re: Crossing (driving) Canada border with expired passport *UPDATED*

Update: Mission accomplished, the trip to Dallas was successful and she has her passport.

Not without a bit of hassle though.

They wanted an actual ticket as proof of travel as the letter from her daughter in Canada wasn't good enough. So from the passport office, one daughter called another to get on a computer and buy a refundable airline ticket and then e-mail the proof to the agent. The agency's computer system was fricked up so that ended up not working.

Then someone who worked at the agency (off the record) told them what they would do in this situation is go buy a bus ticket a few blocks away in downtown Dallas. While my aunt went to get a bus ticket, I guess it was nearing printing time because the main agent just told them he trusted that someone was going to bring back a ticket and he started the process of making the passport.

Sounded like government at work. We know you aren't going to use this refundable ticket but we need it anyway to satisfy our red tape.