Candian passport delays abroad

So, how long are non-resident passport renewals by mail taking these days for us Canadians? I sent a renewal in the first week of March and have received nothing back yet. I am a permanent resident of the US.

Update: June 18/07

I finally got a hold of Passport Canada on the phone this afternoon and was told my renewal app was rejected. No reason given but I suspect it may have been the photos for some reason. They told me that they are only now OPENING mailed apps received on March 15th! That's OPENING, not PROCESSING! That means my mailed app has been sitting in their mail room for 12 weeks unopened! It would probably be another 8 weeks on top of this. Pretty sad.

Update: July 17/07

A NEW passport has arrived for me! Can't explain it since a phone enquiry to PPC 3 weeks ago claimed it had been rejected. Total of 22 weeks!! to process.

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Luckily for me, my most recent travel plans last week involved flying into JFK NY and driving across the border to Toronto. Everything went ok except for when I returned back across into the US. The border agent asked for ID so I presented my California driver's license initially. My wife and son are American. He went ballistic when I gave him my Green card along with my wife and son's US passports saying I should have presented that first since he ASSUMED I was a US citizen for some reason. That's my fault I suppose since I have never crossed by land with my Green card before. He was a real prick though, whereas the Cdn agent was super nice. Why do these US guys have to be this way? It's uncalled for really, as I'm sure this behavior does nothing to weed out real threats.

dave mc

How does one pursue an expedited passport? My application has been in the Quebec office since June 1; I have already paid for airfare and an overseas tour. I hoped to leave on August 29th, but that appears to be in doubt now because of the delays. I was delayed in sending my application because I couldn't get an acceptable photo taken until a photo studio agreed to take my pictures (I had the Canadian specs with me.) I had two other sets taken that didn't meet the requirements. I've emailed Passport Canada to see if it is possible for me to cross into Canada and apply in person at a local office. The expense is worth it. I haven't heard back yet.

tarabres,

I would phone them (1-800-567-6868) ASAP rather than waiting for a response thru email. (even phoning them is a chore. Be prepared to wait up to 1 hr on the phone if you even can get into their queue.) It's doubtful you will get a passport back in time for Aug 29th. As of July, they are quoting 15 weeks for mailed apps from the US! That's over 3.5 MONTHS! Your app might still be rejected for a particular reason. I phoned about 2 weeks ago and they claimed my app was rejected. No reason given. I have not even received the rejected paperwork back from them yet.

If you really want any chance of getting a passport for Aug 29th, go up there in person. The only problem though is that you may need to wait for 2 weeks to get it even then. You only need a birth certificate and photo ID to get across the border by car. I don't know what ID material you have tied up with your original mailed app since you will need something to take along with you for an in-person application. Plan on spending a day lining up with app in hand, then returning in 2-3 weeks to pick it up. (only you can pick it up yourself I think.)

dave mc

I have resigned myself to heading to Winnipeg to apply in person. I am currently re-requesting all my documents (asking for 2 copies in the beginning would have been so smart) and paying the same-day service rate.

I contacted a former acquaintance who is now an M.P. and her office recommended I return to Winnipeg. Apparently, for an additional fee, there is also a 24-hour Rush service but it is cheaper than having to return two weeks later. Is anyone aware of the 24-hour Rush service? I'm hoping it doesn't just relate to emergencies. Maybe this is the route those passport assistance enterprises use.

At any rate, this passport mess is costing me both in dollars and stress. When I return from Winnipeg I'll let you all know how that 24-hour rush service worked for me.

Hi tarabres,

I appreciate if you could post some update about your passport application experience. Wish you luck for your rush processing.

I sent my application on May 15th, and I have GC interview coming by the end of August? Is there anyone know when I can get my new passport back? Thank you very much

Hi everyone: I'm new here and am another frustrated Canadian in the US waiting for my passport. I sent my application in at the end of April (when they were still saying it would take about 10 weeks). Now, with my trip to Canada coming up in 3 weeks, I am pretty certain I can forget about having my passport in time. I don't even have a receipt to show at the border, because my credit card hasn't been charged yet. Has anyone had any recent experience going through US Immigration in Seattle? Does a green card and proof that I mailed my passport application in do any good? Sure adds a layer of stress to a vacation home, doesn't it?

Hi Again: I actually called the US Immigration office at the Seattle airport today and got right through. I told them my situation, and they indicated that as long as I had my green card, I would be allowed re-entry to the US. While this takes some of the stress away from knowing I won't get my passport in time for my trip, I'm always worried that I'll get a grumpy/contrary Immigration officer who will deny me. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

It seems everyone is having the same problem with long waits and rejected applications, and is exploring similar options, but has anyone done the in-person expedited to report back yet? (tarabres?). I ask because I'm about to embark on a test of the system myself.

I applied April 1 by mail from the US, and like so many others got a courier package of rejected material for photos that had "shadows" and eyes "unclear". This after 15 weeks of waiting and phone calls.

Now, with passport expiry and travel both looming, I am heading up to St Catharine's Ontario to try my luck at in person, expedited, for the extra fees. I will be there July 25 and If all goes well I'll be able to report happy news to you all by July 30. But, in the meantime, I would love to have my confidence in this alternate route boosted with a success story (or two!) Please post if you have good tales to tell.

It seems fishy to me why all of your applications are being denied because of incorrect photos. I have had three passports in my life time from Canada thus far, and that has never happened to me. I also always get my pictures taken at walmart! (so they can't be THAT good) So is the photos issue just an excuse? Doesn't make any sense to me.

Also-remember there is a huge rush now for passports because of the recent "you have to have a passport to travel to the US" sha-bang that is of course, now being delayed. So there was a rush in the intake of applications in the last 6 months. n Also, from my understanding, the "24 hour rush" option is for emergency ONLY. You have to show evidence of it being an emergency.

Sorry to hear you guys are being rejected though. I'm glad I renewed mine last year.

as well as the new passport requirements causing the rush and backlog, there are new requirements on the standard of the photos, and these have been causing some problems for a while now. Having photos done in the US to Canadian specs is proving difficult for quite a lot of people, even before the rush.