FYI - Passport wait times

[jtdl]

I went to the London office last week to hand in our passport apps. Unfortunately, I had forgot to get DH to sign DS app, so I told the lady that I would just mail his in. She looked at our travel date, which is Jan 15, (I know we don't require a passport yet, but I think it would be more convenient to have them) and she told me that if I mailed it, I would be lucky to have it back by JUNE! Now I think she must've just been stressing that it would not be back by Jan 15 cause I can't see it taking until June, but I'm figuring they must still be pretty backed up with the mail in applications. I returned yesterday to the office to have them processed and was told that they should arrive in about 3-4 weeks.

I had assumed that the long waits of last year were a thing of the past and things would be like they used to be - 2 weeks for one processed at the office and 6 weeks for one mailed in - but apparently that isn't the case.

 

[disneyfan2]

i think this year is going to be much longer especially if they go ahead with plans to have everyone have passport to drive across next spring. We did the mail in last november before the big rush,actually went to a receiving agent and the mail in took 3 months then. Once the big rush hit in Dec/Jan i would agree not to mail them in unless you don't have a trip planned... But now the renewal process is better and the options to guarantor are more available, that i think more people will get them this year. We got our passports last year the week we were leaving. In Nov we were told 3 weeks max, we left the 3rd week of Feb. Soooo.. if you need a passport, go to the passport office. Also, apply on line and then tell them at the Passport office you have an internet application. There are separate line ups(ususally less-unless the word is out and much faster.

good luck

 

[deebee29]

Wow! I am concerned now! We leave May 24 and I have not applied yet. I will have to put it in the mail. Oh no!

 

[Joann]

Canadians travelling to the United States
By land or water
Canadian citizens will not require a passport to enter the United States at LAND AND MARINE ports of entry until summer 2008 at the earliest.

However, as of January 31, 2008, if you travel to the U.S. by land or water, a U.S. law will require you to present:

a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's licence
AND a birth certificate or a citizenship card;
OR
for youth under 16, a birth certificate;
OR
a valid passport.
By air
Since January 23, 2007, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) came into effect for air travel to the United States. The following documents are acceptable:

A valid Canadian passport; or
A NEXUS card when used at a NEXUS kiosk at designated airports.
The NEXUS program offers a simplified and expedited clearance process to pre-approved, low-risk travellers. NEXUS is currently available at the Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal international airports and will be expanded to other major airports later this year.

WHTI is an American endeavour that establishes new requirements for documentation to enter the U.S. It is being implemented in stages.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Planning to travel to Mexico from Canada?
Although the Government of Canada recommends that Canadians travelling to any destination outside of Canada carry a valid passport, it is not mandatory to do so for travel to Mexico. To date, there has been no policy change requiring Canadians to travel with their passports to this destination. However, you must have sufficient identification to satisfy border officials of your identity and citizenship.

It is recommended that you consult

 

[Canada2k7]

Processing times as of December 4, 2007:

In most cases, our offices can now process in-person applications within a delay of 2 weeks plus delivery delay. However, applicants should be aware that they may face long line-ups at our offices before they meet with a passport officer.

It may take up to 6 weeks to process applications sent by mail within Canada. Applications submitted through a receiving agent (Canada Post or Service Canada) may be processed in 5 weeks or less.

It may take up to 6 weeks to process applications received by mail from the United States.

Complexity of routine verifications and security checks in certain cases may trigger longer delays.

To avoid further delays in getting your passport, make sure your application is complete. Please note that standards are set as objectives and may change based on the volume of applications being received. While not bound by these objectives, Passport Canada continues to seek ways to reduce service delays. Please visit our website regularly as this page will be updated weekly
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Well the govt is saying 6 weeks by mail -- still I see your point. With the new simplified process in place it's as easy as filling out the application and mailing it in for most people and there will be a crunch coming with March break just around the corner - Certainly if you are travelling in the Spring I would get those apps in soon.

 

[jaybees212]

Just as a FYI for those applying for a passport now, I dropped my passport app off in person in downtown Ottawa on Nov 16th. I received it in the mail Dec 6th. They had estimated I would have it in 3 weeks when I was there and sure enough 3 weeks it was.

I spent about an hour in line to get inside the office but less than two minutes waiting once inside.

I recommend:

1) Definitely fill out the application online (this is why I only spent two minutes inside the passport office instead of a much longer wait for a full service counter)
2) Definitely drop it off in person if you are hoping to have a passport for January (this is why it took only 3 weeks for mine instead of 2-3 months)
3) Definitely do it as soon as possible (everyone is rushing now because of the land crossing requirement plus Christmas mail delays... don't wait too long people!)

