Returning to Canada w/ Minor Child (spouse consent)

[sirbill]

Hi,
I'll be re-establishing residency in Canada this summer with my 5 year old son (we're both Canadian citizens). My wife's PR application likely won't be approved yet so she'll be following a few days later to enter as a visiter. I assume I'll need some sort of consent form from her to allow me to enter Canada with my son, and it seems a higher standard than the usual notarized travel consent form.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi

A notarized consent letter is fine.

Any particular reason your wife is travelling a few days later instead of with you?

 

[Landagirl]

Here is a link CBSA gave me and it actually has a letter you just need to fill it in and sign. The officer I spoke with recommended to notarize it.

https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/children/consent-letter

 

[sirbill]

Wow, thanks so much for the info.

We're arriving separately as I read elsewhere it doesn't look good to show up at the border with a car full of stuff to re-establish residency when once of the passengers doesn't actually have PR status. I'm not sure what our other options are if the PR status hasn't been granted yet.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Wow, thanks so much for the info.

We're arriving separately as I read elsewhere it doesn't look good to show up at the border with a car full of stuff to re-establish residency when once of the passengers doesn't actually have PR status. I'm not sure what our other options are if the PR status hasn't been granted yet.

Ah, I assumed you were flying.

 

[cheng9999]

Hi,
I'll be re-establishing residency in Canada this summer with my 5 year old son (we're both Canadian citizens). My wife's PR application likely won't be approved yet so she'll be following a few days later to enter as a visiter. I assume I'll need some sort of consent form from her to allow me to enter Canada with my son, and it seems a higher standard than the usual notarized travel consent form.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

The simplest way is for your wife to photocopy her passport, and write a few words of approval and date/sign it. Leave a phone number where she can be contacted.

If you go the formal notary route, you'll have to pay to get that document notarized.

Having your wife's PR application will also help.

Quite a few years ago, I brought my son over for vacation without my wife and the younger child. At customs (airport), the officer asked if I have an approval letter from my wife...I completely forgot about it. Basically, they called my wife (it was 4am for her), and they let me go immediately. The border officer said that if I don't have anything formal, just photocopy my wife's passport, write a few words of approval and sign it as proof.

 

[sirbill]

That does sound easier, although given how much this whole PR + moving thing is costing me the notary fee is the least of my worries
Thanks for sharing the info.