We get regular questions related to the NEXUS card. We decided to dedicate a post to explaining what the NEXUS program and card are about.

If you’ve ever crossed the American/Canadian border, you’ve probably seen the lane for NEXUS card holders. You may have also seen NEXUS terminals at an airport. The NEXUS card is an alternative method of crossing the border – also fulfilling the requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. It’s ideal for those of us who regularly travel between nations or for those who commute between the United States and Canada for work. The NEXUS card program is a partnership between the Canada and U.S. border services, but NEXUS cards are issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The program was created to streamline customs and immigration clearance for pre-screened, low-risk, frequent travelers. The card proves identity and citizenship and thereby acts as a substitute for a passport for entry into Canada for U.S. citizens (and vice versa). Anyone can apply for a NEXUS card, however, you must be interviewed and need to qualify.

NEXUS card holders are identified at land border crossings by presenting their cards for scanning and at airport kiosks by undergoing a biometric securtiy check – a retinal recognition scan. With that said, not all airports accommodate NEXUS card holders.

The NEXUS card is NOT meant to replace a Canadian passport. It is also NOT a replacement for your passport. It grants you no special privileges. Technically, even if you carry a NEXUS card – even though you won’t be asked for your passport at a U.S. border -  you still need to have it with you. You cannot travel internationally with a NEXUS card. It is meant only to facilitate entry and reentry between the United States and Canada.

Questions? Let us know…contact us or email us at info AT canadapassporthelp.ca

Are you a single parent? Travelling with a blended family? Are you familiar with the essentials of what you need prior to traveling? Surprisingly, fewer people than you’d think are actually in the know with the things you need to present to a customs agent if only one parent is traveling with a child. Concerns about child abductions have made governments around the globe very cautious when only one parent is traveling internationally with a child who is a minor (under the age of 16). Child abduction is an increasing occurrence, and customs and border agents have been trained to be on the constant lookout with anything even remotely suggesting that only one parent is aware that a child is travelling. Here are some tips for important items to include if you are traveling without your child’s other biological parent.

• Besides your passports, you should bring a written consent from your child’s other biological parent.
• Indicate the flight number on the consent form so there is a clear acknowledgment of where you are going, as well as when and how you are coming back.
• The consent form must indicate your name and contact information.
• You are required to have the consent form witnessed and notarized by a lawyer.
• You will need your child’s birth certificate.

These required basics are in essence permission from the other parent. If you’re without them, your travel can be compromised.

We’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences with respect to traveling solo with your child. Share or leave a comment!

2012′s unveiling of Canada’s new biometric passport standard, dubbed “E-Passport” by Canada’s Federal Government has been raising a variety of questions as Passport Canada guns to move towards the international standard that has already been adopted by many other countries. We’ve included some answers to some of the most recent questions we’ve received about this here.

Q: Will Passport Canada’s new passport increase wait times at borders if you’re entering Canada with your car?

A: There is no guarantee that it will reduce or increase a wait time via land at a border crossing, regardless of what part of the country you’re entering from. The primary aim of the new passport standard is to increase security and reduce fraud, however, it is more likely that it will introduce an efficiency with confirming the authenticity of a Canadian passport, so we’d consider it more likely that there could be less of a wait at a border crossing. Only time will tell of course. Once the program is rolled out, we’ll see firsthand if this is in fact the case.

Q: Will the new E-Passport chip be something that can be tracked? Is my privacy protected?

If by “tracked” you mean include some kind of GPS style function to triangulate your global position – no. It is a chip that simply stores and conveys a specific kind of data in a specific kind of way. No big brother aspect is involved.

Q: Can I still use my old passport if it is still valid?

Yes. The new standard will begin in 2012, and will only apply to new passport applications and renewals at that time. If you still have a valid passport when the program is introduced, you’ll simply be issued a new passport once the validity expires.

Q: How will the system work?

