MP Allen Hosting More Passport Clinics

January 09, 2009

TOBIQUE-MACTAQUAC – Mike Allen, Member of Parliament for Tobique-Mactaquac, will host three passport clinics during the month of January to prepare people for the change in U.S. requirements on June 1.

“The eight clinics we held already were a big success, and many people took the opportunity to get help with their application forms,” said the Chair of the Atlantic Conservative Caucus.

Mr. Allen, along with staff members and volunteers from the community, will be working at clinics in Florenceville, Richmond Corner and Grand Falls.

The Florenceville event will take place at the Town Hall on Monday, Jan. 19, while the clinic in Richmond Corner will be held at the Haynes Memorial Centre on Tuesday, Jan. 20. The Grand Falls event will take place at the Town Hall on Thursday, Jan. 22. All clinics will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“I’m really happy to offer more clinics,” said Mr. Allen. “We’re trying to make the process more convenient and those unable to attend can always visit Service Canada Centres in Grand Falls and Woodstock, or Passport Canada in Fredericton.”

The Member of Parliament reminds people that the United States plans to require passports for land travel across the border on June 1 of this year. That gives people only a few months to prepare.

When applying for a passport, you must provide an original proof of Canadian citizenship in the form of a birth certificate or a certificate of citizenship; supporting identification with your current name and signature, such as a driver’s license, Medicare card or Social Insurance card; and two identical photographs taken within the last 12 months. These can be taken by the photographer of your choice either before or after the clinics.

Also important to remember is that you will need a guarantor, someone who has known you for at least two years and has their own valid passport.

They can even be relatives. This individual will need to sign your passport application, copies of your supporting identification and one of your photos.

Those attending the clinics should also have the names, addresses and telephone numbers of two non-relatives who have known them for more than two years.

Regular passport prices will be charged and are $22 for children up to the age of three, $37 for those aged three to 16 years less a day, and $87 for those aged 16 and over.

For further information, call the constituency offices toll free at 1-800-671-6160 or drop by.