Can’t renew my passport, how do I immigrate or travel?

[Carlcayl 8]

Despite the laws changing regarding spousal visitations, my Canadian passport has only two months of travel left on it, making it invalid for me the visit the United States and also creating complications with my CR-1 process. 
 

The passport offices in Canada have been closed for around four months, and recently have some exemptions:

“You can only get travel document services in Canada if you have a valid reason to travel urgently.

Valid urgent travel reasons include if you’re travelling

• for a medical reason because you have a serious illness
• because of the serious illness or death of someone you know
• because you’ll have financial problems from the loss of a job or business
• to support an essential service
• for humanitarian reasons
  • You need a letter from your organization that lists the humanitarian reasons.

The loss of airfare or other travel expenses is not a valid reason for urgent travel.

If you submitted an application in person or by mail and you don’t need to travel urgently, we’ll process it when normal services resume.

If you don’t need a passport or travel document urgently, wait until normal services resume.”

 

As you may have noticed, these urgent restrictions don’t outline spouses or immediate family members, making it impossible for me to travel to the USA and- if I get my green card interview scheduled in Montreal I wont have a valid Canadian passport to give them. 

I’ve called and discussed this with Canadian passport services and they’ve simply restated that only the services outlined are included. I’ve also written an email to my local member of parliament. I have nothing else I can do but wait, continuously wait like I’ve been for my green card during all of this grief. 
 

Can anyone help me understand how to renew my passport. I’m at my wits end. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

[Just Paul 4,595]

Canada is a member of the "Six Month Club"   You can travel to the US upto the last day of your passport.   https://www.cbp.gov/document/bulletins/six-month-club-update  So that should help a lillte bit.

 

Ad for renewing your Canadian Passport - I'll leave that to a better source.

[Carlcayl 8]

 

8 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

Canada is a member of the "Six Month Club"   You can travel to the US upto the last day of your passport.   https://www.cbp.gov/document/bulletins/six-month-club-update  So that should help a lillte bit.

 

Ad for renewing your Canadian Passport - I'll leave that to a better source.

Though you are correct that we are members of the six month club, you are misinformed.

 

It’s quite the opposite. You can travel to the US ONLY if you have 6 months left on your passport from the day you plan to end your visit the US. It’s listed on the website you’ve sent me, as well:

 

“Visitors traveling to the United States are required to be in possession of passports that are valid for six months beyond the period of their intended stay in the United States.“

 

This leaves me out by far, as my passport has two months left before it expires.

[DGF 730]

I have no advice in regards to being able to travel now, but in terms of not being able to renew your passport before your interview, I wouldn't worry about that. I know this isn't what you want to hear but it is currently a 10-11 month wait from DQ to interview, and from your timeline you aren't DQ yet, so you'll have plenty of time to renew your passport once passport offices reopen. 

[Just Paul 4,595]

2 hours ago, Carlcayl said:

 

Though you are correct that we are members of the six month club, you are misinformed.

 

It’s quite the opposite. You can travel to the US ONLY if you have 6 months left on your passport from the day you plan to end your visit the US. It’s listed on the website you’ve sent me, as well:

 

“Visitors traveling to the United States are required to be in possession of passports that are valid for six months beyond the period of their intended stay in the United States.“

 

This leaves me out by far, as my passport has two months left before it expires.

Read the next line:

 

Visitors traveling to the United States are required to be in possession of passports that are valid for six months beyond the period of their intended stay in the United States. Citizens of the countries listed below are exempt the six-month rule and need only have a passport valid for their intended period of stay.

 

Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Antilles Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Bahamas, The Barbados Belgium Belize Bermuda Bolivia Bosnia-Herzegovina Brazil Bulgaria Burma Canada Chile Colombia Costa Rica Cote d’Ivoire Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dominica Dominican Republic Egypt El Salvador Estonia Ethiopia Fiji Finland France Gabon Georgia Germany Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guyana Haiti Hong Kong (Certificates of Identity and Passports) Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Kosovo Latvia Lebanon Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Madagascar Maldives Malaysia Malta Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Mozambique Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua (for all passports) Nigeria Norway Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russia San Marino Saudi Arabia Serbia Seychelles Singapore Slovakia Slovenia South Africa South Korea Spain Sri Lanka St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent and The Grenadines Suriname Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Thailand Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Tuvalu Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan Vatican (Holy See) Venezuela Zimbabwe

