Comments on: The True North Strong in Fee http://www.ryan-mclaughlin.com/blog/farrago/the-true-north-strong-in-fee/ I'm a dad, designer, China expat and blogger Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:41:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tina http://www.ryan-mclaughlin.com/blog/farrago/the-true-north-strong-in-fee/#comment-25454 Tina Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:24:05 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/?p=798#comment-25454 Ah yes, I too recently went to Guangzhou to get a new Canadian passport. Aside from flying to Guangzhou it was a lot less iritating than getting it in Toronto plus I now have a passport that says.."issued in Guangzhou" Ah yes, I too recently went to Guangzhou to get a new Canadian passport. Aside from flying to Guangzhou it was a lot less iritating than getting it in Toronto plus I now have a passport that says..”issued in Guangzhou”

]]> By: Ryan http://www.ryan-mclaughlin.com/blog/farrago/the-true-north-strong-in-fee/#comment-25390 Ryan Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:07:07 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/?p=798#comment-25390 @Steven: My complaint isn't so much the cost, though that's a stupid amount ($100 for government-approved ID?). My complaint is more the unbalanced expense and complexity of getting it abroad compared to at home. They just mail it back to Canada anyway. @Kellen: Actually, it'd be the Canadian border that makes Americans show their passport, and I'm sure it's because the US govn't is insisting on the reverse for "security" reasons. @Mark: Really? Play on "True North Strong and Free"... like our "Home of the brave" or whatever. @ChinaMatt: I had that exact same consideration. Never expected to be out of Canada when my passport expired.... and yet here I am. ----- As an update - I went yesterday to Shanghai, paid all the fees and will hopefully have my passport back before (A) I need a new visa, or (B) am required to show it to some nosy PSB officer. One more complaint on the pile - when a consulate has a waiting room full of Canadians (these aren't visa applicants, as that's restricted to mornings) being forced to wait 2 hours for 5 minutes of service - it's time to hire on another young girl to take the applications. I'm sure we could do without the over-sized plasma screen blasting Canadian scenery onto us if it would help pay her salary. @Steven: My complaint isn’t so much the cost, though that’s a stupid amount ($100 for government-approved ID?). My complaint is more the unbalanced expense and complexity of getting it abroad compared to at home. They just mail it back to Canada anyway.

@Kellen: Actually, it’d be the Canadian border that makes Americans show their passport, and I’m sure it’s because the US govn’t is insisting on the reverse for “security” reasons.

@Mark: Really? Play on “True North Strong and Free”… like our “Home of the brave” or whatever.

@ChinaMatt: I had that exact same consideration. Never expected to be out of Canada when my passport expired…. and yet here I am.

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As an update – I went yesterday to Shanghai, paid all the fees and will hopefully have my passport back before (A) I need a new visa, or (B) am required to show it to some nosy PSB officer.

One more complaint on the pile – when a consulate has a waiting room full of Canadians (these aren’t visa applicants, as that’s restricted to mornings) being forced to wait 2 hours for 5 minutes of service – it’s time to hire on another young girl to take the applications.

I’m sure we could do without the over-sized plasma screen blasting Canadian scenery onto us if it would help pay her salary.

]]> By: ChinaMatt http://www.ryan-mclaughlin.com/blog/farrago/the-true-north-strong-in-fee/#comment-25389 ChinaMatt Fri, 20 Jun 2008 07:46:58 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/?p=798#comment-25389 That's sounds a bit expensive (not to mention a pain in the ass). Not sure how the US passports are going at the moment--though I've heard it's slow getting one. Fortunately, I still have two years remaining on mine (if it doesn't fall apart before then). I'm hoping to be back home by the time my passport expires. That’s sounds a bit expensive (not to mention a pain in the ass). Not sure how the US passports are going at the moment–though I’ve heard it’s slow getting one. Fortunately, I still have two years remaining on mine (if it doesn’t fall apart before then). I’m hoping to be back home by the time my passport expires.

