Transporting human remains across the border

[Stuart and Thea 95]

I have an urn with the ashes of my son in it, that I plan to bring with me. Will the death certificate and the cremation document be enough to allow me to bring it, or is there another form I need? I talked to the funeral home and they said they thought that would be enough, as they will generally ship a deceased with nothing more, but because I will be bringing it along with my household goods, they said it would be wise to find out, but I can't find anything on it at all.

[Meriem_DZ 37]

link

"Ashes may be admitted into the U.S. without restriction, regardless of the cause of death. The Transportation Security Administration(TSA) requires ashes to be carried in a temporary box of wood, light plastic or cardboard because urns are too dense to allow screeners to see the contents on X-ray machines"

I hope this help.

Meriem.

[Wishin-n-hopin 15]

You might want to try calling the US Customs and Border Patrol Agency. Here's the link with contact numbers: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/customer_service.xml

I would think that they would be able to answer your question. If you are planning to fly from Canada, instead of drive, you might also want to contact the airline that you plan to use and see if there are any special regulations.

[Stuart and Thea 95]

I'm driving, but thanks for the link. I just remembered the funeral home giving me a list of things not to do without proper documentation including burial, and transporting across borders was one of them. I suppose I could send them through the home, but was hoping to just take them with me.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

link

"Ashes may be admitted into the U.S. without restriction, regardless of the cause of death. The Transportation Security Administration(TSA) requires ashes to be carried in a temporary box of wood, light plastic or cardboard because urns are too dense to allow screeners to see the contents on X-ray machines"

I hope this help.

Meriem.

Wow my granddaughter was cremated, I can't imagine opening the urn and sharking the ashes out into a cardboard box.

[Gosia & Tito 199]

link

"Ashes may be admitted into the U.S. without restriction, regardless of the cause of death. The Transportation Security Administration(TSA) requires ashes to be carried in a temporary box of wood, light plastic or cardboard because urns are too dense to allow screeners to see the contents on X-ray machines"

I hope this help.

Meriem.

This is correct; no special paperwork, but they might want to check what's inside the urn. I showed up with the urn within a box and packed to avoid damaging it; the second I said they were ashes it was ok and they just ran it thru the X-Ray. I did have the 'certificate' from the crematory and the urn lid was 'wax sealed'; they did not ask to open it up. This was in Houston coming from South America, but about 3-4 years ago.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I'm sure you've read here that the border guards seldom if ever check the contents of the Uhaul or whatever you're driving with your belongings. I assume you may have the urn in a safer place then somewhere in the truck, but I think if you have the documentation to go with it (death cert and cremation doc) that you will be fine - if they even ask at all.

[bigdog 376]

I have an urn with the ashes of my son in it, that I plan to bring with me. Will the death certificate and the cremation document be enough to allow me to bring it, or is there another form I need? I talked to the funeral home and they said they thought that would be enough, as they will generally ship a deceased with nothing more, but because I will be bringing it along with my household goods, they said it would be wise to find out, but I can't find anything on it at all.

USA see TSA requirements.

[Inky 1,111]

USA see TSA requirements.

Have you read the rest of the posts? shes driving not flying there is no TSA when you drive across the border no bag scanners no nothing.