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Replying to my own post.

I have an official response now from Passport Canada that References can be in our outside USA or Canada. So, I'm not sure why an agent has rejected it with a handwritten note saying exactly the opposite. I will be filing an official complaint.

Yeah this sucks. I'm sorry. Please do file a complaint - this is just a waste of your time.

Also, try to find a center that accepts walk-in applications and submit the application in-person. It is so much better than submitting the application by mail.
 
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Replying to my own post.

I have an official response now from Passport Canada that References can be in our outside USA or Canada. So, I'm not sure why an agent has rejected it with a handwritten note saying exactly the opposite. I will be filing an official complaint.
Lazy, ignorant agent. Indeed, there is no instruction anywhere that the references have to be in the US or Canada only. Good luck with the complaint.

Bad luck with you there. Not as lucky as the friend of a poster who got their passport without any guarantor or declaration.
 
You'll have to fill this form up =>

https://eservices.canada.ca/en/service/

Under "Passport Services", check "If you would like to apply in person, select this option. A representative will contact you to schedule an in-person appointment." option. Someone will contact you within 2 business days and they'll be able to book an appointment for you!

Did that already. I was wondering if they give you options for when/where you can go based on your schedule and availability or do they just dictate a time/place themselves?
 
Lazy, ignorant agent. Indeed, there is no instruction anywhere that the references have to be in the US or Canada only. Good luck with the complaint.

Bad luck with you there. Not as lucky as the friend of a poster who got their passport without any guarantor or declaration.

This whole process of applying for a Canadian passport has been a terrible experience. This requirement of a guarantor and references makes absolutely no sense when they have granted citizenship through an application and conducted all checks and have our photographs on file. Even more ridiculous is the requirement for references when renewing a Canadian passport, does it really make any sense that some third party needs to vouch that we are who we are when we already hold a valid Canadian passport which we want to renew?

I am a dual citizen and hold nationality of an EU country as well. My other citizenship country's process is so well organized and even when renewing our passport here within Canada, we don't even need to send in new photographs or references, we just go to the embassy and they take our picture themselves and fingerprint us and verify our identity on site.

Hoping for the best now, I have received responses from Passport Canada's Twitter handle and they seem to be quick to respond actually.
 
Submitted walk-in application at Service Canada Gerrard square.
Application date: August 20, 2021
Was told 4-5 weeks to receive by Canada post.
 
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This whole process of applying for a Canadian passport has been a terrible experience. This requirement of a guarantor and references makes absolutely no sense when they have granted citizenship through an application and conducted all checks and have our photographs on file. Even more ridiculous is the requirement for references when renewing a Canadian passport, does it really make any sense that some third party needs to vouch that we are who we are when we already hold a valid Canadian passport which we want to renew?

I am a dual citizen and hold nationality of an EU country as well. My other citizenship country's process is so well organized and even when renewing our passport here within Canada, we don't even need to send in new photographs or references, we just go to the embassy and they take our picture themselves and fingerprint us and verify our identity on site.

Hoping for the best now, I have received responses from Passport Canada's Twitter handle and they seem to be quick to respond actually.
I believe a British passport also needs a guarantor. mainly quite a lot ISIS fighters captured hold UK or Canada passports :)
 
I believe a British passport also needs a guarantor. mainly quite a lot ISIS fighters captured hold UK or Canada passports :)

Maybe true, however, I do not think this requirement is actually something which has been introduced because of this specific problem. They probably need to introduce more secure measures on the passports (like biometrics on passports) if this is the case, because, renewals, for example, require only references and not a guarantor, and references, don't really have to be Canadian citizens. So, this actually means a non-Canadian's "word of mouth" is accepted over a Canadian's request for passport renewal when holding an existing passport. I still don't get it, but my understanding is probably not that important for whoever has created this requirement.
 
Hi All,
Happy to share. Finally collected passport from st catherine office. Thanks to Raj and Everyone for helping, to achieve this milestone during long journey. I am yet to follow up with CIC for my wife's application. Not sure, where it is, and we have similar travel history. But, Still CIC is CIC. Her application is in process from June 2020.

On the otherside, I am happy at least, the process for myself and children were completed. Again, thank you everyone.
 
Hi all,

Is there a way to track the progress of your passport application after submission?

For mail-in applications - NO (but I think if you call them, they might tell you something). For In-Person applications, pickup date is mentioned on the pickup slip if you submitted it at a passport office and chose a pickup service.
 
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I submitted a complaint yesterday via the form, and the outcome was overly positive- they called us back in a couple of hours, and apologized profusely on the delay. They updated us that the credit card has been now charged, and we should receive the passport in a day or two. Yay !

Background: Newborn passport application delivered on 13 July. Document sent was just the long form birth certificate.
 
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Hello Peeps,
I posted out passport applications yesterday but only realized this morning that we did not sign the parent or legal guardian sections of our child's application. Anyone got this experience before?

Thanks.
 
Hello Peeps,
I posted out passport applications yesterday but only realized this morning that we did not sign the parent or legal guardian sections of our child's application. Anyone got this experience before?

Thanks.
Not a direct experience, but signatures are a huge deal. I think it’s likely you’ll get that application without signatures returned.