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WHTI - Canadian Tourists Need Passports to Enter the US

On June 1st another chapter in the story of George W. Bush and Osama bin Laden comes to fruition. The last part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) went into effect on June 1st and anyone coming from Canada to the U.S. by any transportation means will now need a passport. This final act will make the longest undefended border in the world a wall, the last spike of a slow and steady determination by the paranoid Bush administration to make Canada a completely foreign country after over a hundred-and-fifty years of peaceful crossings.

Border Slow Downs

For those of you who don't understand what the problem is about needing a passport to get from Canada to the U.S. do not understand the amount of goods and services that flow between Canada and the U.S. And since 2001 the major border crossings have been like rush hour in any major city. The introduction of a passport will slow this down to a crawl as overzealous border guards grill more Canadians.

American Group Paranoia

This paranoid thinking about Canada is instilled in the American psyche. It persists because many American leaders, although they publicly deny it, still think that more than a few of the perpetrators of 9-11 came through Canada. And even though a public commission in 2004 announced that no terrorists of that awful day came through the Canadian-U.S. border many Americans, like John McCain, do not believe it. They see that the Canadian authorities have captured terrorists and so think that Canada is a training base for them. The reason they hear about it is that the Canadian law enforcement agencies have grabbed them before they became dangerously embedded.

Many Americans Do Not Embrace Passports

An estimated 70% of Americans do not hold passports. this includes those who take their RV's into Canada or just drive or fly here for a holiday. They pump untold millions into the Canadian economy as do Canadians who cross the border to shop or weekend in the U.S. But passports take time and are not cheap. And those Americans who have never had one are not lining up to get them as they do not want the hassle. Instead they will go to the Grand Canyon or see Mount Rushmore again. And Canadians will go to the national parks, Niagara Falls or see Nova Scotia.

Passport Canada Drops the Ball at the Wrong Time

And just when you though it couldn't get any worse Passport Canada suddenly stopped its online passport application site on April 30th. So now as the tourist season begins the slow mail-in process and lining up at the offices will be come common place.

Bad for U.S Tourism/Good for Nova Scotia

The Nova Scotia and Canadian governments keep very good records of the economic activity of tourists. This is for a good reason. Tourism is a huge industry and a larger part of the Canadian GNP than tourism is on the U.S. economic scene. But as the U.S. goes through its first full summer in a recession they will see fewer people from Canada and this will hurt their theme parks and other sites. These are not only Canadian tourists who do not want to get a passport but those with expired passports who do not want to stand in line to pay $87 to get a new one.

Nova Scotia has been benefiting from Canadian tourists who are getting frustrated by the heavy-handed U.S. security procedures at the borders and in airports and are coming to Nova Scotia for their holidays.

But it will take hard figures to convince the American protectionists. And these will be coming when border traffic slows down.

Kim Kinrade invites you to to his website and blog on the many wonders of Nova Scotia, Canada's Atlantic Playground. http://www.traveltonovascotia.com There is so much to see and do in Nova Scotia within a small area that it has become an optimum destination for many travelers.

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Two Options For Getting Yourself A Canadian Visa

Immigrating to another country can be quite a challenge. However it can also be a relatively easy process depending on a lot of factors. If you are looking at moving to Canada, considering the option of a permanent residence visa under the skilled worker category might be the best option for you. Of course as the category suggest, you would need to fall into a section of the skilled worker category. There is plenty of easily available information for you to position yourself and see where you could fit in. Once you have made the decision to migrate her are the two options that are open for you to explore. Whichever one you decide to take should get you your Canadian visa if all your documents are in place.

Option 1: Hiring a representative or a consultant

If you can afford an immigration representative or a consultant, this would be the best way to go. Immigration consultants know the ins and outs of immigrations laws and the documents that you are required to provide. They will also be able to advise you on the category of skilled labour that you can apply for a visa under. According to the laws of the Canadian government, a paid immigration consultant is one that is approved by the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants. There are websites that will help you check the credibility of your immigration consultant before you get started.

All immigration consultants will charge you a fee for their services. This fee is not to be confused with the official immigration fee that you have to pay the Canadian government.

Option 2: The DIY (do it yourself) option

The second option available for you to explore is to actually do the whole thing yourself. This way you will actually save a lot of money, as the fee that most of the immigration consultants take is two to three times that of the fee that you are required to pay the Government of Canada. However, unless you know exactly what you are doing, this would not be a wise idea as you will have to spend a lot more time researching information and getting your documents into the order that they need to be in.

Ronie Smith is an eminent analyst and writer which is writing about: Two options for getting yourself a Canadian Visa.

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Canadian Passport Requirements - Ensure That You Can Travel to the USA on Time

I've just found a great deal on a trip to Miami, what documents do I need to have in order to travel?

This is a common questions that I am presented with. It is important to consider the requirements before booking an international trip of any kind: you would hate to miss your vacation due to being turned away at the airport!

