CDN returning to Canada with foreign passport

[ken0042]

For adults applying in Canada, the proposed fee for a 5-year ePassport will be $120, and the proposed fee for a 10-year ePassport will be $160. The 10-year ePassport will actually cost Canadians less per year of validity than the current non-electronic 5-year passport.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by ken0042

For adults applying in Canada, the proposed fee for a 5-year ePassport will be $120, and the proposed fee for a 10-year ePassport will be $160. The 10-year ePassport will actually cost Canadians less per year of validity than the current non-electronic 5-year passport.

Thats a proposal. My wife suspects, along with other front line Passport Canada employees, that the 10 year fee will be higher. Passport Canada is one of the few government agencies that operates totally on revenues obtained through the sale of passports. They are not subsidized by general government revenues. Why would Passport Canada deliberately reduce their revenues, by selling a 10 year (and more expensive passport to produce) for $160, causing them to operate in the red?

[polak]

Lying to get in the country is the stupidest thing I've ever heard of.

One, you need to make sure that citizens of the country that you have a forigen passport for don't require a visa to visit Canada. If they do, you're not getting in.

Two, customs keeps records on your travel history and can see the activity on your passport. Hell, they probably know that you have dual citizenship when they swipe your passport.

Three, you better have all your ducks in a row for your backstory. Where and how long you're staying, how come you don't have a return ticket and proof for all of that.

OR

You a) renew your passport normally and deal with the "hassle" of filling out a form and getting a picture taken in 5 years instead of 10 or b) you say that you didn't realize your passport had expired and you don't even know how you got by everyone to this point with an expired passport and then deal with proving your citizenship.

Either way is less risky and stupid then lying.

[habernac]

Heck, I know a guy who came back after 20 years in the states illegally. He got back into Canada with no passport. Took a few hours, but he got back in. Honesty can work wonders for you.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Thats a proposal. My wife suspects, along with other front line Passport Canada employees, that the 10 year fee will be higher. Passport Canada is one of the few government agencies that operates totally on revenues obtained through the sale of passports. They are not subsidized by general government revenues. Why would Passport Canada deliberately reduce their revenues, by selling a 10 year (and more expensive passport to produce) for $160, causing them to operate in the red?

Well, let's say for example the fixed costs of producing the current passport is $30 and the fixed costs of producing the new passport is $40.

They sell the current 5 year passport for $85, which is a $55 profit per passport, or $11 per year of validity. If they sell the new 10 year passport for $160, it would be a profit of $120 per passport, or $12 per year of validity.



Also, let's say there are 10 million passports in Canada, and 30% choose to keep renewing theirs for 5 years, but the other 70% opt for the 10 year passport.

Right now, they would need to process 2 million passports per year, and would need to have the staff and resources available to do that. If 3 million stay on a 5 year cycle, that's 600,000 per year. With 7 million moving to a 10 year cycle, that's 700,000 per year. Combined, that would reduce the number of passports processed per year to 1.3 million. That would allow them to reduce their staffing requirements and other costs.



Now, I just made these numbers up, but I'm sure that the powers-that-be at Passport Canada have done the calculations with the real numbers.

[Northendzone]

if i were the op, i would jsut take a chance at getting back into canada - it will make for an awesome vacation story.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by fotze

Having people come every 10 years instead of 5 could help reduce the costs as well, leading the reduction of the size of the department. A noble goal for any right wing thinker.

That would be a valid ideal, if tax dollars were used to fund the department. They aren't.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

When I returned from the UK back in 2006, my Canadian passport was out of date so I used my UK passport. I did get some grief from the CBSA people because essentially I was treated as a British citizen, so they wanted to know the purpose of my visit and that sort of thing. I explained that I am Canadian and they asked me to prove that I was a permanent resident of Canada and not just a citizen. My UK passport does list my birthplace (Calgary).

I offered to show my license with my home address - not good enough. Canadian credit cards? Nope. Student ID card? Nope. I was told that I would need to show a landed immigrant card (not applicable to me) or a Canadian passport.

