Canada Eases Passport Requirements To Cope With Backlog Caused By New U.S. Rules

OTTAWA (AP) _ Canada said Friday it would simplify its passport application process to help deal with stricter rules for travel into the United States. <br/><br/>The new system for renewing a passport

Friday, June 8th 2007, 10:17 pm

By: News On 6

OTTAWA (AP) _ Canada said Friday it would simplify its passport application process to help deal with stricter rules for travel into the United States.

The new system for renewing a passport will no longer require that a professional _ such as a doctor or lawyer _ vouch for an applicant's identity. It will also no longer be necessary to provide proof of citizenship by producing a birth certificate.

For first-time applicants, the process will be simplified so that any Canadian with a passport can act as a guarantor instead of certain professionals.

``This will expedite the process,'' said Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has insisted it will go ahead with plans to start requiring passports at all land border crossings by January 2008.

Canadian officials say they have been trying to reduce the backlog by processing about 20,000 applications daily, up from the roughly 13,000 passports that were mailed out or picked up daily during the last fiscal year. At least 170,000 applications are pending.

The government also plans to hire hundreds of new employees to help with the backlog, MacKay said.

The U.S. has suspended some of its requirements for Americans traveling abroad to deal with an application backlog there, and MacKay said Canada would ask for similar consideration for Canadians flying south of the border.

MacKay said the U.S. decision benefits Canada's tourism industry because Americans will be able travel to Canada this summer without worrying about carrying a passport.