[ONtoHOU 228]

Disclosure this is just a suggestion too look into- I have not tried this: Check with Canadian Consulates in the US - although they don't provide standard passport services, they generally support the Canadian Citizens with urgent passport renewals.  Their definition of "urgent" might be different than Passport Canada.  Once you know if they can support you in getting your passport renewed, you can decide if you want to visit your spouse and get your passport renewed on that trip. 
 

edited to add: as others have said. You have a long wait ahead of you, there is time for the passport office to reopen regular processing in Canada before your visa interview.  The backlog for spousal visa interviews in Montreal is significant, it was 5-6 months pre-covid.  But congrats on getting through Hellbreska in 3 months! 

Edited September 4, 2020 by wordsfromdani

[Dobbie 6]

I thought normal services had resumed since August 1st? I mailed in my passport renewal two weeks ago and it is being processed most likely since it hasnt been sent back. It can take up to 20 business days for them to process the application

 

I believe the urgent services are only for in-person meetings.

 

 

Edited September 4, 2020 by Dobbie

[Dobbie 6]

On 9/4/2020 at 11:38 AM, Dobbie said:

I thought normal services had resumed since August 1st? I mailed in my passport renewal two weeks ago and it is being processed most likely since it hasnt been sent back. It can take up to 20 business days for them to process the application

 

I believe the urgent services are only for in-person meetings.

 

 

Update: They charged me the passport renewal fee already.

[Lemonslice 4,841]

On 9/3/2020 at 10:24 AM, Carlcayl said:

Despite the laws changing regarding spousal visitations, my Canadian passport has only two months of travel left on it, making it invalid for me the visit the United States and also creating complications with my CR-1 process. 
 

The passport offices in Canada have been closed for around four months, and recently have some exemptions:

“You can only get travel document services in Canada if you have a valid reason to travel urgently.

Valid urgent travel reasons include if you’re travelling

• for a medical reason because you have a serious illness
• because of the serious illness or death of someone you know
• because you’ll have financial problems from the loss of a job or business
• to support an essential service
• for humanitarian reasons
  • You need a letter from your organization that lists the humanitarian reasons.

The loss of airfare or other travel expenses is not a valid reason for urgent travel.

If you submitted an application in person or by mail and you don’t need to travel urgently, we’ll process it when normal services resume.

If you don’t need a passport or travel document urgently, wait until normal services resume.”

 

As you may have noticed, these urgent restrictions don’t outline spouses or immediate family members, making it impossible for me to travel to the USA and- if I get my green card interview scheduled in Montreal I wont have a valid Canadian passport to give them. 

***You can always mail your passport to the consulate at a later date, if you are really stuck without a valid passport at the time of your interview.

I’ve called and discussed this with Canadian passport services and they’ve simply restated that only the services outlined are included. I’ve also written an email to my local member of parliament. I have nothing else I can do but wait, continuously wait like I’ve been for my green card during all of this grief. 

***MP is a good way to go, explain that you are not travelling, but in fact emigrating.  You can even provide examples of other agencies/departments realizing that (i.e. unemployment, CRA, etc.); and that you are following GAC recommendations to keep your passport valid while abroad to avoid further complications.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Lemonslice 4,841]

On 9/3/2020 at 11:03 AM, Carlcayl said:

 

Though you are correct that we are members of the six month club, you are misinformed.

 

It’s quite the opposite. You can travel to the US ONLY if you have 6 months left on your passport from the day you plan to end your visit the US. It’s listed on the website you’ve sent me, as well:

 

“Visitors traveling to the United States are required to be in possession of passports that are valid for six months beyond the period of their intended stay in the United States.“

 

This leaves me out by far, as my passport has two months left before it expires.

Could you list the source of the bolded part as it is incorrect for Canadians?

 

However, you will not be a visitor, you will be an immigrant, and from what I remember, the consulate will ask you to provide a passport with at least six months validity left. 

Edited September 9, 2020 by Lemonslice

[fjxs 133]

Passport services have resumed: you can renew by mail if you need it in more than 30 days, and request an in person appointment if you have proof of needing it within 30 days. 

 

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/passport.html#passport-resuming