CDN Passport Renewal

[SENKA 0]

Hello,

I am ready to send my CDN passport renewal application to Quebec, and am really, really nervous about sending my original "Certificate of Canadian Citizenship Card". Could anyone share their experiences about sending valuable documents by mail, and what is the safest way to do it? I am thinking about UPS or Fedex overnight, but still worry about it.

I can't do the simplified renewal since I am changing my last name to my married name.

Thank you.

[sleepy in Seattle 3]

Hello,

I am ready to send my CDN passport renewal application to Quebec, and am really, really nervous about sending my original "Certificate of Canadian Citizenship Card". Could anyone share their experiences about sending valuable documents by mail, and what is the safest way to do it? I am thinking about UPS or Fedex overnight, but still worry about it.

I can't do the simplified renewal since I am changing my last name to my married name.

Thank you.

sending it by UPS Or Fedex is a safe bet, they also have a tracking system to, go for it you'll be okay! Congrats

[BriCar 0]

Hello,

I am ready to send my CDN passport renewal application to Quebec, and am really, really nervous about sending my original "Certificate of Canadian Citizenship Card". Could anyone share their experiences about sending valuable documents by mail, and what is the safest way to do it? I am thinking about UPS or Fedex overnight, but still worry about it.

I can't do the simplified renewal since I am changing my last name to my married name.

Thank you.

Make a copy of the original before sending it off.

[antda 13]

Hi Senka,

(Hey, I remember you from the I-751 boards awhile ago...)

Likewise, I ran into the same situation awhile ago too, when I had to renew my Canadian passport (due to I-751 delays and in needing an I-551 stamp in it) and had to get it updated with my married name, and had to apply with a "Certificate of Canadian Citizenship Card" too.

And yes, I understand about your worries about the Citizenship Card being lost/damaged/stolen, etc., as likewise I have the same worries too.The cost for a replacement isn't that bad though ($75 CDN according to here...http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/certif.asp), but it would be very troublesome and time-consuming to replace such if lost. Lol...It could be worse...To replace a lost US Citizenship Certificate costs $350+ and gosh knows how many months in having to deal with the USCIS again, and hence I have not applied for a US Passport yet..(but that's another story). And I don't even know how to replace my original birth certificate from some other birth country, if that were to go missing (but that's another story). I admit, I wonder what would happen if I lost all of documents....It would be an international nightmare!

So instead of sending my Canadian passport application and documents (citizenship certificate, marriage certificate, passport photos, etc.) by mail, I opted to go to Canada apply in-person at a Passport Canada office in St. Catherines, Ontario (you can probably find one closer to you are in Canada). I got the Citizenship Card, and other documents, back the same day (they just had a quick look at it, and gave it back to be right on the spot). And I got my Canadian Passport in 2 weeks by courier/DHL, sent to my US address with no problems. So if I were you, instead of sending the certificate/card by mail, I would encourage you to epply for your Canadian passport in-person instead of by mail, as it would be the safest way that your documents wouldn't get lost, and you can get your passport back pretty quickly too.

So yeah, the bottom line: Guard all your Citiizenship Certificate with your life...Apply for your Canadian passport in-person instead. Don't rely on the mail....But if you do have to send it by mail and have no other choice, make sure you make extra copies of everything before you send it off, and make sure that you have some sort of tracking system for such too (courier would be the way to go here...I would recommend DHL...because Passport Canada uses DHL as their main courier service to the USA).

Hope this helps. Good luck in getting your passport and good luck with the rest of your journey too.

Ant

P.S. If you are applying for a Canadian passport, make sure that your passport photos meet Canadian specifications, and not US ones (lol..they are picky about this...). Don't forget about the guarrantor and references for your Canadian passport application too....

Hello,

I am ready to send my CDN passport renewal application to Quebec, and am really, really nervous about sending my original "Certificate of Canadian Citizenship Card". Could anyone share their experiences about sending valuable documents by mail, and what is the safest way to do it? I am thinking about UPS or Fedex overnight, but still worry about it.

I can't do the simplified renewal since I am changing my last name to my married name.

Thank you.

Edited February 23, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[TimandJoyce 1]

"Certificate of Canadian Citizenship Card".

Silly question here, but what is that? Is it when someone becomes a Canadian Citizen? All I have is my birth certificate....

[antda 13]

Silly question here, but what is that? Is it when someone becomes a Canadian Citizen? All I have is my birth certificate....

TimandJoyce-It's a certificate for those who are not born in Canada...Used in lieu of a Canadian birth certificate....

Basically, it's Canadian Certificate of Naturalization/Citizenship...And yes, one gets it when they become a Citizen of Canada...

A person gets one when you say the Canadian oath of citizenship...lol...

Comes in a card format with photos and stats..(and a commerative paper certificate too)...

