Renewed 19 yr old daughter's passport while back home - a review

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Since renewing passports is such a popular topic, thought I'd add my review of renewing my daughter's.

My daughter's passport is about to expire end of April so we renewed it while we were back home in Kitchener. She's 19 and since her last one was at 15, we filled out the longer Adult form.

Guarantor: Me - her mother (the Cdn married to the USC husband)

References: My best friend and her husband who have known her/me since I was pregnant

Under Occupation(in the last 2 yrs) we weren't sure what to put since my daughter has been out of highschool 2 yrs and isn't working yet....I put exactly that 'Finished highschool in 2009, not employed'...but somehow that confused the passport lady so she scratched that out and put 'UNEMPLOYED'...okey fine, whatever

We walked into the passport office at 8:45 am and no word of a lie, we were out in less then 10 minutes....great customer service, very polite and even though their debit system was down that day, they did a manual credit card receipt like the old days

We got the current one back with the corner clipped off and 'cancelled' stamped on the first page just in case we need it driving back into the US on Friday(she has her GC of course)and we have the receipt from the passport office in case questions comes up.

Just like renewing mine last July, we expect to receive it in the mail and we're all done again for a while.

[ralyse 31]

LOL I work a few floors above the passport office in Kitchener! It's definitely never busy early in the morning, and more likely that the parking garage won't be full at that hour!

/Useless input

[mandaNchris 3]

Awesome

[Udella&Wiz 325]

LOL I work a few floors above the passport office in Kitchener! It's definitely never busy early in the morning, and more likely that the parking garage won't be full at that hour!

/Useless input

Well I know - it was great - the parking garage dude was very friendly

[OBX 51]

Silly question but... when you renew in Canada will they mail it to your US address?

[Moosker 7]

They sure do OBX! When I needed to renew my passport (and change my name in it) I did it the next time I was in Ontario and just mailed it out that way. Got it back to the U.S. within a number of weeks, it was SUPER quick!

[SapphireDreams 71]

I just renewed my passport and changed my name by mail and it was good service. Took about 4 weeks.

When I was in Canada over Christmas, I had my Mom sign all the forms as my guarantor. Also took my photos at Blacks in Canada to avoid having them rejected. Sent them photo copies of all of the documents they needed signed by my Mom, except my birth certificate, I sent them the original.

I had asked them to mail it to my in-laws house, since it comes courier and we're never home at our apartment to receive packages and someone is always at my in-laws house, but they called me to tell me they woudn't send to a third party. But, they would send to my employer, so that was good.

Oh and they also wanted the phone numbers for my past employers, which I guess I forgot to include. So, I just googled the main lines while on the phone with the guy.

[OBX 51]

They sure do OBX! When I needed to renew my passport (and change my name in it) I did it the next time I was in Ontario and just mailed it out that way. Got it back to the U.S. within a number of weeks, it was SUPER quick!

Thanks, that's good to know. I have a few years to go on mine but now I know what to expect.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

What I didn't think to ask - is the new passport good for 5 or 10 yrs now? Wasn't there a vicious rumour that Canada might have 10 yr passports?

[OBX 51]

Apparently the 10 year option was supposed to come into effect in 2011 but their website still states 5 year validity. Let us know which one your daughter gets.

Edited April 7, 2011 by OBX

[SapphireDreams 71]

I just got mine 2 weeks ago and it's still a 5 year passport.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Oh poop - wish they'd get their act together and go for 10!

[Moosker 7]

Yeah, I think it's still a 5 year passport.

[Leafgal 3]

I got my pictures done in Canada over Christmas and my mother is coming down for Easter so I will have her send in or drop off my application with the originial birth certificate. I sure wish she was still living in Kitchener, because your right it was a quick in and out last time I got my passport.

Maybe I will wait to renew if there is going to be a 10 year option soon.

[Benjamin44 10]

What I didn't think to ask - is the new passport good for 5 or 10 yrs now? Wasn't there a vicious rumour that Canada might have 10 yr passports?

One year ago, it was announced that the 10-year validity passports (as well as the improved E-Passports) would begin "in 2012." Now, when exactly in 2012 is anyone's guess... but I'm going to be optimistic and say that it will probably be January 2012.

Here is the link from Passport Canada's website announcing the decision, exactly one year ago today:

http://www.ppt.gc.ca/articles/20100407.aspx?lang=eng

I will be immigrating to the U.S. on an immigrant visa in August, and my Canadian passport expires in September. I'm thinking that the hassle of renewing a Canadian Passport is such that it will be worth it to wait until January to get a new one. For those 4 months- if I'm not mistaken, if I need to go to Canada, I can do so re-enter the U.S. all on my Green Card (or the old passport with the I-551 stamp until the GC arrives), correct? No law in Canada that citizens must enter on the Canadian Passport, like there is in the U.S., IMHO. Am I right about this?