I just had a terrible day that, thankfully, ended alright.

[Ember]

I just need to let everything out, so I hope you don't mind.

In between dealing with my mother's estate and the arrangements for her memorial, I didn't think to look for our passports until today. Because I knew where they were. Only, they weren't actually there... We leave on Sunday and I don't have a passport. I searched everywhere. Including the freezer. (They weren't in the freezer...) Now with the passports are all those important cards, like my SIN card and birth certificate.

So after a fairly dramatic meltdown and calling my DH home from work, we set off down to Service Canada to attempt to get new passports with no time to get them in and without the right supporting documentation. Yeah, this was going to go well.

As it turns out, my guardian angels were working overtime and we got a wonderful passport agent named Stefan. He worked miracles and with a lot of help from some very good friends who came down to the passport office to act as a guarantor and to act as our verification of identity people. We had to show proof of having applied for new birth certificates, swear under oath that the old ones were no where to be found, and then provide proof of travel and the documentation for my mum's memorial. Stefan literally worked all afternoon babying our applications through so that our passports were done by the end of the day. We had our old passports, the ones that had been canceled, which I think was our saving grace.

I feel like such an idiot, but there has been so much to do the last while. I just can't believe I almost missed leaving on Sunday and I'm even more shocked and amazed that somehow things turned out okay. I still don't know where everything is, somewhere in transit it must have been misplaced. We're issuing protections on our credit files, just in case, but I'm sure they're somewhere, I just can't find them.

 

[momrek06]

I just need to let everything out, so I hope you don't mind.

In between dealing with my mother's estate and the arrangements for her memorial, I didn't think to look for our passports until today. Because I knew where they were. Only, they weren't actually there... We leave on Sunday and I don't have a passport. I searched everywhere. Including the freezer. (They were in the freezer...) Now with the passports is all those important cards, like my SIN card and birth certificate.

So after a fairly dramatic meltdown and calling my DH home from work, we set off down to Service Canada to attempt to get new passports with no time to get them in and without the right supporting documentation. Yeah, this was going to go well.

As it turns out, my guardian angels were working overtime and we got a wonderful passport agent named Stefan. He worked miracles and with a lot of help from some very good friends who came down to the passport office to act as a guarantor and to act as our verification of identity people. We had to show proof of having applied for new birth certificates, swear under oath that the old ones were no where to be found, and then provide proof of travel and the documentation for my mum's memorial. Stefan literally worked all afternoon babying our applications through so that our passports were done by the end of the day. We had our old passports, the ones that had been canceled, which I think was our saving grace.

I feel like such an idiot, but there has been so much to do the last while. I just can't believe I almost missed leaving on Sunday and I'm even more shocked and amazed that somehow things turned out okay.

OP, you really keep your important papers in the freezer ... or was that a joke???

Now when you return from vacation go to your local bank, get yourself a safety deposit box and put all your valuable paperwork in there. (Just don't misplace the keys to it.)

 

[tink1957]

So sorry about your Mom, I lost my Mom last year and it's so hard. It was good that you got the right agent to help and your friends came through for you in your time of need. Hope things get better with time.

 

[Octoberbride03]

OP, you really keep your important papers in the freezer ... or was that a joke???

Now when you return from vacation go to your local bank, get yourself a safety deposit box and put all your valuable paperwork in there. (Just don't misplace the keys to it.)

Actually a freezer is a good place as long as they are in moisture proof box. I've heard from fire fighters that Refrigerators and freezers don't burn often, so keeping important papers in there is great. My parents fire dept. actually sent them a magnet stating this is a good idea. The safety deposit box is a good idea too. I keep meaning to get 1 of these. Haven't done it yet.

 

[Ember]

OP, you really keep your important papers in the freezer ... or was that a joke???

Now when you return from vacation go to your local bank, get yourself a safety deposit box and put all your valuable paperwork in there. (Just don't misplace the keys to it.)

Oh dear, they weren't in the freezer! But, yes, I did look just in case. It was that kind of search. Although, I think it would have been mighty handy if they'd be there.

 

[Abbie]

I just need to let everything out, so I hope you don't mind.

In between dealing with my mother's estate and the arrangements for her memorial, I didn't think to look for our passports until today. Because I knew where they were. Only, they weren't actually there... We leave on Sunday and I don't have a passport. I searched everywhere. Including the freezer. (They were in the freezer...) Now with the passports are all those important cards, like my SIN card and birth certificate.

So after a fairly dramatic meltdown and calling my DH home from work, we set off down to Service Canada to attempt to get new passports with no time to get them in and without the right supporting documentation. Yeah, this was going to go well.

As it turns out, my guardian angels were working overtime and we got a wonderful passport agent named Stefan. He worked miracles and with a lot of help from some very good friends who came down to the passport office to act as a guarantor and to act as our verification of identity people. We had to show proof of having applied for new birth certificates, swear under oath that the old ones were no where to be found, and then provide proof of travel and the documentation for my mum's memorial. Stefan literally worked all afternoon babying our applications through so that our passports were done by the end of the day. We had our old passports, the ones that had been canceled, which I think was our saving grace.

I feel like such an idiot, but there has been so much to do the last while. I just can't believe I almost missed leaving on Sunday and I'm even more shocked and amazed that somehow things turned out okay. I still don't know where everything is, somewhere in transit it must have been misplaced. We're issuing protections on our credit files, just in case, but I'm sure they're somewhere, I just can't find them.

So glad you had some "angels on earth" helping you out and things got handled! Hope your mom's memorial goes smoothly and you will find peace.

But for the bolded part? In Canada do you have to have a special card to sin? Or just for those really BIG sins??

 

[mlittig]

Glad things ended up o-kay for you

 

[MaumeeMom]

OP, I'm so glad that things worked out in the end! My condolences on the loss of your mother.

OP, you really keep your important papers in the freezer ... or was that a joke???

Now when you return from vacation go to your local bank, get yourself a safety deposit box and put all your valuable paperwork in there. (Just don't misplace the keys to it.)

When I was working on my thesis I kept a copy in the freezer - and in the car, and on disks, and at my parents', etc., etc.

The freezer can be a good place for these things.

 

[Ember]

So glad you had some "angels on earth" helping you out and things got handled! Hope your mom's memorial goes smoothly and you will find peace.

But for the bolded part? In Canada do you have to have a special card to sin? Or just for those really BIG sins??

LOL, that was the cutest thing I've read in a while! You mean in the US they don't give you official SIN cards? How do you get away with doing bad things?!

(Do you guys not have Social Insurance Number cards there?? I just did a Google search, but I guess it's a Canadian thing. We use them for all government identity purposes and for employment.)

 

[rodgers5]

glad its all good now

 

[kaytieeldr]

(Do you guys not have Social Insurance Number cards there?? I just did a Google search, but I guess it's a Canadian thing. We use them for all government identity purposes and for employment.)

SSN - Social Security Number. Sounds like the exact same purpose. I think Abbie was just having a little friendly fun with you, since everything worked out favorably

 

[Ember]

SSN - Social Security Number. Sounds like the exact same purpose. I think Abbie was just having a little friendly fun with you, since everything worked out favorably

Yeah, and now I'm going to snicker every time I have to use mine!

 

[NancyK]

I'm glad that everything worked out at the passport office. So nice to hear that there are still people who will help. I hope your travels are safe and that your memorial service brings you much peace.