International University College Division
Information Regarding Canadian Passports
- As of January 31, 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) will require all adult travelers entering the United States by land, sea or air to present a government-issued photo id (such as a passport or driver’s licence) AND proof of citizenship (such as a passport, birth certificate or naturalization certificate). Children aged 18 or under will only be required to present proof of citizenship.
- Passports and other trusted traveler program cards – NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST – will continue to be accepted for cross border travel.
- This means you will only be able to attend Lake Superior State University, either part-time or full-time, if you possess the right combination of the above-mentioned documents.
- However, the above ruling is only a delay in the requirement of a passport in order to enter the U.S. Therefore, it is recommended that you acquire your Canadian passport ASAP.
- Currently, on the Passport Canada website there is the statement that it may take up to 6 weeks for the processing of passport applications sent by mail within Canada.
- Applications submitted through a receiving agent (Canada Post or Service Canada Centre) may be processed within 6 weeks or less.
- The complexity of routine verifications and security checks in certain cases may trigger longer delays.
- The processing times required will be up-dated regularly on the Passport Canada website. (See next bullet for the web address).
- You can learn about Canadian passport requirements by calling a toll-free number: 1-800-567-6868. OR, you can go on-line to: www.ppt.gc.ca . This website contains a lot of helpful information. There is a “Frequently Asked Questions” section too.
In Sault Ste. Marie, to acquire a passport application, you can:
- Print one from the website mentioned above
- Pick one up from the Canada Post Outlet at 451 Queen Street East or the Service Canada Centre at 22 Bay Street. Please note: if you choose to work through the Canada Post outlet to get the form and submit the application + required documents, it will cost you an extra $15 + applicable taxes.
- The Service Canada Centre on Bay Street is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Its telephone number is (705) 041-4500 and its fax number is (705) 941-4545.
- As you read through the application requirements, you will find there are ORIGINAL birth certificate, two photos which meet particular guidelines and other documents you will need to submit.
- A guarantor must sign your application form. Guarantors come from a limited group of people (professional engineers, ministers, physicians, college/university Registrars, etc.) and they MUST HAVE KNOWN YOU AT LEAST TWO YEARS – which is longer than most of you have been attending Sault College.
- Any Canadian citizen of 16 years of age or older must submit a fee of $87 with the application to be issued a regular, 24-page passport.
- Once you have prepared your application, if you wish to have it checked to ensure you have completed everything correctly, you may go to the Service Canada Desk at the Government of Canada Building on Bay Street. An official there will review your form and documents. If everything is in order and you have the fee, the official will forward your application to the Passport Service for processing. (Note - as outlined above - that this is a faster route than regular mail. Of course, you may find you will have to stand in line at the Service Canada Centre!)
- If the normal processing time for your passport has been exceeded, you can request the Service Canada Desk official to check the status of your application.
- A Canadian passport is valid for five years from the date it is issued.