Bringing Children to Visit at MCF St. Cloud: Documents, Escort Rules, and Common Pitfalls
Bringing a child to visit at MCF St. Cloud? The two biggest trip-ups are timing and paperwork. Wait until your visiting application is approved before planning the trip - you'll get the decision by email, and processing can take several weeks. Each minor needs a certified state/county birth certificate submitted with the application. They won't accept birth certificates at the door.
Anyone under 18 must have an escort. That person has to be a parent, legal guardian, or an authorized escort - so figure out ahead of time who will bring the child in and stay responsible for them throughout the visit.
If someone other than the parent or legal guardian is escorting the child, you'll need extra paperwork. A notarized Minor Escort Form signed by the custodial parent or guardian must accompany the minor's birth certificate or guardianship papers. Gather and complete these together - don't treat the form as a last-minute add-on.
Each minor needs a copy of their state or county birth certificate submitted with the visiting application. MCF St. Cloud won't accept birth certificates at the time of the visit. Hospital keepsakes like Heirloom Birth Certificates or Crib Cards don't count as official documents - they'll be rejected.
Common pitfall: Don’t rely on a hospital keepsake certificate (Heirloom/Crib Card). Use a certified state/county birth certificate and submit it with the application, not at the door.
Submit all minor documents up front with the visiting application. Upload the required birth certificate for each child, plus any escort or guardianship paperwork, at the same time. The application gets processed before you ever arrive. Approvals go to the email address you provide, and processing can take several weeks - so wait for that approval notice before making travel plans or promising a child they'll get to visit.
Checklist
- ✓ Get a copy of each minor’s certified state/county birth certificate (not a hospital Heirloom Birth Certificate or Crib Card).
- ✓ If someone other than the parent/legal guardian will escort the child, complete a notarized Minor Escort Form signed by the custodial parent/guardian.
- ✓ Keep the notarized Minor Escort Form together with the child’s birth certificate or guardianship papers so they’re submitted as a set.
- ✓ Upload/submit the minor documents with the visiting application (they won’t be accepted at the time of the visit).
- ✓ Watch your email for the approval decision, and build in time - applications can take several weeks to process.
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