You will need a passport. As of January 2007, Canadians flying into the USA require passports. You are still allowed to travel by car, train or bus without a passport, but by January 2008 these travelers require passports as well. I recommend getting a passport now if you have travel plans of any kind. Your passport should be valid until at least six (6) months after your return to Canada.

How do I get a passport, and how long does it take?

This depends on your situation, if you have a Canadian passport issued after January 2002 there is a new simplified process to obtain a new passport. Canadian Citizens applying for their first passport, or renewing a passport issued before 2002 have a more complicated application to submit. If you are a Permanent Resident (Landed Immigrant) of Canada, you are not allowed to apply for a Canadian Passport, and must follow a different process altogether.

All application forms/ instructions are available at your local post office. Be sure to check with Passport Canada for unique situations (my passport was stolen!), updates and office locations for applying in person.

Simplified Passport Renewal

If you are an adult looking to renew a passport that was issued after January 31 2002, and you do not need to change your name, replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport, you may be able to take advantage of the new simplified passport application. This option is available only to those that are residing in Canada and were 16 years of age or older and residing in Canada when the previous passport was issued.

This application allows you to skip the Guarantor process, and avoid submitting proof of identity, as well your birth certificate or citizenship card. You must submit the application form, two (2) new photographs, a processing fee of $87, and your previous passport.
Passports applied for in person can be ready in as little as two (2) weeks. Passports applied for by mail will take at least six (6) weeks.

Standard Passport Application

For those who do not have an adult passport issued after January 31, 2002, you must use the full application. This could be your first passport application, you were under 16 when your last passport was issued or you are residing outside of Canada.

For these applications you need to have a guarantor, but new rules allow almost everyone to have access to someone that can sign for them. Many Canadians by virtue of holding a passport themselves can now act as guarantors. You will be required to submit the application form, a fee of $87, proof of identity (ie. Driver's Licence), two (2) photographs and original proof of citizenship.

Like the Simplified Application, passports applied for in person can be ready in as little as two (2) weeks, six (6) weeks by mail.

What if I am a Permanent Resident (Landed Immigrant) of Canada, not a Citizen?

You will need to ensure that you have a valid Permanent Resident (PR) Card. This is required to return to Canada after your trip. If you are unsure of the procedure to obtain a PR Card, you should get in touch with an Immigration Specialist like myself, or Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Generally PR Cards take about 6-8 weeks to process.

You will also need to carry a valid passport from your Country of Citizenship. If this passport is not current you will need to contact that country's embassy or consulate in Canada to apply. Be aware that the length of time, fees, and the amount of documentation required varies greatly country to country. Some will be able to renew an existing passport the same day, others will find that it takes several months and involves a lot of supporting documents.

Depending on the passport you carry, you may need a visa in order to enter the United States. The United States does not view Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residence in the same way. The American authorities will treat you as a Citizen of the country whose passport you are carrying. Be sure to check out this requirement several months before you want to travel: American visas often take weeks or months to arrange.

Common Mistakes

When making an application of any type ensure that it is signed! Make sure you have included everything asked for on the checklist including the fee.
If your passport applications requires you to provide original proof of citizenship, make sure you know where your Birth Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship is! Passport Canada will not accept your current Canadian Passport as proof of citizenship. If you need to replace a Birth Certificate or Citizenship document, be sure to apply well ahead of time!

Be sure to carefully read all instructions from Passport Canada before applying.
Christopher Daw is a member of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants. He operates a consulting agency based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. For any questions or concerns about Canadian Citizenship, Immigration, Residency or PR status, please visit http://www.dawimmigration.com Copyright Christopher Daw © 2007. All rights reserved.

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What You Must Know About Getting a Canada Passport

As of January 23, 2007, a new American law requires everyone entering the United States by air to have a valid Canada passport. This has a lot more people getting their Canada passports than ever before. Most people expect that applying for a Canadian passport either for the first time or replacing an expired one is stressful. People who have been through this process have many tales of woe regarding the long waiting period at the government offices, scuttling to locate and get all the required forms, and then sweating over the application form for accuracy, else the submission gets delayed.

Going through such a process can undoubtedly be hellish for those who have time constraints. Following the below-mentioned steps can however save you a lot of trouble and speed up the process resulting in quick approval:

Get your Canada passport application form – These application forms are now available online are interactive in nature. They guide the applicants through all the procedures very well to minimize the possibilities of errors and eliminate chances of omission. You can also get them at a Canada postal outlet or passport service location.

Take passport size photos – You need to take a passport size photograph and its two identical copies, not more than a year old.

Get your form and photo identity cards signed by a guarantor – Just take a print out of the form mentioned above and fill it accurately checking all your queries online. You need to have at least one proof of your identity that has your name and signature; the document must have been issued to you by the provincial, federal, or municipal government. One such document could be your provincial driver’s license. You must submit the originals of all the documents along with their photocopies. After the necessary verification, the original copies of all the documents submitted by you will be returned. In case, you are submitting only copies of all documents, your guarantor must sign them all.

