JimE2013 said:
Everything has been sorted out. The new landing date is March 19. Two questions. We submitted the form IMM5604 (declaration from non-accompanying parent) to the embassy during the application process. Do we need to bring a copy of the form when we go to Canada via Mexico City? I think not, since the PR visas are already issued. Thanks. Also, my stepson wants to return to Mexico a couple of weeks after landing to finish up the school year in Mexico and I will courier his PR card to him when it arrives. He'll be returning alone. What type of authorization will he need to travel back to Mexico from Canada alone? He is 16.
Glad it worked out.
The answer to your question depends on who has custody (for this answer, I'll assume it's shared with his father given that you submited IMM5604) and on the permissions his parents granted when his passport was issued (e.g., travel without needing approval each time or not).
I'd think about this by considering each entity that will need to approve his passage as a minor as you travel (customs at entry/exit of each country, airline). The IMM5604 (and visa) will cover his entry into Canada when you land. For the rest, it would be prudent to have an original notarized letter signed by both parents giving their authorization (generally a good idea whenever a minor travels anyway). Therefore, for now, I would plan to get a bunch notarized letters of approval - bilingual to save yourself the need for translations - so you have an original available for each trip for: (a) exit from the country, (b) carrier, and (c) entry to the other country. Consider adding in permission for medical treatment or should routing changes be needed, should it be necessary. You can see the Mexican instructions at http://www.inm.gob.mx/index.php/page/Instructivo-salida-menores; this page also has a link to a form that will auto-generate a form for you if needed, and the Canadian recommendations at http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/children/consent-letter and http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/children/consent-letter/faq. If he's going to connect in the US on the way, add them into the equation (though generally more lenient in this regard than Mexico and Canada, both of which have been known to put the kibosh on travel of minors alone or with only one parent either directly or via the airline denying boarding).
Historically, it could be quite simple depending on the choice his parents made when they got his passport. If his passport says something along the lines of "El titular viaja con el permiso de sus padres o quienes ejercen la patria protestad, en los términos de los artículos 421 del Código Civil y 136 del Reglamento de la Ley General de Población." [the holder travels with permission of his parents or of those who have custody in terms of articles...] then his parents gave permission for him to travel internationally alone (or with only one parent) and, at least for the past several decades he would have been all set. If a stamp with that observation (usually takes up almost a whole page upfront) isn't included in the passport, then you'll need to get the appropriate authorization letter for him to travel with only one parent (when he goes to land) and then when he travels alone twice (in and out of Mexico).
That being said, Mexico is implementing a new form that children will need to have if they are traveling alone (or without a custodial parent). If he has the stamp in his passport mentioned above, he may or may not need this. However, given that it was recently implemented, I'd have him have it with him since it's no fun to be stuck at the border trying to explain stuff to customs officers (or airline personnel trying to learn new requirements). There's a cute video explaining the new form at the INM web site - see http://www.inm.gob.mx/index.php/page/video_salida_menores.html (the link is also on the INM main page).
Sounds like the delay (caused by the erroneous CoPR) may have been a blessing in disguise to give you a chance to get your ducks in order with this.
Good luck!
