Oh Passport Canada, how I loathe you!

I sent my Canadian Passport in to be renewed with their “Simplified Renewal” process. bullshit. My passport doesn’t expire until September 2008 but the Simplified Renewal requires you to be in the country at the time of the application. I am not worried about it for travelling because I’ve got my UK Passport (I’m a dual citizen)… but after over 2 months, I’m wondering about my passport. Two weeks ago, I sent in an email form to inquire about the status of my renewal, and they said they hadn’t received it, but not to worry because it was probably in the mail pile unopened.

On Wednesday, I called Passport Canada to inquire about my passport (just for peace of mind). They said they had no record of it and they’ve already gone through their mail that arrived in September. I got very upset and asked them what they planned to do about losing my passport, long-form birth certificate, and health care card.  They said that it wasn’t their fault and that I should have tracked my package through Canada Post. I told them that they said that the package would arrive if I sent it by regular mail. I hung up the phone and was freaking out.

I called my dad who said it was possible it was in the mail pile of October arrivals. He said that just to be safe I should call about replacing my birth certificate, health care card, and take some more passport photos and sign another application. This way, if nothing happens within a few months, my parents can send off a new application like I never left the country. This works for me, but my old passport had my visas from Japan. *sadness*

I called Canada Post and they said they have no records for regular mail and there is nothing they can do. Fine. I called HealthBC and they’re sending a new HealthCare card for me, no charges mentioned. Then I called the Birth & Death Office in Victoria and the guy I spoke to was totally outraged on my behalf! It was awesome – he said that I should send all the charges to Passport Canada for replacing my documentation. I have no way to really prove that I exist… I have to buy my way back into recorded citizenship!