
 
hi, could you pls let me know more about what is the requirement when travelling to canada? what should be in the letter? i'll be going there this summer with my baby alone, my husband will join at a later date... i've never heard about this. tks.
 
I will be doing the same thing from Canada next month, except my baby has his father`s name, not mine, plus my baby is also on a Japanese passport, like his father. And I don`t think there is much of a resemblance between us yet!
I would like to think that since we are coming home to HK from Canada, that it won`t be a hassle. I mean, can`t they just call our husbands? I don`t think they can stop us from coming home - we live here:)
 
it is hidden somewhere on the canadian consulate's website.

all we wrote was this:

I, XXX (HKID #XXX), do hereby give my wife, XXX (PASSPORT # XXX) permission to travel with our children XXX(passport# XXX) & XXX(passport # XXX) to canada. the scheduled trip is from XXXX until XXX, however, my wife has permission to remain in canada longer if she finds it necessary.

signature


REMEMBER!!!
DO NOT SIGN THE LETTER! your hubby needs to sign it IN FRONT of the notary. (he must also provide ID that has his signature already on it, such as a passport).

the BEST place to get the notarisation done, if you are canadian, is at the canadian consulate. it is MUCH cheaper than elsewhere, but it is more inconvenient as they have fairly restricted hours for doing it. it costs just over $300, i believe, but i can't remember for sure.
 
I never had any problems with my daughter, traveling to and from the States by myself (did many times). She's a US citizen as well and my husband's name (which is her last name) is in my passport as well.
 
Carang - I also saw the small print on the Can. website, but I didn`t see that it had to be done in front of a notary public. I mean, I assumed it as it would make it binding, but I didn`t see that on the Can govt website, and I actually had a bit of a chuckle about it. Did you specifically read it on there?
 
the whole point of having it notarised, is that it proves that you are who you say you are... so if it is signed before, or not notarised you could technically have it signed by a friend or even sign it yourself. their idea in requesting such a letter is to stop kidnapping of children by divorcing parents, i believe.

i don't remember if i read about signing it on the website, but we've had a letter notarised twice and that was the procedure. you write the letter, take it to the office, sign it in front of the officer/person, they notarise it... done

however, the first time we did it, it wasn't notarised, i typed a letter out on the computer and had hubby sign it. the immig officer gave me a hard time at canadian immig and suggested that the next time it be notarised, if i remember correctly. it was almost 4 years ago, though, so i don't remember exactly.
 
"Child Travelling with

•Custodial Parent
•Non-Custodial Parent
•Legal Guardian(s) Child Travelling without Parent or Guardian

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

•Adobe Acrobat (.pdf)
•Word (.doc)
•WordPerfect (.wpd)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: It is strongly recommended that children travelling alone or with one parent carry a consent letter for each and every trip abroad. Although anyone can witness/sign these letters, it is advisable to have the consent letter certified, stamped or sealed by an official who has the authority to administer an oath or solemn declaration (i.e., a commissioner for oaths, notary public, lawyer, etc.) so that the validity of the letter will not be questioned. It is up to each official/individual who witnesses such a letter to decide what proof he/she needs to see to be able to witness/sign the letter. Officials should only witness/sign a letter of consent if he/she is convinced that the individual requesting the letter is who he/she claims to be and that adequate proof has been provided.

This consent letter may be required by foreign authorities among other additional country-specific entry requirements. You should contact the representatives of the country or countries to be visited by the child to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information regarding their specific entry requirements as permission to enter another country is the sole prerogative of that country.

We also strongly recommend that you contact the transportation company (airline, train, bus, etc.) in order to observe any additional policies that they might have in place.

Further information is available in the FAQ and Children and Travel sections."

just in case you don't feel like following the link.
 
Yes, that is what I mean, a consent letter from my husband. All the info on the gov of canada website asks travellers to find out the requirements for where you are travelling and I was not sure about hong kong. It is not "required" in Canada, but strongly recommended, and last times I went through the border into Canada alone I was asked for the letter, where my husband was, why he wasn't with me, etc. The children were younger and they didn't ask them anything, but I have heard of customs ( in Canada) asking the children themselves if this is your parent etc. Now that my son is 5 I think they might start asking him. LAst ime we didn't really think of the letter until the day I left so it was not notarized, but it is recommended that it is notarized so this time I'll do that. I was suprised by the amount of questioning because we were entering canada to go home. I expected more of a problem leaving canada than entering it.
Here are some links for passprt canada about the letter you should have.

Passport Canada: Frequently asked questions

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/preparation_information/documents/consent_letter-en.pdf
 
I checked on this when I went back to the States with my son last year. I even called the US Consulate here and asked about it. They said that you can get a notarized letter from the parent not accompanying the child but it would probably be a waste of time and money. So, I just took a simple letter with me that was signed by my husband and as my son has his own US passport, it really was no problem whatsoever, going in and out of the USA and also going in and out of HK. They didn't even request to see the letter.
 
actually, it isn't customs that ask for the letter (customs & excise deal with taxation), it is immigration.

i've never been asked when leaving canada, rather when entering. i believe it is because they are afraid that you are removing children and trying to enter into canada having kidnapped your kids.
 
Yeah, that`s exactly why a letter is required, bc of child kidnapping, and isn`t such a bad idea in a time of shaky marriages.
BUT - a letter is recommended, NOT LAW (for Canada) and it doesn`t require that the letter be notarised. Sure, they can question it all they like, but according to their boss, the GUVmint, we do not have to (go through the hassle and high cost to) have it notarised. And that is precisely what I think is laughable.
At any rate, I think the original poster`s question was about returning to HK alone, where she resides. And that doesn`t seem to be a problem, which is good for me too.
 
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