]]> By: ShangNing http://www.ryan-mclaughlin.com/blog/farrago/the-true-north-strong-in-fee/#comment-25386 ShangNing Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:59:47 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/?p=798#comment-25386 Dear ryan: I often read your articles on your Blog and like them very much. I very appreciate your writing style and your words, and I was stuck by both of them. Recently my blog needs some more good Blogrolls. The content of my blog also connects with foreigners living in Beijing. Here foreigners can find interesting information and photos which are related to basic necessities of life. The reason I write this letter is to ask you for the permission whether you can add my website address on your blogroll and if you like I can also add your blog website on my website and let more foreigners and Chinese read your articles and share their experience with you. Here is my blog address: http://shangning.net and I swear it's not a spam message, and no virus on my blog. If you are interested in this, please contact me: jvyyuie@gmail.com I am looking forward to your reply Sincerely yours ShangNing Dear ryan:

I often read your articles on your Blog and like them very much. I very appreciate your writing style and your words, and I was stuck by both of them.

Recently my blog needs some more good Blogrolls. The content of my blog also connects with foreigners living in Beijing. Here foreigners can find interesting information and photos which are related to basic necessities of life.

The reason I write this letter is to ask you for the permission whether you can add my website address on your blogroll and if you like I can also add your blog website on my website and let more foreigners and Chinese read your articles and share their experience with you.

Here is my blog address: http://shangning.net and I swear it’s not a spam message, and no virus on my blog.

If you are interested in this, please contact me: jvyyuie@gmail.com

I am looking forward to your reply

Sincerely yours
ShangNing

]]> By: Mark http://www.ryan-mclaughlin.com/blog/farrago/the-true-north-strong-in-fee/#comment-25382 Mark Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:40:57 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/?p=798#comment-25382 Uh dude I don't understand the title of this post. I dunno maybe last night's beer had too much formaldehyde. Uh dude I don’t understand the title of this post. I dunno maybe last night’s beer had too much formaldehyde.

]]> By: Kellen http://www.ryan-mclaughlin.com/blog/farrago/the-true-north-strong-in-fee/#comment-25381 Kellen Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:35:30 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/?p=798#comment-25381 if it makes you feel any better about the border corssing thing, the US also makes americans show theirs to get to canada. no more weekend trips to windsor ontario for all those 19 year old would-be drunk michiganders (michiganians? michiganites? what the hell am i anyway?). i forget the exact price for adding pages to a US passport in shanghai but i recall it being costly enough that i decided to pass and hope i don't run out of space in the next few months. if it makes you feel any better about the border corssing thing, the US also makes americans show theirs to get to canada. no more weekend trips to windsor ontario for all those 19 year old would-be drunk michiganders (michiganians? michiganites? what the hell am i anyway?).

i forget the exact price for adding pages to a US passport in shanghai but i recall it being costly enough that i decided to pass and hope i don’t run out of space in the next few months.

]]> By: Steven Millward http://www.ryan-mclaughlin.com/blog/farrago/the-true-north-strong-in-fee/#comment-25378 Steven Millward Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:51:51 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/?p=798#comment-25378 810 RMB is a snip compared to getting a new British passport whilst overseas. A few months back I paid a whopping 1500 RMB (approx., I forgot already) for a standard new British passport in Shanghai. Apparently it also includes "Consular services", hence the massive extra cost (4x more than getting one in the UK). I intend to get myself rescued/airlifted at the expense of Her Majesty sometime in the next 10 years, in order to re-coup some of that extra fee! 810 RMB is a snip compared to getting a new British passport whilst overseas. A few months back I paid a whopping 1500 RMB (approx., I forgot already) for a standard new British passport in Shanghai. Apparently it also includes “Consular services”, hence the massive extra cost (4x more than getting one in the UK).

I intend to get myself rescued/airlifted at the expense of Her Majesty sometime in the next 10 years, in order to re-coup some of that extra fee!

]]> By: Nick http://www.ryan-mclaughlin.com/blog/farrago/the-true-north-strong-in-fee/#comment-25377 Nick Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:37:12 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/?p=798#comment-25377 I suggest the Canadian government cut costs by outsourcing their passport printing to a Chinese company :-) Hmm person of substance.... I suggest the Canadian government cut costs by outsourcing their passport printing to a Chinese company :-)

Hmm person of substance….

]]> By: Yokie Kuma http://www.ryan-mclaughlin.com/blog/farrago/the-true-north-strong-in-fee/#comment-25376 Yokie Kuma Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:20:57 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/?p=798#comment-25376 I'll sign it for only ¥200. You can save some money ..... I’ll sign it for only ¥200. You can save some money …..

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