Kitchener Passport Office

[BizziBee]

Is Great! I went with DH and DD last Tues, July 10th. I received all of our passports today in the mail. 1 Week We didn't have anything with our passports, they were all pretty straight forward.

My Mom (Tigercat) was worried that we wouldn't have them for our trip in September Gotta love Mom's!

Well, now we have them and even though we are flying Southwest through Buffalo and only really need birth certificates until Jan, we all don't have to worry.

Just thought I would share!

 

[nosnobunny2006]

That's good to hear. We leave for WDW next Monday but will need to start the renewal process as soon as we get back because both my and DH's passports expire in November.

Beth

 

[Debbie]

My Mom (Tigercat) was worried that we wouldn't have them for our trip in September Gotta love Mom's!

That's our job. I know that my own DD was "No worries, Mom". Of course, she was right....SHE had no worries.....they were all on me!

 

[tigercat]

Bizzibee Debbie is right. I like to have all my ducks in a row, expecially after my trip in Jan. where the other couple that was coming with us didn't renew their passports even AFTER I had requested that they do so 3 months before. They ended up not being able to board the plane. What a mess and a frustration and worry it created for the first part of our trip. Not wanting to do this with this trip. I am really trying to make sure this trip will be great for everyone. Mothers (especially Mothers who are plan freaks) like to have everything just right for their kids. The kids just have to put up with it right Debbie. LOL
tigercat

 

[connorsmom911]

Let's hope it stays that way! Right now my biggest concern is with registering the birth of this little peanut (7 days to go), as I've heard that step is going to be the real hold-up, but has to be done before we can get birth certificate and then the passport. I'm banking on the passport office being a quick turn-around in order to have this passport when Disney needs the number for our final payment in Nov, for the cruise in Jan!

 

[Hoogy]

I was just going to post too! DH went to Kitchener last week and 3 out of 4 of the kids passports showed up today. Things are going smoothly....hope that dollar keeps up and we'll be in fantastic shape!

 

[tgropp]

How are the lines at the Kitchener passport office now? My wife works in that office building (Rogers Building) and while going up to her floor, the elevator would always stop at the passport floor and it would be swamped with people @ 7:45 in the morning with people waiting for it to open. She says that it is better now with not so many people waiting in the A.M. but is it a long wait. We have to do ours in another year

 

[Hoogy]

Well when DH went 2 weeks ago (on a Wed) he went mid afternoon and was in and out in 1/2 an hour! (that was for 4 kids passports) I kept warning him how the lines would be long and how we didn't know how long it would take to get the passports.....we already have them.

 

[BizziBee]

DH, DD and I went at 9:15am. We had to get 2 adult and 1 childrens passports. It took a total of 1.5 hours. It was kinda interesting though, when we sat down waiting for our number to be called a lady had heard me talking about our upcoming trip to disney and she sat beside me. She was getting her families passports for their trip to Disney! Funny, we are going to be in the parks at the same time. I was telling her all kins of info and told her about this board. She haden't been in a long time and was asking all kinds of questions! It made the time pass very quickly !

 

[LittleFlounder]

I went to the Kitchener passport office today. I got there (with my mother) at 8:30 and the office opened at 8:45. We were probably 20th in line to get in. We had our forms printed and filled out from online. We went through the pre-screening within 5 mins of the office opening and our number came up right away. We were all finished and out by 9:30 am! I was very surprised how quick it went. We were told that we should receive our passports by Sept 5th (2 weeks).

If you're going to get your passport, I suggest going as early in the day as you can.. before they open if possible. There were LOTS of people waiting when we were leaving.

 

[CJK]

I went to the Kitchener passport office today. I got there (with my mother) at 8:30 and the office opened at 8:45. We were probably 20th in line to get in. We had our forms printed and filled out from online. We went through the pre-screening within 5 mins of the office opening and our number came up right away. We were all finished and out by 9:30 am! I was very surprised how quick it went. We were told that we should receive our passports by Sept 5th (2 weeks).

