Passport Renewal Question

[kipperfan]

So, I need to renew my passport as it expires next month and noticed on the Government Canada website that it says you cannot go through the renewal process if your last issued passport is "damaged". I travelled extensivly on my last passport and as a result it was a bit worn, but then I managed to put it through the washing machine (don't even ask how I did that) and now it's really rough looking and the pages are all stiff and slightly discolored (I have been able to completly dry it out).

The passport is still fully inact, all the stamps and visas are still visible, the photo/info page is still undamaged and easy to read and see. So the question is, will Passport Canada consider this a "damaged" passport? If so that is going to mean going through the intial application process again so I am really hoping for some good news here.

[BlackArcher101]

Best to visit one of the offices and let them view it and start the process there.

[Hockeyguy15]

Mine went through the wash, had to do the damaged passport process.

Edit: Mine was is good shape, just the covers shrunk a little and the pages we a little rippled after I dried it out.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

So, I need to renew my passport as it expires next month and noticed on the Government Canada website that it says you cannot go through the renewal process if your last issued passport is "damaged". I travelled extensivly on my last passport and as a result it was a bit worn, but then I managed to put it through the washing machine (don't even ask how I did that) and now it's really rough looking and the pages are all stiff and slightly discolored (I have been able to completly dry it out).

The passport is still fully inact, all the stamps and visas are still visible, the photo/info page is still undamaged and easy to read and see. So the question is, will Passport Canada consider this a "damaged" passport? If so that is going to mean going through the intial application process again so I am really hoping for some good news here.

My daughter managed to dump water on me wife's new passport, not much, but was certainly noticable. I suspect it was less damage than washing. It will be considered a damaged passport. If in Calgary go to the South passort office, near McLeod and Canyon Meadows. I have had nothing but great customer service at that location.

[ranchlandsselling]

Wash = damaged for me

[JD]

I went through this and it was a giant, enormous issue for me! Mine was washed, like yours. I actually had used it for years after that "damaging" event. Like yours, the pages were intact and completely legible. The edges of the cover were slightly bent and frayed. And yes, that was considered damaged and the passport was confiscated as soon as I presented it at the passport office.

At the time I was working in the UAE with a residence visa stamped into my passport. When I went to renew, they confiscated the passport with absolutely no ability to do otherwise. I begged, I pleaded, I tried to get the original back, no luck.

Getting a replacement Canadian passport was no problem, but replacing my UAE visa was a painstaking process. I ended up being 3 weeks late going to work in Abu Dhabi and actually spent a night at the airport there because the arrangements my employer was supposed to make were not.

Anyway, back to the passport, I think it may depend on the security guy that checks your documentation as you line up. The guy I dealt with was an unsure fellow who was determined to follow the rules. If you're firm and convincing enough, they might allow you to keep your original. When I explained the issue to the ladies at the counter, they were sympathetic, but by that time, it was too late for them to do anything to help me. Good luck!

[kipperfan]

Thanks for the info guys. Not what I wanted to hear though!

[GreenLantern]

Not to hijack this thread but, I have heard that traveling in the states with a passport that is going to expire in less than a year can lead to a large amount of hassle for you, anyone experience this? Set to go to Boston through Chicago in March and my passport expires December 2014..

[Bill Bumface]

Mine went through a monsoon. The back page was seperated and had some ink runs. I took it in and they told me damaged. That sounded like a pain, so I took a glue stick to it, put it under a laptop that was plugged in (so it was warm) and a huge stack of books. After a day it was way less wavy, and the seperated page was back together. Took it back, and got a guy that seemed a little more laid back and he said to be careful next time because mine was very close to being considered damaged but he accepted it.

What drives me nuts about the whole thing is they cut off the corner and give it back to you anyway, so who cares if it got wet?

I'm guessing it's for the case that people steal security features out of the passports to make counterfiets and they don't want Joe Blow working at the desk to be making decisions on what kind of damage could create a security risk, but it still seems stupid.

[ken0042]

For Canadian citizens: My passport expires in less than 6 months. Can I still travel to the U.S.?

Your passport only needs to be valid for the duration of your planned trip to the U.S.

[JD]

It's really stupid because why is a damaged passport more likely to be made into a counterfeit than a non-damaged one? If you get one back as a useless artifact, why not the other?

Actually, the more I think about it, the more stupid I think it is.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Not to hijack this thread but, I have heard that traveling in the states with a passport that is going to expire in less than a year can lead to a large amount of hassle for you, anyone experience this? Set to go to Boston through Chicago in March and my passport expires December 2014..

They won't care.

I think 6 months is the guideline, but if you have return tickets coming back before your passport expires with a bit of a buffer, you're fine.

[lazypucker]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Not to hijack this thread but, I have heard that traveling in the states with a passport that is going to expire in less than a year can lead to a large amount of hassle for you, anyone experience this? Set to go to Boston through Chicago in March and my passport expires December 2014..

That's perfectly ok. As long as your passport has not expired, you are free to go in and out of the US until the day of expiry.

To other countries, it is usually 6 months prior to expiry.

[Muta]

Whatever you do, make sure you renew for 10 years. The price is only $40 more, and is much better value for your money. I went through the renewal process last month and it was a piece of cake; got my passport one week after submitting my application.

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by Muta

Whatever you do, make sure you renew for 10 years. The price is only $40 more, and is much better value for your money. I went through the renewal process last month and it was a piece of cake; got my passport one week after submitting my application.

I have been considering the 5 vs 10 year renewal and am torn TBQH. Do you get more pages with the 10 year passport? Because if not, I don't think it would work for me, my nearly expired passport is a 5 year version and I only have one blank page left.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

I have been considering the 5 vs 10 year renewal and am torn TBQH. Do you get more pages with the 10 year passport? Because if not, I don't think it would work for me, my nearly expired passport is a 5 year version and I only have one blank page left.

I think you do. That's a good question, I haven't checked; but when I flipped through it I noticed there was ALOT of space for visas and stamps.

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by Muta

I think you do. That's a good question, I haven't checked; but when I flipped through it I noticed there was ALOT of space for visas and stamps.

Hmmm, well you've peaked my interest now. I am going to try and pull a hulkrogan and pretty up my old passport up this afternoon and bring it down to Harry Hays to see if I have a chance with it; I am also going to ask about the # of pages for each type of passport.

[Muta]

kipperfan - I seem to remember something around the 10-year passport being a 40 page document; could be wrong on that though.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

That's perfectly ok. As long as your passport has not expired, you are free to go in and out of the US until the day of expiry.

To other countries, it is usually 6 months prior to expiry.

How about Mexico?

[Superfraggle]

I just got my 10 year passport last week. I count 29 visa pages.