Renewing Passport

[getbak]

Originally Posted by chummer

But yeah I might have pushed my luck with the expiring passport.

I think the States will let you in no matter when it expires as long as it's valid when you enter (for Canadians only), but other countries have 3 or 6 month requirements depending on their own internal rules.

[normtwofinger]

Originally Posted by chummer

If anything it's harder for a single parent to travel with a minor.
Everytime I travel with my son I have to get a letter of consent from his mom.She always notarizes it although I don't think that is necessary.
They haven't always asked for it but have been told we could be refused entry without it.

But yeah I might have pushed my luck with the expiring passport.

Check my edit on my other post.

I know that here in Costa Rica, child trafficking is a problem. So when entering/exiting, you need to have proof you are the parent, and show written notarized consent of travel from the other parent if not present.

[Jimmy Stang]

Here's another vote for Harry Hays. I went to the South office (from the North) a few weeks ago for my baby boy's passport because I heard it was faster. The lineup was horrendous so I promptly left and went downtown.

If you have your paperwork in order, they seem to expedite you pretty quickly. Although the room was pretty full, I was out within 15 minutes. And the passport arrived just over a week later.

[mykalberta]

I just did the renewal yesterday, got to HH arond 11.55 left aroudn 12.20

I prefilled my info from the form online, brought in my old passport, 2 passport photos and $80 later the guy said I should see it in a month.

[yads]

About a year ago we had organized a trip to Mexico with a bunch of friends to celebrate a bunch of us turning 30. My wife made sure our 18 month old daughter had her passport. Imagine our surprise when the ticket agent says that my wife's passport is expired and do we have an extension for it. Well luckily we were flying out on a Friday, because she was able to go to Harry Hays and get a same day passport.

She gave a bunch of people on our trip as references, so we're all sitting on the tarmac while my friends try to describe my wife to the passport officer over the phone.

She also managed to get a cheap one way fare the next morning and only missed one night.

[Bill Bumface]

Why is Mexico worried about Canadians staying in the country past their passport expiry?

Are we all going to flood their borders to reap the benefits of being Mexican citizens? Working illegally hoping to one day be granted refugee status?

Come on Mexico, Come on

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Why is Mexico worried about Canadians staying in the country past their passport expiry?

It's because they know the chances of us having to extend our stay is high; what with all of the violence directed towards tourists.

[Wood]

Well I went to the far south location with my papers filled, I was in and out in 10 minutes and for an extra $30 I get to go pick up my new passport on Friday. Thanks for the help guys, very appreciated

[C-Four]

I recently renewed my passport in January...took slightly less than two weeks from when I dropped it off in person at Harry Hayes. Went on a Monday afternoon and took about 5-10mins. Soooo much better than a few years ago when the American border rules were changing and the lines were crazy long.

[Radio]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

"Urgent service is not available at the Calgary (South) office. Clients requesting express or pick-up service are encouraged to apply at the Calgary office located in the Harry Hays Building "

That just means you can't pick it up at the south location, only Harry Hays. I had to renew my on a rush to travel for work. I dropped everything off at the south but was told I could only pick it up at Harry Hays.

It is much easier to renew now than before. You don't need a guarantor for a renewal anymore.

[flambers]

Make sure you redo your passport online, print a copy and bring it to the building. Its way faster. As others mentioned you can pay extra to have it mailed sooner.

Folks who hand write their application sit around for ever, passports that are done online get in and out of the building very quickly.

[Meelapo]

For those that are still wondering about wait times...

I needed to renew my passport so I filled out the online form, waited at the Harry Hays building for about 15 minutes and paid the money (no rush, mail it to my house), waited and received the renewed passport in the mail. From the time I dropped it off to the time I got the Canada Post door knocker was about seven business days.

[Bill Bumface]

So I just got back from Harry Hays, zero minute wait time.

The only problem? Counter #2 rejected me as my previous passport got a bit wet during a Brazilian monsoon, and the bottoms of the pages are wavy and the back cover is slightly detached. So now I need a commissioner of oaths, a guarantor, a longer application... blah blah blah blah.

