Question:
What that?? Looking through the instructions of the Canadian passport
renewal application, they need a "Guarantor" (isn't that a Japanese
giant monster?) or in lieu of finding one that fits the bill (holy cow,
I can't imagine there are many in the States that would) my wife has to
do the "Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor" form PPT 132.
This form doesn't seem to be downloadable. Is this something that can
only be mailed from a Canadian passport office?
What a pain in the...
IN THE MEAN TIME, is a green card or US drivers license good enough to
go back and forth from Canada to the US? Like does my wife need her
passport in the post 9/11 era for this kind of travel?
Answer:
I know how you feel but why not use a guarantee bond in lieu of a
signature and save yourself the trouble?
For as far back as I remember (40+ years) Canadians have *always* needed
a guarantor to get a passport. Finding one in the US may be difficult if
she has been here less than 2 years which, I believe, is the minimum
necessary. Doing the declaration in lieu of, isn't that big a deal.
Which form? The passport application is available at:
http://www.pptc.gc.ca/online_forms/pdfs/ppt140.pdf
If you're in the US, all passport stuff must be sent to either Ottawa or
Gatineau! You must send originals - copies are *not* acceptable. All
documents will be returned. I used a courier service most recently
rather than trust to either the USPS or Canada Post.
A passport is definitely recommended these days. It's up to the officer
whether a GC or DL is acceptable in lieu of a passport! If not, then
you're SOL.
I have the PPT 140, but because my
wife needs to do the "Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor" since we don't
have a Guarantor here in the States, we also need the form PPT 132.
I'm guessing it's not online and will have to order it.
I found the PPT 132 on the Los Angeles consulute site. So if your in a
big town or close to one try that. They mailed it to me all I had to do
was fill out a form with my address online. Faster then getting Canada
to mail it.
I renewed my Cdn passport a couple of months back. I downloaded the form for
Canadians living in the US (ppT #140
http://www.pptc.gc.ca/online_forms/printable_forms_e.asp). Then, I sent it
priority mail to the Passport Office in Ottawa, ON.
It took approximately 4 weeks to receive it back with my original documents.
It was relatively painless.
I live in Philly, and one of the Guarantors listed can be a notary public.
In Canada, these are typically limited to lawyers and such, but in the US,
more people have NP than you would believe. My neighbor happened to be one,
so that was beneficial to us. Check with your friends to see if they are NP.
Other choices include vet, medical dr. dentist, lawyer, accountant...
Also, it states they will contact your references, but mine were never
contacted. You must submit all types of docs, including a copy of your green
card, your Cdn birth cert original, and your expired passport. Don't forget
to that your guarantor must verify copies of documents where originals are
not provided (I just photocopied everything onto one sheet and she notarized
that).
The toughest part was getting Cdn passport photos taken; I ended up going to
the photo place in Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem, PA (next to Sears). They were
quite particular and precise; I brought the photo specs with me. I had no
problems with the photos submitted.
Forgot to mention, to travel into Canada from the US:
Cdn Immigration always prefers a passport
Here's my best experiences:
I was able to enter Canada with just my CDN birth certificate and drivers
license; I now provide my Cdn passport as it's easier
My US husband was required to show his US passport
I show my Canadian credentials when I enter Canada to process quicker
I show my US credentials when I enter US to process quicker (Canada doesn't
have a US citizens and permanent resident only line)
I'm not quite sure what "Retire to Italy" was thinking of when she
said "guarantee bond" in the above, but perhaps she didn't really
understand what the Canadian passport application requirements are.
A Canadian passport application must normally be signed, not only
by the applicant, but also by a "guarantor" -- a person working in
one of various professions (e.g., doctors, lawyers, engineers, and
various others) who has been personally acquainted with the appli-
cant for at least two years.
A guarantor's declaration on a Canadian passport application does
=not= involve a cash bond. In fact, the instructions on the appli-
cation clearly state that a guarantor must agree to perform his/her
duties at no cost to the applicant.
In some cases, it might not be possible to find a guarantor. For
example, someone who has recently moved may simply not have known
any suitable professional in his/her new area for the required
period of at least two years. In such cases, the Canadian passport
agency will allow the applicant to submit a "statutory declaration"
(basically, a notarized affidavit) in place of a certification by a
guarantor.
However, for whatever reason, the required form for a Statutory
Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor (called "PPT 132") is not avail-
able on the Canadian passport agency's web site. Hence the orig-
inal poster's question.
If a Canadian passport was issued without a guarantor, I have been told
that it is marked somewhere on the passport. Is that true?
