Renewing US Passport

[BackToOntario]

I'm just now realizing that my husband's US passport expires in November 2019. Usually this wouldn't be a concern, but given his PR timeline, it might be?

We applied in August given the 12 month estimated timeframe. We are not moving until next summer. It seems like this might be approved before then, but regardless, uninterrupted school year for our daughter is important.

Should I go ahead and have him renew his US passport *now* expecting that we probably won't get the request for passport in the 6-8 weeks it will take the US to process that renewal?

Or should we just wait until after we land in Canada and not rock the boat?

Any thoughts/suggestions/opinions/experiences appreciated. Thanks!

 

[PrincessCRV]

I'm just now realizing that my husband's US passport expires in November 2019. Usually this wouldn't be a concern, but given his PR timeline, it might be?

We applied in August given the 12 month estimated timeframe. We are not moving until next summer. It seems like this might be approved before then, but regardless, uninterrupted school year for our daughter is important.

Should I go ahead and have him renew his US passport *now* expecting that we probably won't get the request for passport in the 6-8 weeks it will take the US to process that renewal?

Or should we just wait until after we land in Canada and not rock the boat?

Any thoughts/suggestions/opinions/experiences appreciated. Thanks!

US applications without complications are taking 6 months or less for approval right now. But, given that travel to most countries requires a passport that is valid for 6 months past the travel date, you are getting very close to that if you wait. Plus, you would be forced to land in Canada before the passport expires. If it were me, I would go ahead and renew it. Mine only took about 3-4 weeks to receive the new passport. I would not anticipate you receiving your passport request in the next month, but if you did, you still have 30 days from the date of the request to send it in.

 

[BackToOntario]

US applications without complications are taking 6 months or less for approval right now. But, given that travel to most countries requires a passport that is valid for 6 months past the travel date, you are getting very close to that if you wait. Plus, you would be forced to land in Canada before the passport expires. If it were me, I would go ahead and renew it. Mine only took about 3-4 weeks to receive the new passport. I would not anticipate you receiving your passport request in the next month, but if you did, you still have 30 days from the date of the request to send it in.

Thanks! That's kind of the way I was leaning, but needed some reassurance.
I suppose in the off chance that we do receive the passport request and don't have his passport in-hand, they would grant an extension if I explained it.
We also need it back in time for a December 16 cruise, so I may just pay to have it expedited anyway.

 

[monkeys89]

Thanks! That's kind of the way I was leaning, but needed some reassurance.
I suppose in the off chance that we do receive the passport request and don't have his passport in-hand, they would grant an extension if I explained it.
We also need it back in time for a December 16 cruise, so I may just pay to have it expedited anyway.

Just pay to have the renewal expedited.

 

[saddlepatch]

US applications without complications are taking 6 months or less for approval right now. /QUOTE]

Is that outland or inland? That's amazing if it's outland!

 

[monkeys89]

Is that outland or inland? That's amazing if it's outland!

Outland in some cases. Not all are getting six month processing, but certainly some have. Still, to avoid heartbreak, assume a 12 month processing time.

 

[PrincessCRV]

Is that outland or inland? That's amazing if it's outland!

Outland. And yes, for cases that are straightforward with no red flags, US applications have been around 5-6 months since the switch to Sydney. Of course, there is no guarantee and things could slow down again.

 

[saddlepatch]

US applications without complications are taking 6 months or less for approval right now. But, given that travel to most countries requires a passport that is valid for 6 months past the travel date, you are getting very close to that if you wait. Plus, you would be forced to land in Canada before the passport expires. If it were me, I would go ahead and renew it. Mine only took about 3-4 weeks to receive the new passport. I would not anticipate you receiving your passport request in the next month, but if you did, you still have 30 days from the date of the request to send it in.

Funny, I now have a question about this too.

Just found out my wife's passport expires Jan 2020. When is the latest you would recommend we renew it assuming we apply either in November (this month) or in a worse case senario if the police background check comes back later than expected, Dec or Jan 2019?

 

[PrincessCRV]

Funny, I now have a question about this too.

Just found out my wife's passport expires Jan 2020. When is the latest you would recommend we renew it assuming we apply either in November (this month) or in a worse case senario if the police background check comes back later than expected, Dec or Jan 2019?

If you are waiting til Dec or Jan to apply and don't need the passport for travel in the next few months, I would just get the renewal now. It usually takes 3-4 weeks to get it back and then you won't have to worry about it later if your case gets delayed for some reason. You have to submit a copy of the passport and include the passport number on the application, which you can always update later, but I just preferred to have everything up to date when I sent it in. I also had to change my name and I thought that would be a bigger headache later.

However, if you want to get the application in as soon as possible, just go ahead and do it with the old passport. If you have a straightforward US outland application, I would think that you would want to have it renewed by March if you apply in November. It seems to be about 5-6 months processing at the moment (although with the holidays coming up, it could take longer). So, with that in mind, you would probably want it back at the 4-month mark to be safe.

 

[saddlepatch]

If you are waiting til Dec or Jan to apply and don't need the passport for travel in the next few months, I would just get the renewal now. It usually takes 3-4 weeks to get it back and then you won't have to worry about it later if your case gets delayed for some reason. You have to submit a copy of the passport and include the passport number on the application, which you can always update later, but I just preferred to have everything up to date when I sent it in. I also had to change my name and I thought that would be a bigger headache later.

However, if you want to get the application in as soon as possible, just go ahead and do it with the old passport. If you have a straightforward US outland application, I would think that you would want to have it renewed by March if you apply in November. It seems to be about 5-6 months processing at the moment (although with the holidays coming up, it could take longer). So, with that in mind, you would probably want it back at the 4-month mark to be safe.

Thanks so much, you've really been helpful with a lot of my questions!

So it's safe to get it renewed after we submit? Then I suppose we just update the CIC on the website thingy they have? (where you upload other documents they may need? If I'm reading things on the forum correctly from other members)

 

[PrincessCRV]

Thanks so much, you've really been helpful with a lot of my questions!

So it's safe to get it renewed after we submit? Then I suppose we just update the CIC on the website thingy they have? (where you upload other documents they may need? If I'm reading things on the forum correctly from other members)

Yes, that is correct. Just use the webform to send them a copy of the new passport.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Funny, I now have a question about this too.

Just found out my wife's passport expires Jan 2020. When is the latest you would recommend we renew it assuming we apply either in November (this month) or in a worse case senario if the police background check comes back later than expected, Dec or Jan 2019?

No point in renewing it this early for the PR app.