Job Discussion Forums

[igorG]

Understandably, this should not be work related topic, although the issue of having to renew our passports about every 4 or so years may interfere with our working schedules as well as it may take a bit of our energy (aside funds) we have to spend when renewing. Then, with children it's even more frustrating and if they are younger than 6, a FT is up for filling in many such applications often. Now, according to one of my colleagues the Guangzhou's Consulate does not serve as a guarantor (for a few hunderd quai), which it did before, and apparently the local docs and lawyers may have to vouch in order to have our passports renewal processed. To confirm this apparently recent change, I have unsuccessfully tried to call the local consulate in vain this week and i am expecting an email reply on any changes hopefully soon. Frustrating as it is, because i've got two little kids, that're NOT terrorists or any sort of criminals, with passports expiring this Summer.

Should our and our children passport renewals be so painful?

[7969]

[igorG]

Thank you for the reply.

As for the guarantor, the statutory declaration is the one i've meant when refering to the consulate vouching for the applicant. Yes, a check is done after the applicant fills it in. The reason i've mentioned that is that one of my colleagues complained she wasn't allowed the choice..and, yes. oi've doubted her.

As for phoning the office, they've always had answering machines to my knowledge/ But this time NO.

Agreeably, the process is uneasy for reasons and most Canadians know why. However, they do deserve less of a hussle, don't they? Once, we register with our consulates abroad, they learn about us and so the offices should ease our pain of being abroad. That's not too much to ask or too difficult to do with the modern technology.

Now, i've downloaded my kid's application and it doesn't seem to be much different than i've expected. There's a 5 year passport for kids from the age of 3, not shorter which i've assumed. My wrong. But i sure hope i won't have to look for some local docs/lawyers to vouch for me because that's my consulate's job, i believe.

[catinthehatter]

Acquiring a national passport, using it, entering foreign countries is not a right, it (they) is/are a privilege. Those unwilling to accept or follow the processes or inconveniences ...

[igorG]

It's interesting to bring up a right vs a privilege in the case of passports. If we talked about driving, then i'd agree with the privilege. However, with respect to passports, my view is that any law obeying citizen of any country should have a right to get a chance to travel and that especially in free countries such as Canada.

Now, i am not saying we're denied our "rights to get chances to travel" but i am suggesting we're denied easier renewal process abroad where the modern high techonlogy may be used. Saving the bureaucracy of clercs that have to be paid (taxpayers money) and the rainforest that has to be cut, should also be considered, shouldn't it?

On the end, it's not about willingness to accept or follow, but it's about the process that many taxpayers of a free country have little say about. Seriously, why pay so many clerks and so much for the postage, when the passport could be all re-issued in the location of the traveler based on a little high tech machine that agrees with the identity of the applicant. Is this really the future that i am talking about? I bet quite a few of us would be willing to give up a bit of our privacy for that one fingerprint, retina scan or whatever, which is anyway a routine of some other institutions of our home countries already.Opening up a bank account in the US, for example, meant that i had to give a few of my fingers to the local bank manager there. So, why not passports? Why do we have to go through the hassle renewing what we have got already? Isn't it easier to cheat now then it'd be in the case of some sort of a modern high tech machine assuring the consulates of our identities?

[7969]

[igorG]

Yes, most Canadians in Canada may not be prepared/willing to undergo such identity checks. But we aren't discussing those people, are we?

To my knowledge, there are scores of Canadians living and/or working around the world. The 5 year limit on a passport validity provides many with a hussle that in my opinion is unnecessary. I can't imagine being denied the "PRIVILEGE" while working abroad. And, i've got two kids, two more privileged passports. Perhaps we'd get some sort of "PRIVILEGED TRAVELING DOCUMENTS" to quickly come back home as our passports could not be issued.

[Sashadroogie]

Canadian passports are valid only for 5 years or so? Why not 10 years like most of the world that I know of? Would solve a few of the problems discussed here. A lot less frustration at least.

[igorG]

Yes, 5 years only. Why? I can only assume. For one there are more jobs created in these consular offices, and then there are some revenues out of it as the passports cost. Then, imagine that a FT who has to travel from place to place for work may not have enough contacts to vouch for his/her identity. So, the extra form, what is it called, Statutory Declaration or something like that, which cost some 400 or so RMB, is some fine extra money to the office too. Agreeably, we change from year one year and so do our faces and that especially the ones in between 15 to 30, but do we change so much and beyond the recognition later on in our lives?

[7969]

[7969]

[igorG]

[7969]

you clearly have no idea what you're talking about here. the evidence supports the need for the way passports are applied for and issued. someone else can waste their time replying to you further.

[igorG]

[The Great Wall of Whiner]