The new Canadian passports will include a digitized image, as well as digitally stored information on your place of birth and name, etc – all on the chip. They will also include a holographic image, and an issuing country specific code. All of these elements are confirmed via a passport reader to authenticate. Nothing really changes on the document holder’s end.

We encourage you to send us more questions about the new Canadian passport/E-Passport. Leave a comment or email us at info AT canadapassporthelp DOT ca.

A regular question we get asked by some clients is whether a rush 24 hour passport can be obtained. The short answer to this question is YES, however there are conditions. This is a difficult predicament to be in, and even though possible, we always recommend reviewing your passport’s validity and keeping on top of it in an effort to avoid a stressful last minute situation if for some reason you must return home.

You cannot enter Canada without a valid Canadian passport, nor can you enter the country with an expired passport, however there are conditions where you can enter the country without the essentials provided you have one of at least two important pieces of identification. A Canadian birth certificate or Canadian citizenship papers. If you were born in Canada, but cannot find your original birth certificate, we can guide you through the process with obtaining one via a Vital Statistics office in Canada, which can be visited online. You can visit our Vital Stats page in our help section for an list of offices in your home province.

There are no Canadian passport offices in the United States, and you cannot have a passport issued by a consulate unless it is an absolute emergency. A death in the family constitutes an emergency, and is really the only reason why a consulate would issue you an emergency passport. An important job interview or a family reunion will be declined requests. You can view the list of consulates in the United States here. Keep in mind, that you would be required to visit the consulate personally, and, if you do not have either a birth certificate or Canadian citizenship papers proving you are Canadian, they will not issue you an emergency passport even in the event of a family death. Again, the importance of staying on top of the validity and current standing of your Canadian passport is essential even if you are living in the United States on a full time basis or have been for a long period of time. We tell clients regularly – if there is any reason to return home, keeping your passport in check is one of the best things you can do to avoid a stressful situation.

We offer an Executive Level passport service for renewals if you fly into the Ottawa airport, – provided you have a valid passport for entry. Contact us for more information or leave a comment.

Dear Canada Passport Help – What is a Canadian Biometric Passport?

This is hands down the most commonly asked question we receive from customers. The Canadian passport transition will be occurring in early 2011, and understandably for Canadians living as U.S. residents, it’s a changing standard that creates curiosity and even perhaps a bit of concern. We wanted to dedicate a post to creating some awareness about what a biometric passport is, and to explain some of the differences versus what is currently being issued from Passport Canada.

Biometric technology collects physical or behavioural characteristics of an individual and converts them into digital data. The data is encrypted and stored (i.e. microchip), and can then be used to identify the person via scan or other process for verification. Biometric identifiers include fingerprints, hand geometry, iris scans, facial recognition and voice. The technology has multiple applications, and is an effective means of enhancing security. You can find biometric technology on everything from alarm systems to laptop computers by Hewlett Packard.

Canada’s passport initiative is dubbed “ePassport” and will include chips that will contain personal information such as day of birth, place of birth, physical characteristics, and an electronic version of the photograph utilized. Canada is currently the only G7 country not using this enhanced security platform, which will decrease identity fraud and introduce administrative efficiencies for Passport Canada. The program had a pilot version in 2009, where the federal government issued 25,000 special passports to diplomats and other VIPs successfully with no issues. Although this new introduction of technology has been in the works for over 5 years after an official recommendation by the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) in 2005, in a recent poll conducted on behalf of Passport Canada, it was revealed that 82% of Canadians are unaware of the inevitable introduction of the biometric platform. Besides enhanced security, a convenient benefit for the passport holder is that these new passports will hold validity for 10 years versus the current 5.

