Passports

[lynamon 0]

I'm trying to decide whether the timeframe would be okay if I mail off the request for passports instead of waiting 2 hours at the passport office .. they say it takes 20 days from receipt to send out but I know darn well how anything government works in Canada!!! At what stage are passports required (I will also send my longforms with the paperwork instead of my BC cause I'm back and forth accross the boarder) ... I still have yet to get my NOA2. Any info would be appreciated .. thanks!

[hockeygal 0]

You have to have a passport when you go for your interview. You may as well get that going now, before your NOA2. No point waiting unti lthe last minute - they are good for 5 years!

[Flames9_RN 358]

I went to the office in halifax and was quite painless. They give you the option at the office to pick it ipthere or mail it to u, I went the mail route and had it in just over a week. As the above stated, you need it for the interview.

[john_and_marlene 162]

This reminds me of a sign I saw this weekend:

"Yes I want it today! If I wanted it tomorrow, I'd have asked for it tomorrow!"

[Kathryn41 3,205]

The only potential problems with maiing off the application is if they reject the photograph and the fact that you are without your original birth certificate until you get the passport back. While standing in line at the office is a nuisance, they will give you back your birth certificate right away, and if there is a problem with the photographs they will tell you then and there and give you the opportunity to redo them to proper standards without losing that time in the mail.

[Reba 2]

yeap, much easier to just take a day off work and sit in the passport office a few hours to do it. Rather that than have the postal service lose all your ID.

[StormnRolly 0]

I just got mine in Feb and went to the office, in Victoria... didn't take too long at all... an hour tops. My friend had mailed hers the same day and her pictures were rejected and she got her passport long after I did. they courier it to your house in 10 days. Also, I needed my passport number for the medical exam.

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

Craig went to the passport office in Thunder Bay, and said he was there for all of 30 minutes. Got his passport in 15 days. MUCH faster than the dang U.S. Dept. of State.

Cass (bebop the great)

[Jersey Girl 2]

Because Murphy's Law is in full play throughout this entire journey, my vote is to go to the office and be sure.

[DeadPoolX 9]

Craig went to the passport office in Thunder Bay, and said he was there for all of 30 minutes. Got his passport in 15 days. MUCH faster than the dang U.S. Dept. of State.

Cass (bebop the great)

Yeah, Canadian passport processing is faster (usally two weeks) than U.S. passport processing (usually six weeks), but it seems to be a lot more difficult to get a Canadian passport. For instance, for a Canadian passport, you need background checks, non-relative references, and a guarantor; none of those are even asked for (you do need to write down parental information and an emergency contact, however) when applying for a U.S. passport. A U.S. passport is also good for ten years and can be renewed, whereas a Canadian passport is only good for five years and cannot be renewed.

So all in all, I'd rather take the longer processing time.

It's just funny in a way...you'd think, with the U.S. being so security-minded, that it would make things more difficult to get a passport, as opposed to Canada which is generally far more lenient.

[rooster 1]

You had better get going on that passport now. While you can use your BC to travel right now, that is about to change. I believe the date is set for Jan 27 2007. After that date, ALL persons entering the US will need a passport. And, if there is a last minute rush, the system will take longer for you to get yours. The US is already seeing this rush of people applying before the cut-off date.

[Buttons 0]

the cut off is only for air travel until next year then it will be by land also !

[Carlawarla 1]

Yes, Air by 27 Jan 2007, sea and land by 2009.

Get your passport now if you can! I went to the office, showed them my BC, they scanned my pic, and I had it in my hands, xpress post, in 10 days.

Carla

[lynamon 0]

Whew .. thanks for the info ... I was at my sisters for dinner tonight and she had told me that as of January 1,2007 I will need a passport to travel back and forth to the states (I am currently going every 1 - 2 weeks for the weekends)... It's nice to know that I have a little more time ... no wonder the lines at the passport office are so huge ... It was a minimum of a 2 hour wait at 10:30 in the morning this past Monday ... I've decided that I'm going to get there at 7:00 in the morning and be the first one in line and that way I won't miss much of work (unfortunately I'm all out of vacation and sick days for the year!!)

Yes, Air by 27 Jan 2007, sea and land by 2009.

Get your passport now if you can! I went to the office, showed them my BC, they scanned my pic, and I had it in my hands, xpress post, in 10 days.

Carla

[Killer_Clown_2009 0]

Mine came back to me within a couple weeks. I think they are really good at sending them out on time. I don't think you will need your passport for a bit, so it's probably safe to mail in for it.