Thought this article might be of interest to some:

Canadians Facing Delays in Renewal of Passports by Mail

I found that when I needed my passport and my daughters, I just went to Service Ontario. They filed it for me and I had them back within 3 weeks. I don't know if all Service Ontario's do that or just this one cause they know everyone in this small town.

Whew, good thing I got my new one at Christmas last year...it's good through 2012.
I knew there would be a rush, what with having passports a requirement to cross the boarder by car coming up in 2008.
Thanks for the article Krikit

I'm guessing though that if you actually visit the Passport Office to hand in your applications that they'll still have it done in the usual 10 days?

Figures - mine expires next May - the same time as my driver's license, my Green Card, and my credit card. I am starting now on my application since with the new guarantor procedures, I now need to send it to Canada to have a Canadian passport holder who has known me at least 2 years sign as my guarantor, so that is adding several weeks pre-submission processing time as well! On another list of Canadians in the US I belong to, someone suggested sending in two separate groups of photographs both of them signed by the guarantor in case one set doesn't work out they won't have to waste time sending it back to you for another photograph. I sure would like to have it back before I have to submit my application to remove conditions and renew my driver's license. Bureaucracy - bah, humbug!

Yeah, I've noticed quite a few applications have been returned because of the photos not being up to par. Some people on another board have waited upwards of 3 months for their passports this year. Its just crazy.

I dread having to renew mine. I think it expires in 2009. Hopefully by then the backlog will be done with. Maybe I'll just take an extended holiday home and do it in person.

C.'s parents almost missed our wedding because they filed in April (pre lots of passport offices) via mail and received the passports twelve hours before their flight in July, having had to withdraw their old application, and refile an expedited one.

mmm, i didn't know they changed the procedures but can't you still send in this??



http://www.pptc.gc.ca/usa/guarantor.aspx?lang=e

Ok, this is new info to me. So, with me moving to the US, I still have to renew my Canadian passport? I'm totally confused here. I think my passport expires 2011.

Mary

Don't worry, Mary. You have a few years yet before you need to renew.

lol ok thanks Krikit.

That's when mine expires too. I'm going to do the same as you, Reba.... take an extended holiday and do it in person.

As far as I know you can still do this.

before it said something about being able to take it to a notary public...... looks like that has changed now unless that is covered by qualified local official

My passport expires in July 2008 and I'm hoping to get it done in Vancouver over March during a friend's wedding, so that I can come back in August 2008 for a family wedding. Ugh, I hope they're not going to give any of us non-resident Canadians grief when we go apply in person on our "extended holidays"

my passport expires this month but I can't afford to renew right now... I have to wait till January.. I am not planning on flying anywhere for awhile though anyways...

I am trying to get my parents to get their passports if they want to come down after the baby is born but I don't think they have done it yet....

One of my girlfriends just got her passport. She went down in person to the Passport office in Edmonton and hers took 5 weeks to get.

I'm with Pfc on this.... . I'll be living in the USA yet I still need to renew my Canadian passport. Will I not have a US passport tooo?

My daughter just asked me, "Which one will I have to use if I travel?"

^^ You'll only have a Canadian Passport until you become a U.S. Citizen. So even as a Permanent Resident, you'll have to keep renewing your Canadian passport I believe.

that is correct! I use my Canadian passport to get into Canada and my green card when I enter the US. And you can keep your Canadian passport if you still plan to be a Canadian citizen.

Even when you become an American Citizen, you're still a dual citizen, and you should be able to have two passports.

My son, who was just here for a visit, applied for his the 24th of September, and got it the 9th of October. He went right into the Saskatoon Office. He was told that they had hired extra staff, and everything was almost back to normal, and so it seems it is, as he got it in three weeks. My daughter went in with her application on the 26th of October, and she was wanting to expedite it, and they said, don't waste your money, it'll be to you in two weeks.

So this is good news!

Carla

It seems like the government finds every way to make you keep paying money for something even when its not necessary.

Mary

I was planning on renewing my passport to change my name (married name) and address (passport for Canadians living in US), but I might just wait because my passport doesn't expire until 2011. Do any of you think I'll have problems with the border if I don't change my name/address any time soon?

Till your passport expires, you can always book tickets in the name that appears on your passport, and bring your marriage certificate and/or green card with you.

If you want to travel anywhere after it expires yes, you need to keep your Canadian passport up to date. You won't have a US passport until/unless you apply for and gain US citizenship (another quite lengthy process, which you will not be eligible for even until 3 years after you have rec'd your green card).

Citizenship is entirely different than residency, and only citizenship gets you a passport.

Always always always keep your Canadian passport current! Even if you get US citizenship. A Canadian passport is looked upon more favourably in quite a lot of countries than a US passport.

Even when I become a US citizen I wil keep an up to date Cdn passport!! Being in the Armed Forces i traveled a lot throughout the world, and would prefer to travel ona Cdn passport than a US one! But thats just my opinion!!

My Aunt has 3 passports. UK, Canada and US. She only uses the US passport when she's coming back to the US.

I'm like that too. I use my UK/EU passport when I'm in the EU and just get waved through. The only downside is that I don't get all those nifty stamps in my Canadian passport so it looks like I haven't been anywhere. I'm planning on naturalizing here so that I can escape the permanent residency mess. As well as vote. As well as a bunch of other advantages that having US Citizenship entails. Like re-entry.