How does this pertain to Canadians living as U.S. residents? The adherence to correct photo standards will be more important than before as there will be effectively two images on newly issued Canadian passports once the preliminary phase of ePassport is rolled out. Rejection rates for Canadians living in the United States currently sits at more than 50% of the applications and renewals received from the U.S., mostly as a result of improperly produced passport pictures – you can read about this here. Our service includes a custom assessment of your photos AND your application prior to your submission into Passport Canada, and for more than half of our customers, we are able to locate a commercial photographer in the United States that will produce Canadian passport photos that will meet the standards as set out by the Canadian government. This is how we assure approval of your application and why we’re considered your personal Canadian passport coach.

Questions? We’d love to hear from you. Contact us or email us at info AT canadapassporthelp DOT ca.

…and the biggest single reason for this is photos.

The biggest single significant change with respect to Canadian Passport photos occurred in 2003, when the ICAO introduced new photo specifications for travel documents (standard size, face-on, neutral expression, light-colored background), but meeting the standards perfectly and creating as much of a compliance as possible has been a difficult task to manage for Passport Canada.

Commercial photographers in the United States do not need to be up to date on the standards associated with Canadian Passport photos, simply because Canadian citizens make up a very small percentage of their customer base, if they do at all. They also aren’t aware of the small details that a Canadian passport agent is considering when reviewing photos with an application. There are 1 million Canadians living in the United States out of virtually 360 million people. Equipment updates, and evolving federal specifications with respect to a Canadian passport photos isn’t a priority for such a small percentage of one’s income stream, and as a result, even bigger commercial photography centers can get it wrong. American passport photos generally have a higher tolerance for certain image elements, like shading and light, as the U.S. government isn’t moving as aggressively towards facial recognition for passport photos. Also, American passports only have to be renewed every 10 years, versus 5 years in Canada. These are just a handful of the differences between the two, but they remain significant. It’s easy to understand why Canadian standards could pose such a challenge to a photographer who simply doesn’t have to worry about these kinds of differences regularly, or, doesn’t account for certain considerations when a Passport Canada agent is reviewing and ultimately deciding whether the image meets the requirements as set out.

6 out of the 10 photos we receive from our clients, all of which originate in the United States, will not be approved by Passport Canada, and we direct them to either one of our vetted partners, a commercial photographer who we know can meet the standards, or we simply advise to have the photos re-done. This is also part of the reason we created our commercial photographers links in our Help section. We are constantly building this list, as one of the most common things we hear from existing and new clients is that finding an image center who can or is willing to produce Canadian passport photos can be as – if not more – difficult than actually getting them done properly.

Canadian passport photos have a reputation for being difficult to take, in part, because Passport Canada and the Federal Government act proactively with ensuring that Canadian passports migrate towards the newest technologies as quickly as possible for security and administrative reasons. This, of course, is a good thing,  but in the last 3 years, the standards for Canadian passport photos has changed dramatically, and as a result, Canadians who reside in the U.S., who cannot visit a Passport Canada office or receive a passport from a consulate, have no choice but to wait and see how their application and photos are received. Most commercial photographers in the United States, understandably, aren’t current with their knowledge of the ever changing standards, and as a result, rejection rates are considerably higher for those of you who live in the U.S. This is why our service exists.

We’d like to hear some of your photo rejection stories. Comment on this post, or email us at info AT canadapassporthelp DOT ca.

The loss or denial of a Canadian Passport can also happen for other reasons besides support payment issues, and it is important for Canadian citizens, especially those living in the United States to be familiar with considerations that Passport Canada’s Security Bureau will take into account prior to issuing a passport, and the situations where the denial or loss of your Canadian Passport can occur. If you have committed what the Federal Government considers a “serious criminal offense”, you could also be denied a passport. A “serious offense” includes crimes such as terrorist activities, smuggling, trafficking in people, kidnapping, sexual offenses against children and attacks against the Crown. These are not automatic grounds for denial of issuance, but can come up as factors when your passport application is being reviewed.   We encourage you to let us know if this is the case, or if there is a support payment issue associated with your application, so that we can better assist you. Again, these issues do not necessarily mean that your application or existing passport will be unconditionally revoked or denied, but it is important to note when gathering your information prior to submission, and it is also important to disclose this information to one of our Passport Specialists when assisting you.

