Renewing Canadian Passport from US

[kdc0224 7]

Hi,

I know this should be a topic specifically for the Canada Portal but I'm not sure how to post there. I'm a Canadian citizen and LPR of the US. I'm currently living in DC and need to renew my Canadian passport. I am eligible for the simplified renewal process and I plan to just courier my passport and documents to Passport Canada. Does anyone have any experience with the following:

1) How long does it take on average?

2) What courier companies are most reputable? I was planning to use Fedex. Does Passport Canada require me to use Canada Post to courier it back to me or can I just use Fedex?

3) I've never couriered a passport before - how is the whole process done and what is the process for having the equivalent of a stamped, self-addressed envelope for them to send my new passport to me?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks

[Transborderwife 4,666]

1. It took my parents about three weeks when they did theirs

2. I believe that you can send t with a return courier envelope of your choice if you are specific. I can't remember which courier service is their preferred.

3. Ask the courier service that you choose. They do this often.

Just be prepared, the fees are about 2x what you normally pay. As well be sure that the photos are correct size.

[NikLR 13,227]

~~moved to Canada regional forum from moving here and your new life~~

To post in the regional forums just go to the forum and post there like you did here.

[Lemonslice 4,854]

Also, make sure that your pictures meet Passport Canada requirements, that is the #1 cause of the application being rejected by Passport Canada for application made from the USA.

Photographer is more important than the courier (as long as you get a tracking number). Do not expect to get your passport in less than 20 business days after it is received by them; so really, plan to send it when you can be without it for a full calendar month. If volumes are low, you might get it faster.

[caliliving 606]

regarding photographs. make sure you google (read reviews) and ask if the place specificially does canadian passport photos!! i know their are places around me that understand and do that, and of course they charge like $50.. but it is worth it because they understand the process ect... very important!! do not go to like costco/walmart ect.

[HollywoodNorth 22]

When I renewed my 2nd last passport, I got the new one along with the cancelled one [with a cancelled stamp and a hole punched through it] within 3 weeks [i think you need to allow up to four].

If you have a pressing emergency.. and this can mean an upcoming visa renewal/ or a new visa application when you have an almost expired passport, you can get expedited processing for an additional fee at your closest Canadian Consulate in the US. When I did this in 2014, it was about $380 for a 10 year passport renewal, that I got within 48 hours. It's an expensive option, but its there.

The passport photo specs are very important. It's not a huge issue in major cities where there are consulates, the local passport shops near the consulates will have all the specifications for Canada and other countries [the guy I used in San Francisco had a Sony Passport camera which has all the countries visa photo specifications built into it... pretty neat]. If you are not near a major city, you may want to print off the Canadian photography specifications and bring them to the photographer.

[kdc0224 7]

Thanks everyone for your advice! It's nice that Passport Canada includes the courier in their fees so for anyone else that has to do this, you don't have to worry about a self-addressed stamped envelope.

I thought the pictures were the easiest part, though I went to a reputable, passport photographer in DC that does this on a regular basis. When I called Passport Canada, however, the agent told me that they do also accept 2" x 2" photos - I guess they get those all the time from Canadians living in the United States that they decided to accept these in addition to the Canadian-sized passport photos (50mm x 70mm).

Edited April 4, 2016 by kdc0224

[JustBreathe 22]

I am just looking into doing mine. However, I am not renewing because I am changing my name to my married name. Is this what most Canadian do? Or do you leave your passport in your maiden name?

If I do a whole new application it says I need to send in supporting documents, like my birth certificate and another piece of photo ID. Would I send in my driver licence?!? That seems insane to me.

I really appreciate your help!

Thanks!

[Lemonslice 4,854]

I am just looking into doing mine. However, I am not renewing because I am changing my name to my married name. Is this what most Canadian do? Or do you leave your passport in your maiden name?

If I do a whole new application it says I need to send in supporting documents, like my birth certificate and another piece of photo ID. Would I send in my driver licence?!? That seems insane to me.

I really appreciate your help!

Thanks!

Read the instructions carefully. Original of your proof of citizenship, but certified copies of your IDs - it says exactly what your guarantor has to write on the photocopy.

Edited May 10, 2016 by Lemonslice

[kdc0224 7]

I didn't change my name after marriage so I could renew my passport with the simplified renewal form. You are correct that a change of name requires you to apply for a new passport rather than renew your old one. More info on that can be found here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/passport/apply/new/apply-how.asp

Your supporting documents just have to be photocopies, not originals, I believe. You can always call Passport Canada to confirm.

As the others posters mentioned, make sure your photographer knows the Canadian passport photo specifications.

I am just looking into doing mine. However, I am not renewing because I am changing my name to my married name. Is this what most Canadian do? Or do you leave your passport in your maiden name?

If I do a whole new application it says I need to send in supporting documents, like my birth certificate and another piece of photo ID. Would I send in my driver licence?!? That seems insane to me.

I really appreciate your help!

Thanks!

[JustBreathe 22]

thanks!

I am going to Canada to visit my family in a couple days, so I planned on going to CAA to get my pictures taken there and have my gaurantor sign everything there and bring it all back with me to mail off from the states.

I am assuming I cannot just send it off from the passport office because I need to fly home on my passport, and they take it, correct?

[kdc0224 7]

If you have a Nexus card, you might be able to submit your passport in Canada but if not, you're correct - you'd have to mail it from America because the border agent and/or the airline could ask you for your passport.

thanks!

I am going to Canada to visit my family in a couple days, so I planned on going to CAA to get my pictures taken there and have my gaurantor sign everything there and bring it all back with me to mail off from the states.

I am assuming I cannot just send it off from the passport office because I need to fly home on my passport, and they take it, correct?

[NikLR 13,227]

While in Canada see if you can expedite the passport for cheaper than filing from the USA.

[Lemonslice 4,854]

While in Canada see if you can expedite the passport for cheaper than filing from the USA.

Only problem if they already bought the return flight is that the name won't match anymore...

[NikLR 13,227]

True, but they are travelling with their marriage certificate and she can call the airline 24 hours before and change the nme probably.