Eventually they relented after a bit of a grilling from the CBSA guy, but it was certainly an odd experience standing in the airport of the city of my birth and where I have lived my entire life, and contemplating not being allowed in! They strongly suggested that I renew my Canadian passport and use it for returning to Canada, which I have since done.

Don't take this as the gospel because I'm not sure if I got an overly zealous agent who just wanted to make things difficult. But yes, I did get back in. But no, it wasn't as easy as it should have been.

I had that in reverse on my return to the UK in August. I only have a Canadian Passport, but I have to carry an out of date passport along with my current one as that has the stamp giving me leave to enter the UK for an indefinite period.

On our return from Greece, THE ONE TIME I give my wife control of the passports, she packs the old one in the hold luggage.

That was fun.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Yes you could lie and say you are visiting. I wouldn't recommend it though, if you are caught there could be legal ramifications and even if you bypass those you could be flagged every time you enter the country.

The problem is if a person comes with a foreign passport and says they are living in Canada without a valid visa. At this point it looks like the person is trying to immigrate to Canada illegally.

Never EVER lie.

[goodyear]

Thanks for the advice CP. I did end up go down to the passport office and applying for a new Canadian passport instead. I weighted all the options and like someone said, it`s not worth the hassle of being stopped by the CBSA at YYC after a long flight home.

My hands were kind of tied too when I found out that I have to transit through the states and I would need a visa on my other passport to get in the US.



Thanks again!

[Jimmy Stang]

Wise choice, I think, especially considering that you'd have to stop in the US. Far less worrying and explaining to do with agents at each border that you'll cross.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by goodyear

I have dual nationality and have been traveling in the past with my Canadian passport. However, that passport expired in October and I would like to apply for a new one in 2013 when the government releases the new 10 year expiry "smart" passport.

So..my question is: If I travel over Christmas, can I get back into Canada using my foreign passport? Or will I get too much grief from the CBSA agents?

Thanks

I have Dutch/Canadian citizenship and can tell you it is much easier with Canadian passport. Having said that, the downside is simply having to show more documents (keep expired passport), etc to get them to understand and you'll get through. Granted I haven't tried in 5 years as I finally renewed my Canadian one

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Rerun

That would be a valid ideal, if tax dollars were used to fund the department. They aren't.

Lower costs for Canadians is still a valid ideal.

[afc wimbledon]

I've only ever had a UK passport, never had any trouble getting back into Canada, when they ask the purpose of my visit I say I live here and am a Canadian.
I don't think I have ever been asked to provide anything else in the way of ID.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

I've only ever had a UK passport, never had any trouble getting back into Canada, when they ask the purpose of my visit I say I live here and am a Canadian.
I don't think I have ever been asked to provide anything else in the way of ID.

They don't ask for a permanent resident card?

[afc wimbledon]

I don't recall them ever asking, I am always on the return leg of a holiday, which I assume they are aware of, I also am a middle aged white guy, which frankly goes a long way still, and am casual and confident in my appearence and tone of voice.

I generally get waived right through, ditto on the line into the US

[polak]

Wait, are you a landed immigrint? or a Canadian citizen?

[afc wimbledon]

naturalized canadian citizen. I suspect as my passport is UK, and as such I would have automatic entry as well without a visa requirement it means the passport control worry less.
In essence what does it matter as if I am lying or telling the truth about either the result is the same.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Lower costs for Canadians is still a valid ideal.

True... as long as they don't lower the cost of a passport so low that taxpayers dollars are needed to subsidize production costs.

I suppose they are trying to keep the cost somewhat in line with the cost of a 10 yr USA passport ($165)

I talked to my wife about the cost and she said they may indeed go with the $160 fee but they will now start charging extra fees... ie $45 processing fee if you lose your passport on top of the fee for the passport. Currently they don't charge a processing fee for the extra paperwork for lost passports (and you would be surprised at how many people lose theirs (sometimes more than once).

[Jimmy Stang]

^ I'd be in favour of a lower overall cost but with added fees for special requests. Rush, replacement, etc. then that way those that use more resources pay more. Hard to argue with that.