Changing Name in Canada

[Going through 5,671]

5 minutes ago, Michelle13 said:

My Canadian passport expires before I am eligible to apply for US Citizenship.

 

It looks like I'll just have to jump through all their hoops and mail in everything... oh well haha. 

Look on the bright side---Canada will at least return your originals, unlike USCIS  

Oh--MAKE SURE to elect to have your old passport returned (if you are sending it in as one of your ID proofs)...you will need it for any passport stamps to show later on when you are ready to apply for citizenship.

[theanswerisdance 144]

1 hour ago, Michelle13 said:

Hello Everyone!!! I saw a few posts about changing your name in the US... but I'm wondering if any of you changed your name in Canada once moving??? 

 

My Canadian passport expires next year and I'll need to renew it.  And I'd like to have my married name on it.  But I haven't done anything to go about changing my name out of country.  

 

Have any of you done this? Would love some feedback. 

 

Thanks, 

 

I'm going through this right now and it's so frustrating. Only because, as others have said, you cannot file for a renewal when wanting to change your name, even if it's just to your married name. Also, if by chance you can arrange to be home in Canada for long enough that you can apply directly at a passport office and wait in Canada for your new passport, do it...you'll save a lot of money! I can't believe it's an extra $100 just because I'm mailing it from the U.S. Processing time for a new application submitted in person at a passport office is 10 business days, so if you can do a trip home for 2 weeks, that's ideal.

 

Change of name due to relationship status (as opposed to a "legal name change") only requires a copy of your marriage certificate, not an original, and then another form of photo I.D. that has all your biographical info and signature on it, like your state DL. I believe the marriage certificate copy does not need to be signed by your Canadian guarantor, but your photo I.D. does. Depending on the province you were born in, you may be able to get away with a certified copy for your birth certificate, but if your province isn't listed here, they require you to submit the original (another reason I hate that we can't just do a renewal).

• British Columbia: Documentary Evidence of Citizenship (DEC) includes the Certified True Copy of a Registration Document and Registration of Live Birth, which are issued:
  • by the province of British Columbia
  • in cases where the name of the bearer is more than 30 characters for the surname or 30 characters for the given names
• New Brunswick: a certified extract of a registration document is issued:
  • by the Province of New Brunswick
  • in cases where the name of the bearer is more than 39 characters for the surname(s) and 30 characters for the given name(s)
• Northwest Territories: a Registration of Birth, Certificate of Registration of Birth, or Registration of Live Birth is issued:
  • by the Northwest Territories
  • in cases where the surname(s) and given name(s) of the bearer is more than a total of 58 characters
• Nova Scotia: a certified photocopy of Live Birth Registration is issued:
  • by the Province of Nova Scotia
  • in cases where the name of the bearer is more than 30 characters for the surname(s) and 38 characters for the given name(s)
• Ontario: a certified copy of birth registration issued by the Province of Ontario
• Quebec
  • a birth certificate or a copy of an act of birth issued by the Directeur de l'état civil of Quebec

[Going through 5,671]

1 minute ago, theanswerisdance said:

I can't believe it's an extra $100 just because I'm mailing it from the U.S.

I know!  I could take a bus back AND forth from Canada to NY for that price during the off-season.  

I'm going through the process of getting my daughter's Canada proof of citizenship (she was born in the US) right now as well--she doesn't need a CAN passport right now, but if and when she does I'll be taking her across to do it since it's so much easier---and cheaper.

 

[Going through 5,671]

With the stipulation about birth certificates---I'm not sure if you need the certified one...I've always sent in just the wallet-size card and never had an issue with it....but maybe that's also dependent upon whether the passport is expired or not?  Or have I just been lucky all these years?

[theanswerisdance 144]

6 minutes ago, Going through said:

Look on the bright side---Canada will at least return your originals, unlike USCIS  

Oh--MAKE SURE to elect to have your old passport returned (if you are sending it in as one of your ID proofs)...you will need it for any passport stamps to show later on when you are ready to apply for citizenship.

You have no choice but to submit the old passport if it isn't expired yet, but if it's already expired I think you just have to provide the document number and expiry date. Yet another reason this sucks! I hate having to ship my original birth certificate and still-valid passport internationally.

[theanswerisdance 144]

Just now, Going through said:

With the stipulation about birth certificates---I'm not sure if you need the certified one...I've always sent in just the wallet-size card and never had an issue with it....but maybe that's also dependent upon whether the passport is expired or not?  Or have I just been lucky all these years?

 

Did you send a photocopy or the original wallet-sized card? I know they accept both the long-form and short-form so you can send either, but for a new/non-renewal application, they state that it must be the original of either of those.

[Going through 5,671]

Just now, theanswerisdance said:

 

Did you send a photocopy or the original wallet-sized card? I know they accept both the long-form and short-form so you can send either, but for a new/non-renewal application, they state that it must be the original of either of those.

I always sent a photocopy...they don't even MAKE the wallet sized cards anymore, no way was I sending that original anywhere.

[theanswerisdance 144]

5 minutes ago, Going through said:

I always sent a photocopy...they don't even MAKE the wallet sized cards anymore, no way was I sending that original anywhere.

That's my sentiment exactly. Seems like you got lucky...or that they changed the rules, I don't know...I've renewed 3 times since I got my original way back when so I don't remember that process. That was the other reason I wished I could make a trip up for long enough to wait in country for this one...at the passport office you just have to show the originals and then can take them home with you that day.

 

Edited August 7, 2017 by theanswerisdance

[Going through 5,671]

Interesting that one of the options for born outside Canada includes "certificate of registration of birth abroad" considering one doesn't legally have to register a Canadian born abroad...

 

I guess that's a faster way of getting a newborn a passport?

Edited August 7, 2017 by Going through

[Lemonslice 4,989]

You have to send an original of your proof of citizenship (birth certificate or proof of citizenship).

 

If you have 48 hours (on business days), you can do it at most Passport Canada bureaus (some are even open over the weekends, not indicated on their website, you have to call: 1-800-567-6868); requesting urgent service while you're visiting will cost you the same price as regular service from abroad.  Just bring proof of travel (return ticket, letter of employer if you are driving, etc.).  Other benefits of doing it in person: no need to leave mail your documents, instant response if someone is wrong or missing. 

 

 

[Going through 5,671]

I think, by the year 2035, we should just be all microchipped with all of our data and get scanned somewhere to show our complete lineage when applying for stuff like this lol

[Lemonslice 4,989]

7 minutes ago, Going through said:

Interesting that one of the options for born outside Canada includes "certificate of registration of birth abroad" considering one doesn't legally have to register a Canadian born abroad...

 

I guess that's a faster way of getting a newborn a passport?

It is no longer possible to do a registration of birth abroad, you have to apply  for a proof of citizenship.  It is still an acceptable document for those who got it back in the days.

Edited August 7, 2017 by Lemonslice

[Rose13 30]

I legally assumed my hubby's last name in Canada and changed my driver's license and passport.  I recently renewed my Canadian passport.  I crossed with the passport and opted for 24 hr renewal.  I came back on my green card.  I re-entered Canadian with my receipt for passport renewal and my US green card.  No problems.