Canadian Passport, eh?

So this is not something old - but yes, I am a Canadian and carry a Canadian Passport.
That passport is going to expire next month - yikes!  So I began filling out the paper work and asked the Canadian Embassy if they have the "Simplified Renewal Application" available yet.  You'll notice the link is listed as "International" but through the UK.  The reason for this is because.......

It's not available in Finland until September 4th.
Which would be fine but we were hoping to go travel maybe to Norway or somewhere in the EU anyway....around mid-September-ish?

My son doesn't qualify anyhow - so I'll just submit them both at the same time.

And here's the lovely thing about my baby's passport.  The guarantor was contacted and questioned a lot because there was doubt that she was really a lawyer and who she said she was on the form!

WHY?!
Because I put a different date on the application when I signed it - and because of this one tiny little factor...they really questioned her.  Thankfully she didn't mind but she warned me when I filled out the big kid and my passport application - to put the same date.
I honestly didn't think it was a big deal because hey - I was signing it on a different date than her...I was just being honest and because of that - they questioned it.

So - FYI.

PPTC445 Versus PPTC116

Do you know what the title is talking about?

Ask me a few days ago and I'd tell you, I have no clue.

If you're a Canadian living abroad and happen to have children with your spouse (let's say they are Canadian too for example) - and you need a passport for the child - well, you need to now fill out a PPTC116 form.

This is all based on a very recent experience and involves the Canadian Embassy in Helsinki - all possibilities are endless depending where you live and your personal situation.


Okay now that I have that little "disclaimer" out of the way - let's chat about those forms.

When our first son was born, we did not have to fill out either of those PPTC forms.
We did however, have to make sure that the first page of his passport application said it was for a child born ABROAD.

This year, after realizing we have a trip planned for next month outside of Finland - we decided the youngest needs a passport ASAP.  Oh and his residence permit application will have to be submitted soon too!  Oops.
I sent in the Passport and the Canadian Citizenship application for him and got a phone call from the Embassy stating that I need to fill in a PPTC form and send in my Passport and birth certificate, along with my husband's.
Oh - no problem.
I then get the emailed copy of the form to fill out - asked a friend to print it for me and the following day was advised that the form has been updated (magically over night of course) and I should fill out the new one.

Both of them were labelled PPTC445.  Fine.
My friend printed the "updated" version and I filled it out and noticed that it asks for the "Certificate Number"  from both parents.  What number is it referring to?!
So I called the lovely Canadian Embassy - and they advised me that the actual Consular is away at the moment but the one in charge (whom we've been in regular contact with) is available.  Fine - let's get this thing figured out!

She advised me that there should be a "PPTC116" written somewhere on the paper.  I advised her no there wasn't.  My friend checked her email and both emails had an attachment stating "PPTC445"...she suggests I must be able to see it and I read her the form title and she said it must have been the other email.
Well, after bickering a bit and firmly telling her that NO I do not have the appropriate form - she advised me she'll send it right away and that the "Certificate number" only applies if we, as parents, became Canadian Citizens after immigrating to Canada for some time.
Considering me and the husband are both born in Canada - this clearly did not apply.

I was un-sure of our actual dates of travel so I put down "August 1" and she asked if I could send her the flight information...we're not flying - we're taking a boat to Sweden some time - and have yet to book the tickets.
Well, because we left this sort of last minute (yes definitely our fault - I admit that!) - the Embassy requires we prove we are travelling or require a Passport for the child for residency purposes.


Yeah - I know.  How dumb is that (2nd) part?!
OF COURSE we need a Passport for our child who is technically a Canadian born abroad and if we (including the first child) need a residence permit to live here - he would too!
When I pointed out the stupidity in that statement (as politely as possible) - she suggested I go to the Police to get a written document from them confirming this to be true.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
I told her flat out that it's obvious any child with an automatic tie to their parents' home country's citizenship would require a passport - she said it might be possible for me to write something.
This just keeps getting un-professional every single time she made a suggestion.  Of course anything I write (without any sort of legal or professional status other than "Mom") is not going to be justified as an acceptable piece of proof that my baby needs his passport so he can continue living in Finland.
UGH!
So I just told her - we'll book the tickets and we need the passports by this time - end of discussion.

I love how our CANADIAN Passports and Canadian birth certificates are not enough - you have to waste our time (both actual and processing time for the passport to be made) with this silly piece of paper.  Thanks for doubting not only us but Canadians everywhere....and of course - your own system...
Way to go Canada.

Hope this helps you Canadians living abroad with babies!

Canadian VS Finland (and most of EU)

Yes I know, Canada lost the Ice Hockey World Championships and I didn't blog about it.  There - I just did.  (Finland didn't win either you know!)