Obtaining a guarantor’s signature on the Canadian passport application is a must. Generally, a guarantor is a person who knows you personally for not less than two years and can verify the accuracy of your statements and documents supporting your Canadian passport application. In fact, the guarantor must also sign one of your passport size photographs too along with the documents supporting your identity and citizenship.

Obtain proof of your valid Canadian citizenship – You need to have your birth certificate or that of your Canadian citizenship. In case you are born outside Canada, you may produce certificates of Canadian Citizenship, Naturalization, Retention of Canadian Citizenship, or Registration of Birth Abroad.

Using a previous Canadian passport as supporting identification – A previous Canadian passport may be used a supporting identification provided that all of the following conditions are met: the passport is still valid or is year after its expiry date; the passport itself is submitted with the application form; the name on the passport is the same as the one on the application,

On average, the passport application process takes 10 days if you are applying in person and 20 days if you applied by mail. The Canadian government also provides urgent or express services for emergency or compassionate reasons on a case-by-case basis, applications must be in person and submitted with a proof of emergency.

Get more Canada passport tips and Canada travel info - visit FlyFromCanada.com

Written By: Jolana_Klobouk

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Has Your Canadian Passport Application Been Processed?

Canadian Passport offices are independent operating agencies governed by the Canadian government and controlled by its Foreign Affairs department. It has been renamed as Passport Canada recently. The office holds all the rights for issuing, withholding, recovering as well as revoking passports.

According to the Canadian Passport new policies, a simplified renewal process for passports and a guarantor policy has been put into effect. According to the new guarantor policy, Travel Visa holders living in Canada as well as the U.S would be allowed to be named as guarantors in regards of other applications. According to the new guarantor policy, the following requirements are required to be fulfilled for gaining eligibility as a guarantor:

• You must have Canadian citizenship and your age should be at least 18 years old.

• You must be a Canadian passport holder of the five-year term or if it is expired, not more than 12 months should have passed since then.

• Your age should have been at least 16 years old when the application was made for your passport.

• You should have personally known the passport applicant for two years minimum.

With the help of databases, verification of eligibility of the guarantor is done for increasing efficiency and security of the process. According to the new renewal process, guarantors and citizenship proofs are no more required for renewal purposes. If you want to apply Canadian passport renewal in India, application form, present visa, photographs and immigration documents are required to be submitted.

An online application can be obtained depending on your age as the application is different for different ages. You are required to download and print the application form, complete it with all the necessary information, attach your photo and get it signed by your guarantor as well as yourself. This application form can be submitted to various Travel Visa service locations along with documents supporting your information. Else, the form and documents can be mailed.

After submitting your application, you may be tempted to know that can you check progress of your Canadian passport application; the answer is yes. You can anytime visit Passport Canada's website, fill in the application details and get your passport status. If considerable time has lapsed after you submitted your application, has my passport been processed would be the question on your mind. You can satisfy this query at the same place where you tracked your application status. Usually, no more than 7 weeks are required for normal processing.

According to the Canadian Passport control land travel, you do not require passport for traveling between Canada and the U.S as of now but after June, 2009, it will be necessary to have a passport. Currently, only a proof of identification and citizenship is required. Canadian passport requirements via US to Trinidad currently requires you to show up identification and citizenship proofs as well as proof of passport application which was previously required. A passport is compulsorily required for Canadians to enter Trinidad.

Written By: Will_Moore

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Canada Passport Renewals

Considering the population of Canada, 2.5 million is indeed an overwhelming number of Canadian passports to be issued each year. However, the process of renewal of a Canadian passport can be arduous if the steps required to do so are not followed systematically and properly.

Canada passport renewal falls under two categories- for applicants above 16 years and for those under 16 years of age. Applicants above 16 years of age should use form PPT040 and submit form PPT132 (should be used only when guarantor signature is not obtained), present Canadian passport, Canadian citizenship proof, certificate of Canadian citizenship, Canadian birth certificate, other important ID and two passport-sized photos. The total fee charged for granting a Canadian passport is CDN100 (with guarantor signature) or CDN150 (without guarantor signature).

In case the applicant falls under the age of 16, then along with the form PPT042, other documents that need to be printed include form PPT132 (only when guarantor signature is not obtained), present Canadian passport, Canadian citizenship proof, certificate of Canadian citizenship, Canadian birth certificate, other important ID and two passport-sized photos. Also, the applicant’s parents should sign the application and present any legal documents concerning divorce (if any) and child custody. The total fee comes up to CDN35 (with guarantor signature) or CDN85 (without guarantor signature).

Recently, in order to cater to the growing demand for Canadian passports each year, the government formulated plans to offer a better service for granting the passports. For the same reason, on July 5, 2004, a pilot project which extended to 20,000 applicants was launched. The project, which ran until November 2005, aimed at offering Canadian passport renewal as a permanent service by Passport Canada.

Passport Renewal provides detailed information on Passport Renewal, US Passport Renewals, Passport Renewal Forms, Canada Passport Renewals and more. Passport Renewal is affiliated with Passport Applications.

Written By: Ross_Bainbridge

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