Passport Backlog Easing

By 250 News

    Waiting for a passport?

There is good news.

Not only  should things speed up now that  the  rules have been changed for people needing to renew a passport, but  plenty of extra staff have been hired to  clear up the existing backlog.

As of the 15^th of August, anyone needing to renew their passport need only submit the new, shorter passport renewal form, two new photos your application fee, and your last passport in order to renew your passport.

You can take advantage of this new service if your passport was issued after January 31 of 2002, was valid for five years was issued under your current name and was never damaged or reported stolen.

You can download a new shorter form at www.passport.gc.ca, or get one from any Canada post outlet or the office of your M.P.

The process will become even easier this fall.  Effective October 1^st, most Canadian adult passport holders will be able to act as guarantors for new applicants.

As for the backlog, Prince George –Peace River M.P. Jay Hill says progress is being made. Hundreds of  employees have been added to  help clear the backlog and the Service Canada centres  have been added to assist people  with the applications.   “We aren’t at the level of service we were accustomed to a year or two ago but we are gaining on it.” 

Hill says the United States is already experiencing problems because of its call for cross border passports, “Americans coming into Canada don’t have a problem, but when they try to go home, they are discovering they too need a passport, so the delays we have experienced are ten fold in Washington.”

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