Questions? Contact us at info AT canadapassporthelp DOT ca

Effective March 1st, 2010, you will be required to present a valid Canadian passport upon entry into Mexico. If you’re planning on a vacation come the typical March break, you should begin the process now of getting your information in order if you require a passport or renewal. The Mexican government is expected to announce this formally in January, and is working with Canadian tour operators to get the program rolled out as efficiently as possible,  but the message is clear – countries, even our continental neighbors, are all moving towards the passport being the required identification of choice necessary for travel. This development underscores the need for travellers to apply for a Canadian passport. It is still the preferred option even in countries that don’t require this official form of identification. Mexico follows the United States having made this recent change back in June of this year. If you’ve booked travel to Mexico for March, don’t risk compromising your trip.

The following is an excerpt from a segment found on DFAIT’s  “Essential Information for Canadians Abroad” web site:

“Furthermore, even though a passport is not required for entry into Mexico, most airlines departing from Mexico are now refusing boarding to Canadians returning to Canada without a valid passport even if the same airline accepted to board the passenger without a passport in Canada. We strongly recommend that Canadians carry a valid passport for all air travel to Mexico in order to ensure they may board their return flight to Canada. Canadian citizens should be aware that extra costs derived from being denied boarding in Mexico can be considerably high and must be assumed by the traveller.

As of June 2009 anyone who is a Canadian citizen residing in the U.S. needs a passport if they are re-entering the United States. Man, woman, or child, you need to have a valid Canadian passport, hence the importance with maintaining your child’s passport as much as your own if they are traveling with you. A child’s Canadian passport photos are generally under the same scrutiny as an adult’s are, and in most cases, they are more difficult to produce as a result of the nature of the candidate in front of the camera.

• You must be one of the child’s parents, the custodial parent in cases of separation or divorce, or the legal guardian in order to apply for a passport for your child. If you are the custodial parent, you must provide a copy of your divorce decree and a statement from the judge certifying you are the custodial parent. In cases of joint custody, both parents must sign the application for the passport.
• All children, including infants, have to have a passport to travel outside of Canada. Children under 3 years of age are issued passports valid for three years. Children aged 3 to 15 are issued a standard passport valid for five years, the same as an adult.
• If you’re living outside of Canada, your child will also require a declaration of guarantor, much like an adult passport application.

If you’ve Googled “Lost of Stolen Canadian Passports”, “Canadian Passport Theft”, or “Canadian Passport Fraud”, you’ve come to the right place.

Your Canadian passport is singularly the most valuable and important piece of government issued identification you have. It identifies you as a Canadian citizen when traveling internationally and can get you out of sticky situations. Sadly, they are the in the top 5 most in demand passports globally for criminal organizations, smuggling rings, and human trafficking networks. Canadian passports are hot commodities. According to the RCMP, even old or cancelled passports are valuable and can be sold.

In 2007, 37,650 Canadian passports were reported lost or stolen, compared to 24,792 in 2005. Passport Canada circulated in a memo warning staff to double-check applications for new passports when the old document is reported missing. In February 2008, Passport Canada began cross-checking applicants’ names with the Canadian Police Information Centre, which links law enforcement organizations across the country.

We wanted to give 4 tips for keeping your passport safe when travelling.

• - Take two photocopies of your passport before your travel. Leave one with a relative or friend and take the other with you, keeping the copy separate from the original.
• - Keep your passport with you when travelling to your destination. Keep it in your hand luggage or in a zipped pocket. Know where it is at all times so that it can be produced promptly when asked for.
• - Be wary if ever you are asked to surrender your passport. While some foreign officials may ask for your passport, as may some hotels, check with your travel operator or the Canadian consulate whether or not this is standard procedure.
• – Should your passport be stolen or lost while abroad report it to the local police and get in touch with the nearest Canadian consulate or embassy for further advice.