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Getting to Bonaire: Bringing minor
Bonaire Talk: Getting to Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999-2005: Archives - 1999-06-02 to 2001-12-31: Bringing minor
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By jason thomas on Friday, June 22, 2001 - 9:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Is there a problem from customs If I bring my 15 year old cousin to bonaire?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barry Gassert on Friday, June 22, 2001 - 11:16 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jason,

Customs normally doesn't check luggage, so me thinks if your cousin keeps very very quiet and very very still, customs will never know he's there when you go past them. :):) Sorry, couldn't resist that.

I think, though, Immigration is the best place to bring him onto the island and I don't think he would have a problem as long as he had a return ticket and a place to stay. I don't believe they would question his age. However, he is traveling with an adult - you, yeah?, even if the last names are different, so I would think no problemo.

He will need his birth certificate or passport to re-enter the States. He might need to show that at Bonaire Immigration, too.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Saturday, June 23, 2001 - 7:42 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jason,

I'd also recommend you get a blanket power of attorney (covering medical treatments too) from the legal guardian of your cousin so that you can authorize medical care or any other action necessary in case of emergency. But in terms of immigration issues, there's no issue with bringing your cousin here (we brought a 12 year old babysitter down with us for the summer when we first moved here, and never had any issues).

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Shelley Beban on Saturday, June 23, 2001 - 11:32 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jason,

You might need some sort of parental/guardian authorization to leave the US. I've heard this, but never experienced it. Check with the airlines. You should have no problem provided, of course, your cousin has nothing in his bags or on his person of an illegal nature.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By nance on Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 7:42 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jason,
I have travelled internationally with my son who has a different last name than mine, so I have always had his dad write a letter saying that it is OK for me to take him out of the country, to the specific destination where we are traveling, and we have had it notarized. I have never been asked to produce such a letter, and never been hasseled. Still, I highly recommend having such a thing, and following Jake's advice, as well. Preparation ahead usually means less hassle if someone should stop you guys to ask your relationship.
Have a great trip!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danielle Pownell on Friday, June 29, 2001 - 9:33 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jason, I was at the Court House and heard a clerk telling a lady she had to have such a letter. She said they were becoming more aggressive about enforcing this travel rule, and might not be allowed to board the plane without it. (The divorced lady was traveling to Mexico with her son.) The most important document is a medical release from his guardians, you just never know... Hope you have a wonderful time

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jan Klos on Friday, June 29, 2001 - 10:06 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I believe the reason for having such a letter is so one parent cannot take a minor child out of the country without the others knowledge. The same goes true with traveling with any minor if both parents are not present.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech on Monday, July 2, 2001 - 12:08 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Mexico requires that any child that is not traveling with both parents must have a letter from the missing parent or both parents if traveling with some other adult. It is not a US requirement.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By sherry baker on Monday, July 2, 2001 - 12:52 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

linda, is that also a requirement of bonaire? to have a letter from the missing parent. we did have letters from the mother for both my stepchildren when we took them to Cozumel.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech on Monday, July 2, 2001 - 12:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Mexico is the only country I've run into that has such a strict policy. There is no such requirement for Bonaire or the Netherlands Antilles.

 


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