Problems getting a passport?
 

Hi there.
I work with the CBC. We are working on a story on passports. As you may know, all Canadians flying to the US will require a passport as of Jan. 23rd. I am wondering if you or anyone you know has had to postpone a planned trip because of this new regulation. Any suggestions/comments/ideas are much appreciated.

We are due to leave for a prepaid trip to Europe on May 21, My wife's passport was submitted Feb 16, and she was told last Friday (81 days later) that her professionally taken passport photo was rejected due to a "slight reflection and shadow". She resubmitted 2 sets of new photos by express mail and we have no way of knowing if the passport will come. Do you have any connections with a number where we can determine the status of her passport? The one on the Canadian Govt. website is a farce. They promise a reply in 5 days ( were scheduled to leave in 4), but give a disclaimer that any inquiry may delay processing of your application.

danri92131, have you tried to go in person? Take all the required stuff again and proof of your trip like your plane tickets (or eticket). They can expedite the passport in such cases for extra mony. I believe it used to be 4days and an extra $100 and you have to pick it up in person as well.

This might have changed since the large numbers of appicants began flooding the system. Call your closest Passport office and good luck.

Catch22-we are in California. The old passport is in Ottawa. A passport is now required for air travel to Canada.

I'm curious to know if the passport arrived, danri92131. My husband got his the day before we were to leave. This won't help you but I found the local MP's office very knowledgeable and helpful.

One last dich suggestion - if people are out of the country and their passport is lost or stolen the Canadian Embassy can issue a one year emergency passport - maybe try calling the nearest Canadian Embassy and see if they can offer any help?

Thanks April for your concern. No passport yet. We will still wait until noon Sunday to cancel with the tour company, although they have been put on notice of our pending dilemma. I doubt that Passport Canada uses a carrier to the US that will deliver on the weekend.
btw/ my fortune cookie tonight said " Don't let unexpected situations throw you"

lucyp - Unfortunately the closest Embassy is Washington DC, the Los Angeles Consulate General no longer issues passports, We sent 3 emails and a fax to the emergency Consulate number outlining all the details,with no apparent resolution. We did get a call that they would look into it, but with 18,000 daily submissions, and no apparent prioritization of the applications despite requesting date of expected travel, what can you expect.

I find the 81 days hard to fathom. Of course if you take your stuff into a passport office, they check it over for acceptability while you wait.
We submitted our info on May 2. The passports were issued May 11 and we had them in our hands by the 15th.

<<A passport is now required for air travel to Canada.>>
Not quite true. You may have to fly to Buffalo and drive over the boarder which requires only a license.
The father of one of the Toronto Blue Jays pitchers, living in Tampa, had to do this recently to watch his son pitch his first major league game.


The Blue jays called up a

Just a followup - my wife got a call from Passport Canada Friday night ( yes they are working late) The passport is ready, but there is no way to send it to us.
A fax to the consulate general in LA was out because they are closed. It will be sent Tuesday as Monday is a Canadian holiday - and is expected to arrive Thursday. We had to cancel our tour.
Fortunately it won't be a total loss as we bought travel insurance for the first time with a "cancel for any reason prior to departure" coverage.

Hi, I was wondering this weekend what had happened - thanks for the update. I'm so sorry you had to cancel your trip but kudos on having purchased insurance.