Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Passport Renewal (Not Canadian!)

My passport was expired and considering the closure of the embassy in Ottawa and having a plan to go to the old country, I didn't know what to do. Some said you just go and then when you land declare the expiry of your passport. Some at the other hand prevented me to do so indicating that I might get into trouble on the way, for example in Europe. I eventually found out that there was this Interest Office in Washington D. C. and decided to contact them. I tried both e-mail and telephone but neither worked. The e-mailed bounced back and I never got through the phone. 
The cost of passport renewal in the old country is some $40 to $60 at the most while here I had to pay $187. Eventually I decided to gather all the documents and send them to D. C. I didn't want to take any chances so I forgot about the $150 extra I had to pay (considering the document preparation and mailing) and sent everything to the so-called Interest Office
Luckily one day when I came back I realized that the package has arrived. The FedEx guys had slipped it under the door! 
I have obtained 5 passport in my entire life so far. Two Canadians and three from the old country. Only 1 of them has issued in there! I got both Canadians in Calgary and two, out of 3 foreigners, one from Ottawa and one from Washington! Good thing is I have it now and I can safely travel.
(Photo: If it was not because that the Government of Canada give out a passport just after 5 freaking years, the population of the country would not be this even now. This is a line of the so-called Canadians[!] to get their passports renewed. 98% of these are Indians from Punjabi decent) 

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Where is your "old" country? Turkey or Pakistan? If so why cannot you just use your old country embassy in Canada to renew your old country passport?
Suzzi

The Tough Guy said...

It is neither of them. I guess you did not read the post completely. The embassy is closed. The Government shut down the embassy in Sep. of 2012. I do not want to go but I will have to and I cannot go without a passport.

Anonymous said...

The embassy of where? Which country?
I read your posts but you never said the name of your country of origin. Where is it?
Suzzi

The Tough Guy said...

I don't understand why it's such a big deal but have you heard: The seeker is the finder?!

Anonymous said...

If not such a big deal why are you so afraid of telling your nationality?
Suzzi

The Tough Guy said...

Currently I'm stateless because I own no passport! And again: The seeker is the finder. Hope that helps.

Anonymous said...

When are you going to learn the proper English meanings of these phrases you use? No having a passport or having your passport expired does not make you "stateless", you simply have not renewed your passport but you still are a citizen of a country. If you citizenship is being revoked by a state for any reason, then you become a stateless person.

On the other hand, If you afraid of telling your nationality, I am not going to read all of your entries to find out what nationality you are, I assume you are so ashamed of your nationality that you are afraid of naming it. That's it.

The Tough Guy said...

Thanks for the note.
1- I promise to learn PROPER English as soon as practicable.
2- People are free to make assumptions.
And I don't know about you but I'm going to enjoy the long weekend. I hope you will too.