If you're going to get your passport, I suggest going as early in the day as you can.. before they open if possible. There were LOTS of people waiting when we were leaving.

Thanks so much for the update! We'll be venturing to the passport office in late September. Quick questions for you...
Do you have to surrender your old passport when you apply for a new one? We have 2 Florida trips in the next few months. We didn't want to risk renewing prior to this first trip, if we had to surrender our old passports. We're just in the 6 month window for the first trip (to the US and I understand that's okay, just not for International travel). We will get new passports for our December Florida trip for sure. Thanks for any info!

 

[LittleFlounder]

Thanks so much for the update! We'll be venturing to the passport office in late September. Quick questions for you...
Do you have to surrender your old passport when you apply for a new one? We have 2 Florida trips in the next few months. We didn't want to risk renewing prior to this first trip, if we had to surrender our old passports. We're just in the 6 month window for the first trip (to the US and I understand that's okay, just not for International travel). We will get new passports for our December Florida trip for sure. Thanks for any info!

When I went to renew my passport I was asked if I wanted to keep my old one as a "souvenier" or if I wanted them to keep it and shred it. I chose to keep mine because it is my only form of ID since I don't have my license or a new health card. They stamped CANCELED on a few pages and cut a corner off the front cover.

So yes, you can keep your old passport, but I don't think it would be accepted as a valid passport for traveling. When is your first trip to the US?

 

[CJK]

Thanks for that info too! First trip is Sept. 16th. We're in the six month window by one week for that trip. I hope that's okay!!!!!! As soon as we get back, we'll get our new passports for our December trip. Did you use the new, quick forms for renewing your passport? How'd it go?

 

[LittleFlounder]

Thanks for that info too! First trip is Sept. 16th. We're in the six month window by one week for that trip. I hope that's okay!!!!!! As soon as we get back, we'll get our new passports for our December trip. Did you use the new, quick forms for renewing your passport? How'd it go?

I'm not exactly sure, but I think as long as your passport is valid the entire length of your trip, its okay. I didn't use the new forms/process. I used the old forms and guarantor process 'cause I filled the forms out at the beginning of the month and just didn't get into the passport office sooner. We would have preferred to use the new forms...the old ones are a pain!

 

[nokidz]

Where abouts is the Kitchener office?

 

[BizziBee]

Its on the corner of Weber and Frederick St.'s.

 

[joiev98]

If I made a mistake on my passport, do i need to re-do a new one, or just cross off my mistake and write in the right info.?

 

[LittleFlounder]

If I made a mistake on my passport, do i need to re-do a new one, or just cross off my mistake and write in the right info.?

I would say wait until you're speaking to the agent at the passport office and let them know you've made a mistake. They go over everything on your form to make sure you've filled it out right and correct any errors they see. I made a few mistakes (signed my full name instead of the way I normally sign it)... she just covered the mistakes with white labels and had me fix it. I don't think you'll have any problems.

UPDATE: I went to the passport office on August 21 and received my new passport in the mail on August 29. It took just 8 days to get it back!!!

 

[nokidz]

How long does it take for a passport if you can not get someone to Guarantor the applicant?
My daughters boyfriends is cruising with us in January. We cannot get someone to be his Guarantor. Now what? According to the website a person authorized by law to administer an oath can do it with the "Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor" form. Is this a Commisioner of Oath? How long would it take going in this direction?

 

[disneyfan2]

How long does it take for a passport if you can not get someone to Guarantor the applicant?
My daughters boyfriends is cruising with us in January. We cannot get someone to be his Guarantor. Now what? According to the website a person authorized by law to administer an oath can do it with the "Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor" form. Is this a Commisioner of Oath? How long would it take going in this direction?

Sorry can't help, but i would get on with it as soon as you can. As soon as the fall hits, that when the passport offices start to get busy again, and if it is anything like last year, it will take awhile. Definetly apply in person at a passport office and don't mail it will take months.... good luck!

Also i suggest doing the on line application, as you will then ask to be in a separate and much faster line up at the passport office for on line application,s