Canadian Passport HELP!!

[becky280]

So.. stupid me, AFTER booking our WDW/US trip August 16-22, I happened to check our passports and see that they expire August 18. I went to the store to pick up some forms and we can't used the 'Simplified Adult' renewal form because we were younger than 16 the last time we applied for a passport. So I guess I have to do the regular route?

What I'm asking is what's the FASTEST way to get a new passport? Should I go to a Service Canada place and register in person? If I mail it, will I get a new one back in time? What about Canada Post, I read they charge $20 to process your forms but could the price be worth it?

Thanks so much for your wisdom!

 

[Mickey's biggest fan]

Are you located near a passport office? We live in Ottawa and took ours in to the office in person and had them back in only 5 days. Not sure if it is as fast for the regions though. I would be more tempted to take it to a passport office than Canada Post. My mom took hers to Canada Post in N.B. and they messed it up and took her a while. Regardless of what method you choose, you'll have it back in plenty of time for your August vacation!

 

[ykmom]

I would go into a passport office if you are near one. If you are not then go to service Canada. I live in Yellowknife, took them to service canada where they reviewed all the documents, copied our ID and sent the forms off. They were mailed to our address and I had them in about a month so you should be fine.

 

[aristocat65]

I would say the fastest is going to the passport office yourself. Last time I did this I had my passport in 2 weeks. This way they check everything for you and you know it is all good at the time. If you mail it off there is always a risk that you missed something or made an error and this would delay it. You have until August so you should be fine.

 

[glendalais]

The quickest way would be to submit your application directly to a Passport Canada office. If approved, you'll receive the new Passport by mail within two weeks. For CA$10.00 more, you can also pick it up within 10 business days.

They do have express services as well. I recently used the Express service at the Montreal office and was able to pick up my Passport 4 days later.

Check out Passport Canada's website for more information.

 

[becky280]

Thanks guys!! The Passport Canada website is really slow for me for some reason... are any of you experiencing this? I live in Edmonton. There's a service Canada near me but not sure about a Passport office... is there a difference?

 

[chimo2u]

Thanks guys!! The Passport Canada website is really slow for me for some reason... are any of you experiencing this? I live in Edmonton. There's a service Canada near me but not sure about a Passport office... is there a difference?

I live in Edmonton too The best place for you to do your passport app in person is at Canada Place. They can look over your app and make sure nothing is missing, stamp and process/take payment and if all is in order, you should have your passport fairly quickly. Get on it ASAP though, August is coming up fast!

ETA: the service Canada site is only a drop off point, they can't advise you if there are problems, stamp it and process it....they just send it out for you. You are best to go to the Passport office at Canada Place, it's the full service shebang! Well worth the trip to ensure all is good and filled out properly. Nothing worse than having an imporperly filled out form, or something missing and having it mailed back to you to have to re-do!! Get the experts to approve it and look it all over at the PP office.

 

[glendalais]

Thanks guys!! The Passport Canada website is really slow for me for some reason... are any of you experiencing this? I live in Edmonton. There's a service Canada near me but not sure about a Passport office... is there a difference?

Passport Canada is responsible on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs for issuing Canadian Passports and Travel Documents.

Service Canada is a one-stop centre that allows Canadians and residents to access Federal Government services without having to visit various offices or having to travel great distances. Basically, they take your forms and send them off to the right agency or department so you don't have to travel about everywhere.

Passport Canada maintains three offices in Alberta, two in Calgary and one in Edmonton:

Passport Canada (Edmonton)
Canada Place Building
9700 Jasper Avenue, Suite 126
Edmonton, Alta.
Mon.-Fri.: 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Passport Canada (Calgary)
Harry Hays Building
220 4th Avenue South East, Suite 254
Calgary, Alta.
Mon.-Fri.: 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Passport Canada (Calgary South)
English-Language Services Only/Service en anglais seulement
14331 Macleod Trail SW
Calgary, Alta.
Mon.-Fri.: 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Best to get their early to avoid the crowds.

 

[becky280]

I live in Edmonton too The best place for you to do your passport app in person is at Canada Place. They can look over your app and make sure nothing is missing, stamp and process/take payment and if all is in order, you should have your passport fairly quickly. Get on it ASAP though, August is coming up fast!

ETA: the service Canada site is only a drop off point, they can't advise you if there are problems, stamp it and process it....they just send it out for you. You are best to go to the Passport office at Canada Place, it's the full service shebang! Well worth the trip to ensure all is good and filled out properly. Nothing worse than having an imporperly filled out form, or something missing and having it mailed back to you to have to re-do!! Get the experts to approve it and look it all over at the PP office.

Awesome. Canada Place it is. Do you know if this service costs money? And I may as well ask, do you know about parking/fees? Hahah

I'd go tomorrow but it turns out we can't find my sister's birth certificate, so she's gotta send in for a new one (and it's gotta be by mail because she was born in Manitoba). I'm starting to panic. Are we going to get this done in time?!

 

[chimo2u]

Awesome. Canada Place it is. Do you know if this service costs money? And I may as well ask, do you know about parking/fees? Hahah

I'd go tomorrow but it turns out we can't find my sister's birth certificate, so she's gotta send in for a new one (and it's gotta be by mail because she was born in Manitoba). I'm starting to panic. Are we going to get this done in time?!

I think parking costs around $3.00/hour for meters and underground pkg at Canada place could run around anywhere up to $8 or so. I doesn't cost extra to access the services at the passport office above what it will cost for your passport. Just make sure your pictures are perfect and done to the specifications (how the form requires them), you have all your guarantour signatures done, and it might cost extra if you want to pay for the "rush" turnaround service instead of waiting the couple weeks it will take to have them mailed. If it is cutting close to your departure time, I'd pay for the RUSH return, worth the $20 or so in that case!!!!

 

[snickerboo]

I'm w/ everyone else-go in. But, from most of what I'm hearing it's only taking about 2 weeks for passports to be processed. You'll have them in time for August for sure!

 

[monkey30]

YUP Canada Place was great and they were really friendly.

We had to renew one sons passport, and get a new one for the baby. It was great. The bst thing is I could sign the photos for the kids, so we got them done there, and if u can do that the photo place will do them for free if rejected. Not easy to get a picture of a 3week old with eyes open but they did it!

Parking underground was way easier and only a few bucks. We had our passports within 3 weeks.
Good luck

 

[joandegennaro]

I know on the application it askes for you date of next travel. Make sure you fill that out as this might help with the rush factor. Good Luck!

 

[bdoyledimou]

I am in Toronto, and just went in TODAY to get my passport processed. They are doing 15 day returns.
For $20 extra you can get it back in 7 days. For another $10 you can pick it up yourself (if you dont trust express post regesitered mail).

 

[tamarabannon]

We brought our applications in to the passport office in Hamilton (near where we live) and the LONGEST it took to get a passport back was 9 days.

 

[becky280]

Great, this sounds reassuring! Hopefully the birth certificate will come in time for my sister! Keepin my fingers crossed!

 

[jwcollin]

I live in Edmonton as well and took our passports into Canada Place, very fast. I believe it opens up at 7:30am and it is free parking at the meters until 9am! My husband and I work downtown, so was very convenient! If you go later, the lines can become quite long!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I just got new ones for the whole family. I went in and applied on a Monday around noon and the post man was knocking on my door Friday morning. Which was a total shocker since they said I would have them in 2 weeks.

It is always the best/fasted way to do it in person.