As a Canadian citizen living in the USA, getting one's passport is not the easiest process in the world if it is not convenient to travel back to Canada to do so. In fact, 5 years ago, it took me close to 4 months and the cost of 3 registered mail packages before they finally renewed mine ..... frustrating, really frustrating!
It was not an application for a new passport, it was simply a renewal. I missed a great travel opportunity because of the multiple delays. The primary stumbling block in this process is getting the photos done.
A simple enough process one would think, but Canada's photo requirements are completely different than almost every other country and it seems to be very difficult to find a US photographer who actually knows how to do it to the satisfaction of the Canadian government. They have a number of restrictions with regards to the actual photo ~ what's permissible and what's not, so I went to the photo shop armed with 4 pages of instructions on how to get the little itty bitty photos just right.
After several attempts, the photographer thought he had it nailed ~ "I dare them to reject these" he boasted confidently ..... we shall see. I happily paid the man, took my photos which don't look half bad and actually bear some resemblance to my image this time, went home and completed the new 'simplified' paperwork. Providing an applicant meets a number of conditions, one of which is not having let your current passport expire, you qualify for the 'simplified' renewal. There is a lot less paperwork to fill out and no need for finding the proper guarantors and public notary certification ..... that did save considerable amounts of time!
I headed off to the local post office, paid my $20 to have the package registered and sent it off to the Canadian government. That was May 23rd. I've not heard back from them, so I'm taking that as a very good sign. Through the modern technology of on line tracking, I know that it is in their very capable hands and with any kind of luck and good timing, I should have a new passport in hand in the very near future.
Used to be, the Canadian passport was good for 10 years, but now I get to look forward to this process every 5 years ... and the government gets to collect their $125 twice as often. A relatively inexpensive price to pay for the privilege of of being an ex-patriot.
Thinking I'll just go ahead and start planning a little trip.
Yielding all I know about me to all I know about Him.
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