Now, something that has come up recently, that didn't before - is getting my youngest son a guarantor for his Canadian Passport.
My first son, V�in�, did not have a guarantor because we didn't know anyone here long enough (minimum 2 years) and of a professional status such as:

• Dentist, medical doctor
• Judge, Magistrate, Police Officer
• Mayor
• Notary Public
• Practising Lawyer, Notary
• Signing Officer of a Bank

WHAT IS A GUARANTOR?
Oh, in case you have NO idea what I am talking about - a guarantor is someone that has known you for at least 2 years and is of a professional status (as mentioned above) and is willing to fill in your Canadian Passport application and sign one of your photos (the back of it) confirming your identity and the child's.
(Or in this case, my youngest - Ahti's, identity).
It is a major responsibility because if they're caught lying in any way, shape or form - pretty sure there are some consequences...and even though you might have been the mother (or father) and have endured a difficult pregnancy and a tough labour and lost a lot of sleep and have "technically" known the child since your honeymoon (or last date night away from the other kids) - you as a parent, CANNOT sign the paperwork as a guarantor.

So back in 2010, when we started applying for a Passport for V�in� - we didn't know anyone for at least 2 years (and obviously, neither did he) - so we went to the Magistrate and for a fee of 14� (may have changed since then) - they signed it as a Notary Public.  We had to provide our identification and that was all fine and done immediately.

Now, time has gone by and we have more friends and one of them is a practicing lawyer.
So when I asked her if she wouldn't mind being Ahti's guarantor - she asked me what she had to do.
Once I explained it all she said it was fine and we went over the paperwork and she filled it all in.

Afterwards, I asked her if it's the same for an EU Passport.
Nope.
Apparently they don't have anything like this system and they just ask about your parents birth dates and some other questions to confirm your identity and you of course, send in your photos and you get a passport.

I bet you're wondering why my kids don't have EU Passports now - aren't you?
My kids are yes, both born here, but because my husband and I are Canadians - they are automatically deemed Canadian.
If your child doesn't have any automatic ties to a particular citizenship once born, then I think you can apply for Finnish Citizenship.
There is a small possibility of applying for EU citizenship when the kids are older (and once we know what we're doing or where we are going!) and they could have dual-citizenship - which would be fantastic and open up so many doors for studying and travelling!!

So, if you have to go ask your colleague or friend to be your guarantor for your Canadian Passport - that's the kind of reaction you might get...because Finns simply don't have to do that.

For more information (direct from the source) on Canadian Passports - please check here.

And ONE SUPER-DUPER important thing!!!!!!!!!

If you are a Canadian applying for your child(ren)'s passport out of country and through the Embassy for example (Canadian Embassy is in Helsinki by the way) - you must use the form that says:

"Child Passport Application for Canadians under 16 years of age (abroad)"


"Abroad" is the key word and they WILL return the application to you as not filled in properly - or wrong form chosen...we've been there with V�in�'s application.
And yes, if you look closely enough - they're the same form numbers....just that stinking word "abroad" has to be on the front page, where you don't actually write anything on it.

And yes, another popular question is in regards to babies having their own passport (it lasts 3 years until the child is a bit older - then it lasts 5 years prior to needing a renewal.  The reason for this is because a baby's facial features change so much and so quickly.  However a Finnish police representative told me the EU passports last 5 years - even for babies because they measure different points than the Canadian system.)  It IS mandatory because that's how babies can get kidnapped or moved without the other parent knowing.
If you do plan on travelling without the other parent of the child - or even part ways and meet up later - PLEASE get the other parent to write and sign a letter for you to carry with you if you have the child.  Security/customs representatives WILL question where the other parent is and if you have that letter and explain what your plans are - it'll make it a much smoother trip for you and your child!!
We did this last year, my husband and I travelled to New York together with V�in� and he stayed in NY while I kept going to Canada and thankfully I had a letter because he drilled me with a few good questions about my husband's whereabouts and the status of our relationship!  (aka - "Are you two having any issues in which the child is involved?" - so in other words - you are fleeing to Canada so the hubby can't find you and the kid?)


And one more thing!  When I first filled in V�in�'s application - in 2010, I was required to submit a person to be my character reference.  They WERE contacted and asked a tonne of questions about me, my life growing up, my hobbies and interests, my previous jobs - pretty much anything and everything but my shoe size!  I don't think I have to fill anything out like that this time for Ahti - but be sure you pick someone that really knows you well - that is NOT a relative (if I remember correctly).
They contacted my reference by e-mail - so you don't have to worry about having a Canadian calling Finland on their own account!

Hope this helps and safe travels!