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[bruce_0701]

Hello everyone! This is only my second post in many years. I would just like to share some information concerning passport applications with my fellow Canadians working in China.

My current passport will expire on January 06, 2011. I thought I could simply renew it, but in fact, I must get a new passport according to the Canadian Consulate in Guangzhou city.

They told me that I didn't have to leave China. I could get my new passport in Guangzhou at the Canadian Consulate.

Now I don't know if this condition applies to all Canadians. But, I do possess a Resident Permit for Foreigners as well as a Foreign Expert Certificate. I don't know if this makes any difference or not. You'd have to contact the consulate yourself.

Anyway, here's a copy of the letter from the Canadian Consulate in Guangzhou including a website in the body of the text.

I hope this information is helpful to you.

Dear Bruce XXXXXXXX,

If your current passport is within 12 months of the expiry date, and you are residing in Guangdong province, you can apply for passport in Canadian Consulate General in Guangzhou.

Passport applications can be downloaded from the internet: http://www.passportcanada.gc.ca/form/index.aspx?lang=eng. Application forms are also available in our office.

You must apply for a new passport, as we are no longer permitted to extend the passport validity. You can either submit your application in person on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00am to 12:00 noon, or mail all requested documents including passport to our office by courier, and pay your fee by purchasing an money order at the China post office. If you need to return all original documents by courier, please complete the EMS waybill "receiver's information" and send the waybill to us with your application.

A guarantor is required for each passport application whether it is your first application or whether you have previously been issued a Canadian passport. The guarantor is a vital component of your application process as they certify the information on your application is true as well as verify your likeness on the photograph to be placed in the new passport. Essentially, the guarantor is a requirement, not an option. If you have not know an eligible guarantor for at least two years, complete a " Statutory Declaration in lieu of Guarantor" form PPTC 132, form is only available from all offices where Canadian passports are issued, you are requested to fill out this form at your own expense before a person who is authorized to administer. It requests you to provide your personal information, address and occupational / educational history for the last five years, as well as two other references (regardless of their nationality and the country they are residing) who are not family members and have known you for at least two years, information including their name, telephone number, address, and the years you have known them.

Please note that use of this form may delay processing since added checks are needed. Also, there is additional RMB 340.00 will be charged. Fee for Canadian of 16 years of age or above is CNY 670.00 /24-page or CNY 700.00/48-page.

The normal processing time for new passports is 15 working days after submission of a fully completed application with supporting documentation. We are located at Suite 801, Office Tower, China Hotel, 122 Liuhua Road, Guangzhou, China.

Sincerely,

Consulate General of Canada, Guangzhou
Consulat g�n�ral du Canada (Guangzhou)
Telephone | T�l�phone +86-20-8611-6100
Facsimile | T�l�copieur +86-20-8611-6196
801 China Hotel Office Tower
122 Liu Hua Lu
Guangzhou
510015
www.guangzhou.gc.ca

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[Von Dut]

[xiong20]

I renewed my Canadian passport in Beijing July 2007 without any problems.They took my current one and when issuing the new one about 10 days later, they diagonally cut the upper right corner of cover and pages 1-4 and stamped CANCELLED on page 3.

IMPORTANT.... a few months after receiving my new passport I decided to go to Hong Kong and, for some strange reason, I also took my cancelled passport with me.When going through the border,the Chinese immigration officer was thumbing the pages looking and looking through my new passport with a puzzled look on his face.I could see he and the officer near him exchanging glances. Then it dawned on me what he was looking for ... the new passport did NOT have an entry to China stamp in it and as I'm not Chinese,he probably was wondering how I got into China.I showed him the old passport and he was all smiles.Not sure what would have happened had I not brought it along.Most likely have to go home and get it..... long way back to Shijiazhuang.