Passport Guarantor

[LittleFlounder]

My sister, brother-in-law and their 2 children just applied for passports for the first time and I said I'd be the guarantor for all 4 of them.

It wasn't a problem for me, but make sure if you agree to the guarantor for someone, that you know the person/s VERY well! I just received a phone call from Passport Canada confirming I was their guarantor and asking me many questions about my sister and her family. I needed to tell the person I spoke with everyone's FULL name, including middle, their address and how long I've known each of them for (since they're close family, I knew all that). I was surprised that they called me and how in-depth the questions were.

I just wanted to give you all the heads up so if you're called, you're not caught off guard.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Wow! Thanks for the heads up! I'll think twice before I sign another one then! My nieces and nephews, fine, but not just friends anymore. That's crazy.

 

[sjsjbrook]

They will also call and ask your references you put down, so you should always let them know you are using them.

 

[rodeo65]

What happens on a passport renewal? Ours will be coming up in a year or so - do you have to go through that whole process again or is it just a form to renew it (like a license?)

 

[sjsjbrook]

you need a guanantor ( someone who has a valid passport and has known you for 2 years and yes it can be your spouse) Other than that it is pretty easy, go to the passport canada website to look at the renewal form.

 

[glendalais]

My sister, brother-in-law and their 2 children just applied for passports for the first time and I said I'd be the guarantor for all 4 of them.

It wasn't a problem for me, but make sure if you agree to the guarantor for someone, that you know the person/s VERY well! I just received a phone call from Passport Canada confirming I was their guarantor and asking me many questions about my sister and her family. I needed to tell the person I spoke with everyone's FULL name, including middle, their address and how long I've known each of them for (since they're close family, I knew all that). I was surprised that they called me and how in-depth the questions were.

I just wanted to give you all the heads up so if you're called, you're not caught off guard.

I learned this the hard way.

Living in the US, my guarantor and references were all Americans (this was before they changed the policy and required the guarantor to be Canadians). Even though I told my guarantor about it, had her fill out the form, and left a note to remind her that she would be contacted, she still forgot about it. Americans aren't required to normally provide a guarantor when applying for a US Passport. As such, when she got a call asking all sorts of personal questions with regards to a Passport application, she thought it was some sort of scam and hung up on the Passport Canada agent.

Suffice it to say that my application was significantly delayed, lol.

 

[ccudmore]

You no longer need a guarantor for renewals for people who were over the age of 16 when their old passport was issued. You just need to send in your old passport with new pictures and a completed renewal form:
http://www.ppt.gc.ca/cdn/ren.aspx

 

[nibab4]

Thanks for the heads up!!! now I need to call both my sister to get all that info as I am the guarantor for all of their applications.
I'm not exactly sure of their husbands full names there's no reason I should now this.

Is it only me or has there been some changes on the application ? it seemed more intense than last year when I filled them out for my kids !!

J

 

[DisneyFreak06]

I still find this facinating. I have been a reference and a guarantor, but I have never been called. It's making me nervous, I don't know if I'll do it again!

I was called once when someone I knew was applying to work for the RCMP, not to be a member, but to work for them. Those were difficult questions. Make sure it's someone you know well for that one for sure!

 

[Susan R]

My friend was my guarantor and she was called. They asked her what colour my eyes were and she got it wrong They also asked her how much I weighed. I told her she should have said, "As a friend, I don't ask what her weight is!!!"

I did get my passport though so it worked out fine

 

[justjulie]

I think it's hit or miss - I just applied for passports for my entire family - no one called any of the references and they were delivered to my door eight days before their schedule mail out date!

If you're using a friend as a reference that may not know the passport information off the top of their head, why not give them a copy of the passport application - like someone said, I would never think to ask someone's height/weight when agreeing to guarantee them!

 

[Alderbrook]

I've been a guarantor for numerous people, friends & family, & have never been called.

 

[Shiela]

Hello,

Would someone know how a guarantor providing wrong DOB would impact the passport application? One of my relative provided wrong DOB for my daughter's passport application and now I am worried on how would it impact the application, should I call the passport office and let them know?

 

[ElehannaSilvervine]

My friend was my guarantor and she was called. They asked her what colour my eyes were and she got it wrong They also asked her how much I weighed. I told her she should have said, "As a friend, I don't ask what her weight is!!!"

I did get my passport though so it worked out fine

Just wanted to say that my best friend actually got those things wrong for me too, even though this post is an old one, it gives me reassurance that i will have my passport, and not have it rejected. Just sent her the info for my daughter's passport, as i am submitting that today.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I thought a guarantor had to be someone like a priest, or lawyer or engineer, etc, not just anyone. Those people ususally don't know personal details about you.

 

[xStitch]

They made it easier, you guarantor is someone whose known you for two or more years and has a valid passport. It can even be a family member in the same house.

Can safely say I've never been contacted by anyone whose used me as a guarantor or reference and as far as I know, no one I've used has been contacted. I don't know anyone whose been contacted by Passport Canada

 

[FigmentSpark]

I did see that now about the guarantor. What about the references? It says no family. Does that mean only direct family? Can my MIL or SIL be my reference, but not my husband's? Or does it have to be friends/co-workers?

 

[xStitch]

I'm going to assume all family, just to be on the safe side. So go with anyone whose not family whose known you for at least two years. On the upside, references don't need to have a passport like a guarantor so it makes it a bit easier to find someone.

 

[kiford]

I thought a guarantor had to be someone like a priest, or lawyer or engineer, etc, not just anyone. Those people ususally don't know personal details about you.

It used to have to be someone who was certified or licensed (e.g., accountant, lawyer, doctor, priest, etc.) as there could be severe penalties for lying such as losing that certification or license. That's no longer the case. I used to get asked a lot by friends and family because I am an accountant but now you only need to know them for two years. I hope I never get asked what eye colour someone has - I just acted as guarantor for my friend's 13 year old son and I've known him since he was -6 months old (his mother told me when she was 3 months pregnant). He comes over at least once a week and I still don't know what his eye colour is.

 

[ngm]

Just wanted to say that my best friend actually got those things wrong for me too, even though this post is an old one, it gives me reassurance that i will have my passport, and not have it rejected. Just sent her the info for my daughter's passport, as i am submitting that today.

I was guarantor for my brother's girlfriend and they asked me this stuff too! I could barely tell you my husband's eye colour, let alone my brother's girlfriends! Then when it came time to weight, you could tell the passport person knew what a weird question it was - she kept trying to find a diplomatic way for me to answer. "Is she proportional?" ??!!!