Canadian Passport Renewal- HELP!
May 29th, 2007, 09:25 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 943
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Canadian Passport Renewal- HELP!
My husband and I are supposed to travel to Morocco and Spain in late June and July. As a Canadian citizen, he has to reapply for his passport every five years. His passport doesn't expire till mid October, but that's 1 day less than our return from Spain and well less than six months from our return from Morocco!
Is anyone aware of a way to expedite a Canadian passport?
Is anyone aware of a way to expedite a Canadian passport?
May 29th, 2007, 09:37 AM
#2
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi, check out this site - http://www.ppt.gc.ca/index.aspx?lang=e
The fastest method is in person at the nearest passport office - I believe there, with proof of travel plans and for an increased fee you can expedit the process.
The fastest method is in person at the nearest passport office - I believe there, with proof of travel plans and for an increased fee you can expedit the process.
May 29th, 2007, 10:06 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Canadian consulates usually will not do passport renewals except in cases of extreme emergencies or at least that's what the consulate told me in Buffalo. You can have them expedited within 24 hours at a passport office in Canada but I'm not sure if you can through the mail.
May 29th, 2007, 11:50 AM
#7
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do you have a family member in Canada who fits the passport offices criteria? They can go in person for you if you give them a signed declaration to that effect (details on the web site above).
If you could fed ex them all the needed stuff they could easily fit your time frame if they go in for you.
If you could fed ex them all the needed stuff they could easily fit your time frame if they go in for you.
May 29th, 2007, 12:30 PM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Did you try looking at this website? http://www.ppt.gc.ca/usa/index.aspx?lang=e
1) Yes, you can apply for a new passport (Canadian passports aren't renewed) at the Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco.
2) Yes, you can ask to have the passport application expedited.
3) Passport applications are sent back to Ottawa for processing, since this is the only place where they can prepare machine readable passports.
4) The good news is that the processing times for passport applications vary depending on where you apply for the passport. (It's like there are little sub-categories of applications: one for Canadians in Canada, one for Canadians in France (or maybe Europe), etc.) I applied for my passport in Paris in mid-March this year, when the warnings about long processing times in Canada were indicating a 6-8 week wait. The woman at the Canadian Embassy said that these processing times didn't apply to my application and that I didn't need to ask for it to be expedited. I picked up my passport 15 days after I dropped it off (and it had to be sent to Canada and it was around Easter, so the offices were closed for a day or so).
4) By the way, Spain doesn't require Canadians to have a passport with 6 months' validity remaining, but Morocco does. So, worst case scenario is that you postpone the Moroccan part of your trip. (Note: This information is available on the Dept of Foreign Affairs and International Trade website, in the country travel reports, in the section (for each country's report) called exit and entry requirements.
PS: Have you not been reading newspapers or watching the news lately? Warnings about incredibly long processing times for US and Canadian passports have been a hot topic since Christmas. Why didn't your husband deal with this earlier?
1) Yes, you can apply for a new passport (Canadian passports aren't renewed) at the Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco.
2) Yes, you can ask to have the passport application expedited.
3) Passport applications are sent back to Ottawa for processing, since this is the only place where they can prepare machine readable passports.
4) The good news is that the processing times for passport applications vary depending on where you apply for the passport. (It's like there are little sub-categories of applications: one for Canadians in Canada, one for Canadians in France (or maybe Europe), etc.) I applied for my passport in Paris in mid-March this year, when the warnings about long processing times in Canada were indicating a 6-8 week wait. The woman at the Canadian Embassy said that these processing times didn't apply to my application and that I didn't need to ask for it to be expedited. I picked up my passport 15 days after I dropped it off (and it had to be sent to Canada and it was around Easter, so the offices were closed for a day or so).
4) By the way, Spain doesn't require Canadians to have a passport with 6 months' validity remaining, but Morocco does. So, worst case scenario is that you postpone the Moroccan part of your trip. (Note: This information is available on the Dept of Foreign Affairs and International Trade website, in the country travel reports, in the section (for each country's report) called exit and entry requirements.
PS: Have you not been reading newspapers or watching the news lately? Warnings about incredibly long processing times for US and Canadian passports have been a hot topic since Christmas. Why didn't your husband deal with this earlier?
May 30th, 2007, 10:05 AM
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 943
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for all the replies!
A couple of points.
Spain DOES require six months passport validity for Canadian citizens at this time, according to the Spanish Embassy and a visa service I called. Just goes to show, double check everything!
We had been holding on to my husband's passport because we were supposed to take a trip to France in March and then flew to Mexico early May. It was foolish!
This should have come first.
The rest of the story....
After an hour with the Canadian consulate in SF yesterday he quickly realized the only way to take care of his passport was to appear in person with it. This was their suggestion.
There are no expeditors for Canadian passports as there are for the US.
He couldn't fly to Vancouver as he was concerned they would take his old passport and he would not be able to re-enter the US without it by air, so he flew to Seattle last night. He rented a car, arriving in Vancouver at 1 AM.
This morning he was in line at the passport office at 7 AM. He had to take a number to take a number and finally completed the process at 10:30. He was told, had he not done this his application WOULD have been rejected as he used the same names for guarantor and personal contact and they accepted a picture they wouldn't had they not seen him.
They will not mail his passport anywhere in Canada or the US. It must be picked up at their office in Vancouver. Most fortunately we'd already planned a trip there with our son for 3 days mid June, as he lives in Olympia.
I hope this helps one person look carefully at their passport and make certain all is in order!!
A couple of points.
Spain DOES require six months passport validity for Canadian citizens at this time, according to the Spanish Embassy and a visa service I called. Just goes to show, double check everything!