Lol..I still have mine, that I got when I became a Canadian Citizen when I was a child...

I always say that it's my "daughter's" card........(just kidding, I don't have a daughter)....It's very outdated, as you can see.....

You're lucky..You have a Canadian birth certificate...That's even better...(sigh...wish I had one of those instead..)

Hope this helps too.

Ant

Edited February 23, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[TimandJoyce 1]

thanks!! Don't mean to hijack the thread or anything, but I'm thinking I'll apply for my new passport when I go home to Canada in October, so I can get it in my married name. Mine expires April 2011, so I'm sure it will be ok to do it then, and the people at the office are so friendly. Just wanted to make sure I'd have all the right documents!

[antda 13]

thanks!! Don't mean to hijack the thread or anything, but I'm thinking I'll apply for my new passport when I go home to Canada in October, so I can get it in my married name. Mine expires April 2011, so I'm sure it will be ok to do it then, and the people at the office are so friendly. Just wanted to make sure I'd have all the right documents!

TimandJoyce-No problem (umm...sorry to the original OP though...). Good luck on your passport renewal.....

As for the forms/documents, here is pretty much what you need (based on my experience): application form, fees ($100 in CDN), 2 passport sized photos (make sure they are Canadian specifications), proof of Canadian citizenship (in your case, a Canadian birth certificate..as that proves citizenship there), marriage certificate (since you are changing it to your married name), and identification proof (a US green card and US driver's license is ok there)....And you're good to go! Don't forget about the 1 guarrantor and the 2 references either! And yes, I agree, the Passport Canada staff are nice and friendly...And you should get your new Canadian passport in the mail within 2 weeks to a US address...Hope this helps too. Good luck.

Edited February 23, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[Marilyn. 340]

so that is a good idea to get your passport renewed if you go to Canada but wouldn't you need your passport to get back into the US?

[antda 13]

so that is a good idea to get your passport renewed if you go to Canada but wouldn't you need your passport to get back into the US?

Marilyn-Actually...This is how I did it....(travelled by land...don't know about air travel...sorry...)

Went to Canada with an expired Canadian passport (no problems)

Came back to the USA with my expired US 2yr green card and NOA letter and expired Canadian passport ..and a receipt from Passport Canada saying that I renewed my passport (and declared I was out of the country for 45 mins...lol...some questioning....a bit of confusion...but otherwise no problems...)

The bottom line: Show that one is Canadian when going to Canada (such as through a Canadian passport), Show that one is American (such as through a green card) when coming back to the USA....And show proof that you are getting your passport renewed.....

Hope this helps too...

Ant

Edited February 23, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[Marilyn. 340]

I would be driving across the border.

my passport expired over 3 years ago.. so I am not sure how much good it will do me...

whenever I have crossed the border before I have just shown my green card, coming and going.. the green card states "country of origin : Canada"

I have always thought that a green card was better then a passport... you don't get fingerprinted when you get a passport...

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I renewed my passport from the US two years ago. I had to send my Canadian birth certificate and expiring passport to Quebec. Since I had 'trusted' my completed application and copies of my documents by registered mail to my Dad in Canada who was my guarantor and USPS 'lost' the return package for nearly 6 weeks, and I had to redo everything, I didn't trust sending my originals by USPS to the Passport Office in Canada. (Canada Post side of things had no problems - it was definitely USPS who had problems). I used UPS even though it cost a bit more. UPS gave me a 'blow by blow' tracing of where it was all the way along the route and the exact time it arrived at the Passport office. I could follow it online and was very pleased with the speed and clear tracking. I got my passport back by DHL about 10 days later. So - don't use the mail, use a courier service. It is worth the extra money.

Interestingly enough, it was USPS who also lost my US passport when it was sent back from the US Passport Office as well by priority mail. The Passport Office ended up cancelling the missing passport and re-issuing it. The missing passport finally showed up the day after my re-issued passport was delivered by courier. USPS definitely has problems.

Edited February 23, 2010 by Kathryn41

[antda 13]

I would be driving across the border.

my passport expired over 3 years ago.. so I am not sure how much good it will do me...

whenever I have crossed the border before I have just shown my green card, coming and going.. the green card states "country of origin : Canada"

I have always thought that a green card was better then a passport... you don't get fingerprinted when you get a passport...

Marilyn-Good to hear that you are driving across the border, if you ever get your Canadian passport renewed...

Actually, "once a Canadian citizen, always a Canadian citizen", so you should have no problems going into Canada with an expired Canadian passport and/or Canadian birth certificate....

And on top of that, your green card shows country of origin as Canada, so that helps too...

(heck, my green card had another country on it...which caused even more problems for me when travelling between Canada/USA...thank goodness I don't have to worry about that anymore....I got rid of the green card when I became a US Citizen....lol....but yeah..I made it between Canada and the USA ok....lol...)

