Taking my nieces on holiday - procedure at airport?

[bearandbuzz]

We've asked my two nieces to come with us to Florida next year, they will be 14 & 17 at the time. We've obviously got a little while yet to go, but I was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of what we need to do when we get to immigration.
Although we have been to the USA before, they haven't (they're sisters). They have different surnames from us and obviously live at a different address.
Do they still come through the kiosk the same time as us as they are still minors? My mum and dad will be coming as well, but I know that they always have to go through separately as they have different surnames and a different address (they are not related to my nieces, who are dh's sister's children).
Do I need to get a letter from their mum confirming we are ok to have them, or are they old enough to confirm this themselves?
I'd appreciate any advice from this who've been in a similar situation.

[Guest]

You need a letter, they're still minors. Make sure the letter also says that you can get them medical treatment, otherwise unless it's an emergency, no one will treat them until they've spoken to their parents.

[sammykitten]

we all approached Immigration as a group (my niece was 15 and doesn't have the same surname as us), this was no problem.

Definitely get a letter from their parents for both your nieces. I wasn't asked for our letter leaving the UK or entering the US, but I was asked for it on return to the UK at Manchester airport (I've been asked more times than not for the letter when taking any of my nieces away with us, and only once on the way out of the country, the rest of the time its on our return to the UK).

[bearandbuzz]

Lovely, thanks for that. Their parents are separated, but on fairly good terms, I'm guessing it would be better to get it signed by both parents. Their mum has custody, but they do have access with dad at weekends.
As I said, there's no rush, but I do want a 'belt and braces' kind of thing!

Good thinking about emergency medical care - I'd not even thought of that.

[Loopylooloo]

I worried about this for our trip, as we took our sons girlfriend aged 17, and we had a letter drafted, which said her parents consented, to her travelling, and to medical care if needed. We were not asked for it at any stage, but I still feel it was best to have it.

[Guest]

We took our son's girlfriend who was 17 at the time. We had a letter from her parents giving her permission to travel and to cover any medical treatments. The only time we needed the letter was when we were coming back in to the UK.

[eeyoremad]

You need both of your nieces parents to sign the letter

[Sunset girl]

We took our 2 grandchildren last month. The kids each have different surnames to us so we were going through with 3 different surnames and 2 different addresses.
I took consent letters and birth certificates.
We all went up together and wasn't asked anything about the kids.
Pm me if you would like a template of my consent letter.