We had been holding on to my husband's passport because we were supposed to take a trip to France in March and then flew to Mexico early May. It was foolish!
This should have come first.
The rest of the story....
After an hour with the Canadian consulate in SF yesterday he quickly realized the only way to take care of his passport was to appear in person with it. This was their suggestion.
There are no expeditors for Canadian passports as there are for the US.
He couldn't fly to Vancouver as he was concerned they would take his old passport and he would not be able to re-enter the US without it by air, so he flew to Seattle last night. He rented a car, arriving in Vancouver at 1 AM.
This morning he was in line at the passport office at 7 AM. He had to take a number to take a number and finally completed the process at 10:30. He was told, had he not done this his application WOULD have been rejected as he used the same names for guarantor and personal contact and they accepted a picture they wouldn't had they not seen him.
They will not mail his passport anywhere in Canada or the US. It must be picked up at their office in Vancouver. Most fortunately we'd already planned a trip there with our son for 3 days mid June, as he lives in Olympia.
I hope this helps one person look carefully at their passport and make certain all is in order!!
May 30th, 2007, 10:19 AM
#10
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,513
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for reporting back - glad to hear that it went well. I still have 2 and a bit years to go on my passport and am not looking forward to the renewal. I travel internationally about once a month (sometimes twic a month) - so am going to plan far in advance to get teh new one.
May 30th, 2007, 12:01 PM
#12
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you apply by mail, then your passport can be mailed to you, but if you apply in person then you have to appear in person to pick it up. What I don't understand is why your husband isn't going to pick it up in San Francisco.
Usually, they do have an expedited service but you have to prove urgency and they might refuse your request. My sister-in-law paid extra to have her passport processed faster, with proof of travel within 3 weeks, in early January this year. But it sounds as though since almost everyone's application is urgent these days (because of backlogs), they're not granting expedited service except for truly dire emergencies.
wombat7: Ordinarily, travel for business purposes (with proof a ticket) is enough to get you fast (although not super-fast) service, for a fee. So, if you travel once a month for business (and therefore can't apply any earlier than date x and have to travel again in x+30 days), then you can probably get your passport back in a week, if you apply in person. (But it sounds like this process doesn't apply at the moment.) When I got my passport renewed in 2002, I needed it in 3 business days because an unexpected business trip was scheduled. I had no difficulty getting it then, so perhaps once things settle down (and by the time you need your new passport in two years), faster service will be able for those with a proven need.
Usually, they do have an expedited service but you have to prove urgency and they might refuse your request. My sister-in-law paid extra to have her passport processed faster, with proof of travel within 3 weeks, in early January this year. But it sounds as though since almost everyone's application is urgent these days (because of backlogs), they're not granting expedited service except for truly dire emergencies.
wombat7: Ordinarily, travel for business purposes (with proof a ticket) is enough to get you fast (although not super-fast) service, for a fee. So, if you travel once a month for business (and therefore can't apply any earlier than date x and have to travel again in x+30 days), then you can probably get your passport back in a week, if you apply in person. (But it sounds like this process doesn't apply at the moment.) When I got my passport renewed in 2002, I needed it in 3 business days because an unexpected business trip was scheduled. I had no difficulty getting it then, so perhaps once things settle down (and by the time you need your new passport in two years), faster service will be able for those with a proven need.
May 30th, 2007, 07:46 PM
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 943
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They would not accept a passport application at the Consulate, if I'm understanding you, Kate W. The Consulate told my husband the only option he had for an expedited passport was traveling to Canada.
What ever the situation was in the past, it is now quite different due to the new restrictions.
We weren't prepared and it's always a good idea to check any new restrictions for each country you're traveling to, particularly in this political climate.
What ever the situation was in the past, it is now quite different due to the new restrictions.
We weren't prepared and it's always a good idea to check any new restrictions for each country you're traveling to, particularly in this political climate.
Jul 5th, 2007, 01:41 PM
#14
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is in response to the posting by "Welch". I am facinga similar situation - for busniess related purposes. I work in SF and am a US Resident (Green Card Holder).
My question - when yout husband returned from vancouver after submitting teh passport application form , did he have a Canadian passport to show at the US Border Post? Does Passport Canada keep the original passport or do they give it back after accepting the application?
The reason I ask is whether the US authorities will let you in based on your Green Card alone (if Passport Canada took the original passport with the appplication). I was not born in canada, but am a canadian citizen and therefore would not have a Canadian birth certificate.
On the return trip to Canada - was a passport required?
Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks,
AZ
My question - when yout husband returned from vancouver after submitting teh passport application form , did he have a Canadian passport to show at the US Border Post? Does Passport Canada keep the original passport or do they give it back after accepting the application?
The reason I ask is whether the US authorities will let you in based on your Green Card alone (if Passport Canada took the original passport with the appplication). I was not born in canada, but am a canadian citizen and therefore would not have a Canadian birth certificate.
On the return trip to Canada - was a passport required?
Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks,
AZ
Jul 5th, 2007, 02:38 PM
#15
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,725
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am not sure if this answers your question but, if you apply in person, they cut the corner of your passport and return it to you. I ASSUME that if it were still valid, the border people would understand the situation - you might want to phone and ask the question with that in mind.
Jul 5th, 2007, 10:51 PM
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 943
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They returned his passport, as noted, with the corner cut off. I don't think this would have been the case had he not appeared in person to apply for his new passport.
When he entered Canada and the US by car to pick up his new passport (the only method of obtaining it)he was not asked to show it as proof of citizenship at the border.
He was able to show his green card and driver's license.
When he entered Canada and the US by car to pick up his new passport (the only method of obtaining it)he was not asked to show it as proof of citizenship at the border.
He was able to show his green card and driver's license.