And on that note..I'm wondering if I should renew my Canadian passport after it expires...hmm.....I'll probably travel with an expired one back to Canada later on...we'll see.....

Lol..Not sure about a green card being better than a passport.....both have its advantages/disadvantages.....(but that's another story...)

But the bottom line is....You can go into Canada with your Canadian documents, regardless of if it is expired or not...Since you are a Canadian citizen

And come back to the USA with a valid Green Card.....as you currently have premament residency here..

So yes, I would say..go for it...If you ever do renew your Canadian passport...And good luck there too...

Ant

Edited February 23, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[antda 13]

I renewed my passport from the US two years ago. I had to send my Canadian birth certificate and expiring passport to Quebec. Since I had 'trusted' my completed application and copies of my documents by registered mail to my Dad in Canada who was my guarantor and USPS 'lost' the return package for nearly 6 weeks, and I had to redo everything, I didn't trust sending my originals by USPS to the Passport Office in Canada. (Canada Post side of things had no problems - it was definitely USPS who had problems). I used UPS even though it cost a bit more. UPS gave me a 'blow by blow' tracing of where it was all the way along the route and the exact time it arrived at the Passport office. I could follow it online and was very pleased with the speed and clear tracking. I got my passport back by DHL about 10 days later. So - don't use the mail, use a courier service. It is worth the extra money.

Interestingly enough, it was USPS who also lost my US passport when it was sent back from the US Passport Office as well by priority mail. The Passport Office ended up cancelling the missing passport and re-issuing it. The missing passport showed up the day after my re-issued passport was delivered by courier. USPS definitely has problems.

Kathryn41-Sorry to hear that the USPS lost your passport and other documents.....

Surprised to hear too, that in your case it was USPS that lost your stuff...and not Canada Post...hmm....

Nevertheless, I'm glad that you got that sorted out eventually, even though it took some time....

Lol..USPS does have its flaws...which makes me think...should I even apply for a US passport... ....really, they should send it by courier.....

Lesson Learned: Send it by courier! Spend more now, less worries later!

Ant

Edited February 23, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[SENKA 0]

Hi Senka,

(Hey, I remember you from the I-751 boards awhile ago...)

Likewise, I ran into the same situation awhile ago too, when I had to renew my Canadian passport (due to I-751 delays and in needing an I-551 stamp in it) and had to get it updated with my married name, and had to apply with a "Certificate of Canadian Citizenship Card" too.

And yes, I understand about your worries about the Citizenship Card being lost/damaged/stolen, etc., as likewise I have the same worries too.The cost for a replacement isn't that bad though ($75 CDN according to here...http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/certif.asp), but it would be very troublesome and time-consuming to replace such if lost. Lol...It could be worse...To replace a lost US Citizenship Certificate costs $350+ and gosh knows how many months in having to deal with the USCIS again, and hence I have not applied for a US Passport yet..(but that's another story). And I don't even know how to replace my original birth certificate from some other birth country, if that were to go missing (but that's another story). I admit, I wonder what would happen if I lost all of documents....It would be an international nightmare!

So instead of sending my Canadian passport application and documents (citizenship certificate, marriage certificate, passport photos, etc.) by mail, I opted to go to Canada apply in-person at a Passport Canada office in St. Catherines, Ontario (you can probably find one closer to you are in Canada). I got the Citizenship Card, and other documents, back the same day (they just had a quick look at it, and gave it back to be right on the spot). And I got my Canadian Passport in 2 weeks by courier/DHL, sent to my US address with no problems. So if I were you, instead of sending the certificate/card by mail, I would encourage you to epply for your Canadian passport in-person instead of by mail, as it would be the safest way that your documents wouldn't get lost, and you can get your passport back pretty quickly too.

So yeah, the bottom line: Guard all your Citiizenship Certificate with your life...Apply for your Canadian passport in-person instead. Don't rely on the mail....But if you do have to send it by mail and have no other choice, make sure you make extra copies of everything before you send it off, and make sure that you have some sort of tracking system for such too (courier would be the way to go here...I would recommend DHL...because Passport Canada uses DHL as their main courier service to the USA).

Hope this helps. Good luck in getting your passport and good luck with the rest of your journey too.

Ant

P.S. If you are applying for a Canadian passport, make sure that your passport photos meet Canadian specifications, and not US ones (lol..they are picky about this...). Don't forget about the guarrantor and references for your Canadian passport application too....

Thanks Ant, and thans to everyone else who replied. I really appreciate everyone's ideas and help. Unfortunately, I can't apply in person as my passport expired months ago, so I can't travel. I have the package ready and will be sending it via DHL. That was a great idea to use the same courier company that Passport Canada uses, and their price quote was better than UPS or Fedex.

I hope to get my new passport back within a month as I am planning a trip to Europe at the end of April.

Thanks again!

Senka