What's Not to Love About Canadian Bureaucracy?

I am absolutely fed up.

For the past two weeks we've been valiantly trying to get our passport applications processed. (Mexico here we come! Only 66 more days to go, but you know, who's really counting? It's a balmy -20C outside today.) Last month it became mandatory for all Canadians to have a passports to travel to the U.S. As a result, every man and his dog suddenly need a passport and the bureaucratic backlog is astronomical.

Luckily, we happen to have a Canada Passports office just five minutes away from our house. You'd think that convenience would make it easier for us to get our applications in. But you'd think wrong!

Aaarg!

Our family needs to submit five applications, along with professional photos of every family member (even the baby). All of the paperwork and photos must be notarized by a guarantor. Pretty simple, right? You'd think so...

We've had photos taken three times so far. And guess what? After my husband stood in line outside the passport office for an hour early this morning (it's a balmy -20C, remember) he was informed that our sons' photos were not quite right. Apparently the contrast is too dark. (Thank you, Black's Photography. Your photos were also the most expensive.)

So it is to be another trip to the photographer's for us. Then a third visit with our guarantor so he can sign yet another piece of paperwork. Will it never end?

I suppose I should be thankful that three out of our five applications are being processed. The passport officer also assured my husband our documents would arrive within one month (not the two months the media is reporting). I guess it's also good that Ben received a "golden ticket" that allows him to bypass the horrendous line next time he goes to the passport office. (Grumble, grumble.)

What a headache. I am so looking forward to having our boys' photos taken a fourth time.