A mother's warning after a border stop: A signature can render your child's Passport invalid

[MULTIZ321]

A mother's warning after a border stop: A signature can render your child's Passport invalid.

A mother's warning after a passport check: A signature can render your child's document invalid

A Canadian mom has issued a warning to parents travelling with young children after U.S. security officials insisted she sign her son's passport before boarding a flight, making it invalid and forcing her to pay the fee for a new one.

www.ctvnews.ca

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Richard

 

[jehb2]

Just for the record the above article is in regards to Canadian passport holders.

For Americans:
“A parent or legal guardian may sign the passport if the child is too young to sign his or her own name. To do so, a parent or legal guardian must print the child’s name and sign his or her own name in the space provided for the signature. The parent or legal guardian must also write his or her relationship to the child in parenthesis next to the signature (e.g., parent or legal guardian) so we know who signed for the child.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Find frequently asked questions and answers about U.S. passports.

travel.state.gov

 

[davidvel]

Just for the record the above article is in regards to Canadian passport holders.

For Americans:
“A parent or legal guardian may sign the passport if the child is too young to sign his or her own name. To do so, a parent or legal guardian must print the child’s name and sign his or her own name in the space provided for the signature. The parent or legal guardian must also write his or her relationship to the child in parenthesis next to the signature (e.g., parent or legal guardian) so we know who signed for the child.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Find frequently asked questions and answers about U.S. passports.

travel.state.gov

Aaaah, the beauty of context vs. Headlines.

 

[CanuckTravlr]

Thank you, Richard, for this warning to Canadian parents travelling with underage children. The advice to carry the Government of Canada brochure is potentially helpful as well.

I have generally had good experiences with American TSA agents in US airports. However, some of them leave something to be desired and are in dire need of additional training, especially when dealing with international travellers. A Canadian passport is not a US document and so no US official has any right nor authority whatsoever to order changes to that document.

Nevertheless, I certainly empathize with the mother in this article. I would probably have signed it, too, under duress, in order to ensure everyone got on the plane. I would have probably first asked for a senior agent to see if they might be more knowledgeable. Failing that I would have made a note of the employees' IDs and then made a formal complaint with TSA.

This is generally not an issue at actual land border crossings, or in US Customs pre-clearance facilities in Canadian airports, since in those cases you are dealing with US CBP agents. CBP agents are generally much better trained, IME, and aware of international rules and protocols.