I was thinking of just using my existing one for my upcoming trip, and then trying to mail it after. Anyone in the know have any idea if I stand a chance of them accepting it? Or are they total dinks about this?

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by Meelapo

For those that are still wondering about wait times...

I needed to renew my passport so I filled out the online form, waited at the Harry Hays building for about 15 minutes and paid the money (no rush, mail it to my house), waited and received the renewed passport in the mail. From the time I dropped it off to the time I got the Canada Post door knocker was about seven business days.

Yup did the Harry Hay's building myself this morning, in & out in 13 minutes. "Wait ticket" was printed at 7:39am, debit receipt printed at 7:52am. Very quick & easy.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

So I just got back from Harry Hays, zero minute wait time.

The only problem? Counter #2 rejected me as my previous passport got a bit wet during a Brazilian monsoon, and the bottoms of the pages are wavy and the back cover is slightly detached. So now I need a commissioner of oaths, a guarantor, a longer application... blah blah blah blah.

I was thinking of just using my existing one for my upcoming trip, and then trying to mail it after. Anyone in the know have any idea if I stand a chance of them accepting it? Or are they total dinks about this?

I had the same thing, except the monsoon was in my washing machine . Now I have a beautiful full page sticker saying "THIS IS A REPLACEMENT PASSPORT" along with some other stuff...I wouldn't be surprised if I was red flagged now.

After I jumped through all the hoops the lady at the passport office said the first time you damage your passport there are no issues, but if you damage your replacement passport they will probably give you more grief when you go to get a new one.

As for your question about should you chance it. I had a friend who was a boarder agent for a while and he said that it is really up to the individual, you might get lucky and they won't care but do you really want to chance it?

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

Now I have a beautiful full page sticker saying "THIS IS A REPLACEMENT PASSPORT" along with some other stuff...I wouldn't be surprised if I was red flagged now

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

I had the same thing, except the monsoon was in my washing machine . Now I have a beautiful full page sticker saying "THIS IS A REPLACEMENT PASSPORT" along with some other stuff...I wouldn't be surprised if I was red flagged now.

After I jumped through all the hoops the lady at the passport office said the first time you damage your passport there are no issues, but if you damage your replacement passport they will probably give you more grief when you go to get a new one.

As for your question about should you chance it. I had a friend who was a boarder agent for a while and he said that it is really up to the individual, you might get lucky and they won't care but do you really want to chance it?

I know for sure the passport works fine, I've used it for entry into ~10 different countries since then with zero problems, including the US several times. It's just whether my mailed in application has any shot of getting approved.

[Hockeyguy15]

I took mine to Harry Hays but I can't see why they won't accept it. Mine had the same damage that you are talking about and I didn't have any extra wait because of it.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

I took mine to Harry Hays but I can't see why they won't accept it. Mine had the same damage that you are talking about and I didn't have any extra wait because of it.

Perfect, thanks. I either have to try again and hope that Ms. Picky isn't working or try mail it in after my trip.

[me_dennis]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15
I had the same thing, except the monsoon was in my washing machine . Now I have a beautiful full page sticker saying "THIS IS A REPLACEMENT PASSPORT" along with some other stuff...I wouldn't be surprised if I was red flagged now.

After I jumped through all the hoops the lady at the passport office said the first time you damage your passport there are no issues, but if you damage your replacement passport they will probably give you more grief when you go to get a new one.

As for your question about should you chance it. I had a friend who was a boarder agent for a while and he said that it is really up to the individual, you might get lucky and they won't care but do you really want to chance it?

bumping this old thread.

I accidentally put my passport through the washing machine, and the cover is detached from the "paper" part. the photo and stamps are still in tact, but it seemed like the pages have swelled up as the pages are now larger than the denim cover.

do you recommend I get a new passport, just to avoid any issues? I'm going on my honeymoon in September 25th to France, and I don't want any issues.