Applying for new Canadian passport by mail from USA

[theanswerisdance 144]

Just wondering if anyone here has done the Canadian passport application by mail from the States, and if so, what was your approximate processing time (including mailing?). I had to do a new passport rather than a renewal since I have a name change from marriage. Those who sent by postal mail (not courier), how many days did it take to arrive in Gatineau? Also, did the credit card payment get processed pretty early on? I was curious whether that would be any indication of how far along my application is...I tried sending a status request to Passport Canada but at the time they responded saying they had no record of my application as of yet (at that point it had only been 6 days since I mailed it) and I later read it takes 10 business days after they receive the application before they are able to provide a status update.

 

Thanks!

[skimmilk 32]

I lost my Canadian passport back in 2014 (ugh don't ask...I was very upset).  I lost it during the first weekend of November and I sent the paperwork the following week (like Tuesday or so).  I got my new passport December 20-something (RIGHT before the holidays).  So it was about 6 weeks overall (give or take).  My guess is you'll get it sometime next month.

[dburnt 59]

I was thinking originally of doing it in person in Windsor, but then realized that during the issuance process, you have no passport, so I'd have to do an expedited one.  I do not like being without a passport, especially with only a conditional GC

[Lemonslice 4,885]

4 hours ago, dburnt said:

I was thinking originally of doing it in person in Windsor, but then realized that during the issuance process, you have no passport, so I'd have to do an expedited one.  I do not like being without a passport, especially with only a conditional GC

If you can justify it, there is a retention process - you get to keep your passport while the new one is issued.  

[dburnt 59]

oh really?  Oh that would be great.  My family lives not far from Windsor and I visit a couple times a year.  Right now I am waiting to be sure the DHS has my name changed to my married before I can change all my ID (need DHS to change SSC; need SSC to change Drivers: need Drivers to change bank, and so on)

 

[theanswerisdance 144]

28 minutes ago, Lemonslice said:

If you can justify it, there is a retention process - you get to keep your passport while the new one is issued.  

I wish I had known that was a possibility on my last visit home  I only just found out after mailing mine off at the beginning of this month that all you need to qualify for "urgent" processing when in Canada at the passport office is proof of travel -- my problem is always that I can never stay for a visit long enough to risk the regular processing times. My concern right now is that I mailed my application on Sept. 8th, and as of yesterday when I called Passport Canada they said they have not received my application (and current passport, and birth certificate...). I took it to the actual post office trusting that they would be qualified to tell me the best way to send it. I tried to mail it Priority with tracking and insurance and the postal clerk AND his manager both told me that I was throwing my money down the drain to do so because A) The tracking wouldn't apply when being sent internationally, and B) The insurance does not cover documents. I had looked into sending by courier but the cheapest price I was quoted for that was $90, and the USPS guys assured me it would get there in 7-10 business days by sending it First Class International. I didn't know until I got home and started researching that they were completely wrong about most of what they told me, and by the time I went back to get my package back and send it the way I had wanted to all along, the mail for the day had already been picked up and was gone. I don't care about having to wait for processing for the new passport or anything, I just want to know that my current, valid passport, which also has a lot of sentimental value to me, is safe........

[Veronik 19]

I renewed my passport a few months ago. From the time I mailed my application (paid extra for tracking, signature, etc) to the time I had my passport back, it must have been a good 5 weeks. They charged my credit card a couple weeks before I received my passport. So they must not charge your card until they're actually working on the application.

Hope this helps!