For many adoptive parents, international travel was a common pastime before their children came into their lives. Once they become parents, it is normal that they want to share their travel experiences with their children. The complicating factor, however, is that as an adoptive family it is necessary to take the appropriate precautions to minimize any issues entering or leaving a country.
Adoptive Parents Traveling With Child Before Adoption Finalization
The safest option for any adopted child is to hold off any travel plans until the child has been legally adopted. Once an adoption court order has been issued, the adoptive parents can then apply for a birth certificate, which will then be used in the passport application process. The exception, of course, is in situations where a child’s birth country is outside of Canada and the adoption is to be finalized on Canadian soil.
Without the appropriate paperwork, there is little proof that a child has been legally adopted by a family and for countries that have heightened awareness around child trafficking or abductions, a family without the paperwork may be detained. In cases where it is absolutely necessary for the adoptive family to travel before finalization, they must have a notarized letter from the adoption agency or licensee who is legal guardian of the child in the interim. It is also wise to ask Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada as well as the travel bureau of the country being visited if this letter will be sufficient in addition to any other adoption related documents.
Crossing the American Border With Canadian Adoptee
Travel to the U.S. is becoming more regulated for Canadians, so it is necessary to have passports for any adopted children in addition to other documents that confirm the child’s status with the traveling adult. According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website, Canadian parents who are not travelling together need to travel with appropriate documentation to ensure a smooth border crossing experience. A notarized letter, such as the following example, will confirm that the child’s legal guardian is aware of the child’s travel.
“I acknowledge that my wife/husband/etc. is traveling out of the country with my son/daughter. He/She/They has/have my permission to do so.”
Contact information of the absent parent is also important to have on hand in case further clarification is needed. If the other adoptive parent is not available, then legal paperwork such as birth certificate with only one parent’s name, death certificate, court decision etc. will help. Adoptive grandparents and other family members taking an adopted child under the age of 16 over the border will require a similar letter.
Travel Document Checklist for Adopted Child
Making sure that everyone in the family has the appropriate paperwork for traveling can be a stressful and time-consuming process. To help ensure that all the bases are covered, adoptive parents should have a file folder of the following documents ready at border crossings:
- Up-to-date Canadian passport for everyone in the travel party
- Citizenship or immigration paperwork from adoption process
- Re-issued birth certificate in adoptive parent’s names
- Copy of adoptive parent’s marriage certificate
- Copy of adoption court orders
- Citizenship or immigration cards if issued to the child
- Native status card if anyone in the family is of confirmed Aboriginal heritage
It can take several months to receive these documents from the issuing offices, so it is crucial to plan ahead. If there is uncertainty as to which documents are absolutely necessary for travel, adoptive parents are advised to contact their local government official to help navigate the process.
Traveling with adopted children can be straightforward as long as the adoptive parents ensure the proper documentation accompanies them on their trip. By taking the necessary precautions to confirm the family’s adoption status before leaving Canada, any issues will be kept to a minimum leaving only positive memories of the experience.
Sources:
- Foreign Affairs and International Trade Website (accessed August 26, 2011).
- Passport Canada Website (accessed August 26, 2011).
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Website (accessed August 26, 2011).
Angela Krueger - As an adoptive parent and PRIDE adoption trainer, Angela uses her insights to help others on their adoption journey.
