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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ClearSkies on March 19, 2006, at 14:53:39
I am a Canadian citizen living in the US. I have a particular aversion to dealing with government agencies. it doesn't matter which country's government. I've experienced trauma at the US border, at British Immigration, and the federal government center in Boston when I attempted to apply for citizenship. (I was escorted from their premises with an armed guard after it was determined that I didn't actually meet the application requirements. Who knew? Not me.)
So, this time I thought that I would renew my passport with plenty of time (expires in May) and it's not as simple as it used to be. Because I was born in Quebec, my birth certificate is not valid proof of citizenship. There's a 13-page guide I had to print on how to get that, and *then* I can apply for the new passport. I should have started this process last year.
I had no idea that Quebec wasn't really a part of Canada, did you? I mean, if I'd been born in Ottawa, I wouldn't have to go through this. I'd be able to send my birth certificate in with my application for passport renewal, no problem. But because I was born in a now special place, I can shell out more money and spend more time trying to prove that I'm a citizen of the country that my birth certificate claims I am. Can't I send them a picture of me in a snowdrift? Or standing on Mount Royal? Or my first grade class photograph, with me wearing my Liddle Kiddle doll pinned to my navy tunic??
It's bewildering. I want someone else to do all this for me. I want it to be simple. I don't mind getting the horrible passport photos made, paying top dollar for an image I have to live with for another 5 years, of me looking like a ghost or a ghoul or a gremlin. Nothing like those passport photos. You don't see them in any model portfolios, do you?
Canadian I was born, Canadian I remain. Even if it depletes an entire print cartridge on the printer and I have to stand and feed dimes to the photocopier at the library, and I have to ask my dentist to be my guarantor because he's known me long enough (OK, he's known the inside of my mouth long enough) to qualify as one.
As much of a pain in the patooty as this is, it is a badge of being Canadian. We have the best, most convoluted, expensive, well documented passport office in the world, I bet. Someone tell me we do, please!
ClearSkies
Posted by special_k on March 19, 2006, at 17:15:41
In reply to Canadian passport experience aaack!, posted by ClearSkies on March 19, 2006, at 14:53:39
hmm. that sucks.
i have heard that over here... if i want to apply for proper citizenship... that will be over one thousand dollars thanks very much. but we do get fairly much... the cursory rubber stamp. apparantly it isn't so hard - just expensive.your experience sucks. yeah i was sure quebec was part of canada... and my knowledge of geography was limited... but i was fairly sure. have you tried showing them a map???
Posted by Racer on March 19, 2006, at 19:01:32
In reply to Canadian passport experience aaack!, posted by ClearSkies on March 19, 2006, at 14:53:39
LoL! I'm so sorry you're going through this. Special K had a good suggestion, though: show them a map. {shakes head} Some of that doesn't make sense. I've got stories about the DMV and about replacing my Social Security card, that might rival that.
But I nearly snorted when you got to the part about your dentist as guarantor. My husband had a time with that one, and the only person who qualified at that time was the pharmacist -- but this being Walgreens, she was transferred right before we had the forms and could ask her! Every time we thought we knew where she'd been moved to, she was moved again, too. You'd think there'd be an easier way, wouldn't you?
So, Canada may have some stiff competition for that "best, most convoluted, expensive, well documented passport office in the world" award...
Good luck, GremlinGirl...
Posted by special_k??? on March 19, 2006, at 19:09:30
In reply to I'm not so sure of that... » ClearSkies, posted by Racer on March 19, 2006, at 19:01:32
and of course i don't know anything about anything...
but is it something to do with the french influence in the french speaking areas so the US is a little more worried than they would be in the other areas where they believe they have more influence or something (uk being an ally)
just wondering...
Posted by AuntieMel on March 20, 2006, at 10:52:37
In reply to Canadian passport experience aaack!, posted by ClearSkies on March 19, 2006, at 14:53:39
Is this true of a passport *renewal?" All you need for a passport renewal here is the old passport. It kind of shows you've played their silly game before.
Posted by ClearSkies on March 20, 2006, at 13:29:39
In reply to Re: Canadian passport experience aaack! » ClearSkies, posted by AuntieMel on March 20, 2006, at 10:52:37
> Is this true of a passport *renewal?" All you need for a passport renewal here is the old passport. It kind of shows you've played their silly game before.
Yes, this is the renewal application process. I will have to send my old passport in as well, to get a new one; plus the citizenship certification has to be obtained and submitted with the old passport.
Since I got my current passport in May of 2001, all sorts of immigration and identification security measures have been implemented. It would be OK if I thought this stuff makes our world a safer place. I just don't think that throwing down dastardly bureaucratic red tape could ever keep those who mean harm to our respective countries from carrying out their agendas.
Grumbling. <waves hand> - don't mind me.
CS
Posted by ClearSkies on March 21, 2006, at 9:44:51
In reply to Canadian passport experience aaack!, posted by ClearSkies on March 19, 2006, at 14:53:39
In order to apply for a certificate of citizenship, I have to send my birth certificate - not the official, provincial government-issued, laminated card I have been carrying since my first job, delivering newspapers, when I was 12 - but an IMPROVED, EXPANDED version obtainable for $$$$ from the Province of Quebec. I can even get this process accelerated for $$$$, what a surprise.
I don't know if I will be able to travel outside of my country of residence this year at this rate. My anxiety levels are higher with every pdf file I have to download and print.
<shaking head> I wish I was still taking xanax.
Posted by AuntieMel on March 21, 2006, at 13:00:52
In reply to Oh this gets even better, posted by ClearSkies on March 21, 2006, at 9:44:51
Are those Canadian $$$$?
Posted by ClearSkies on March 21, 2006, at 14:22:32
In reply to Re: Oh this gets even better » ClearSkies, posted by AuntieMel on March 21, 2006, at 13:00:52
> Are those Canadian $$$$?
Yes, thank goodness. So I'm getting a discount!
This actually triggered my PTSD, having to do with the events I referred to in my first post. Just when you think you are over something, it jumps up and bites you in the behind :-(
This too shall pass, I keep telling myself.
CS
This is the end of the thread.
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