Good luck!

 

[calliemom]

Just as a FYI for those applying for a passport now, I dropped my passport app off in person in downtown Ottawa on Nov 16th. I received it in the mail Dec 6th. They had estimated I would have it in 3 weeks when I was there and sure enough 3 weeks it was.

I spent about an hour in line to get inside the office but less than two minutes waiting once inside.

I recommend:

1) Definitely fill out the application online (this is why I only spent two minutes inside the passport office instead of a much longer wait for a full service counter)
2) Definitely drop it off in person if you are hoping to have a passport for January (this is why it took only 3 weeks for mine instead of 2-3 months)
3) Definitely do it as soon as possible (everyone is rushing now because of the land crossing requirement plus Christmas mail delays... don't wait too long people!)

Good luck!

Not sure if you can help, but I filled out my passport along with my husbands using the online application, however my daughter is under 16 therefore cannot use the online form (had to fill out by hand). Do you think there is a chance I can still use the online counter instead of the full service counter once I go to the local passport office?

 

[jtdl]

Not sure if you can help, but I filled out my passport along with my husbands using the online application, however my daughter is under 16 therefore cannot use the online form (had to fill out by hand). Do you think there is a chance I can still use the online counter instead of the full service counter once I go to the local passport office?

Yes, you will still be able to get in the online counter. As long as you have one that is filled out online. I had mine and my husbands that were done online and my son's which was the regular form.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

I saw on the web site that you can go to the post office in Ancaster (medowlands) and get it processed there. It also said that there is a $15 fee for this location.. do you think that is per application or total? I want to do my 4 kids and that will add up if it is per app.
I was going to call them on Monday but I wonder if you guys know.

 

[calliemom]

Yes, you will still be able to get in the online counter. As long as you have one that is filled out online. I had mine and my husbands that were done online and my son's which was the regular form.

Fabulous...thanks so much for the information!

 

[talicskai]

The $15 post office fee is per passport application so that would cost you another $60. I was into the Hamilton passport office on November 20th with my kids applications. They had to photocopy my separation agreement and everything because they are 10/8 years old. I still was only one hour total in and out. The passports arrived at my home in 9 business days and they even took the time to call my ex to verify I had his permission. It was very well done. I was quite impressed!

 

[deebee29]

I will be able to bring mine to a receiving agent, but it still has to be mailed as such. Hoping to do it on Friday, I should have it by may right?

 

[highland3]

I was in and out of the Ottawa Pasport office in less than an hour thos morning!!! There was hardly any line for the initial counter and I think I sat in the waiting area for 10-15 minutes.

The service was quick and excellent. I should have the kids passports the first week of January.

 

[jtdl]

I went to the London office last week to hand in our passport apps and was told that they should arrive in about 3-4 weeks.

We received our passports 3 weeks, 1 day from the day I delivered them to the London office.

 

[deebee29]

Still haven't brought mine to the receiving agent. It's not an actual passport office, but he will check it all and make sure its okay. Not going til May, so hoping I'll be fine. Got the pictures done, and will bring it in on Monday. I should have it in time right?

 

[jtdl]

Still haven't brought mine to the receiving agent. It's not an actual passport office, but he will check it all and make sure its okay. Not going til May, so hoping I'll be fine. Got the pictures done, and will bring it in on Monday. I should have it in time right?

I'm sure you'll be fine, especially since you're taking it to a receiving agent. The officer at the passport office told me 3 weeks ago that if I were to mail my son's in that I'd be lucky to get it back by June. I think maybe she was exaggerating a bit!

 

[disneyfan2]

I'm sure you'll be fine, especially since you're taking it to a receiving agent. The officer at the passport office told me 3 weeks ago that if I were to mail my son's in that I'd be lucky to get it back by June. I think maybe she was exaggerating a bit!

FYI, a receiving agent is considered the same processing as mailing it in on your own. So i would check this out first. We did this last year before the big back up, and the receiving agent told us it would be 3 weeks, at the time passport offices took 2 weeks. but the process took 3 months. If you can go in to an office, i would highly recommend it. the receiving agent gave us a reference number but they were all sent to the Quebec main office and we had to keep calling for weeks before they even had it shown on the computer as received.

I would not pay the receiving agent fee again if you have access to go to the passport office. Good Lucky

 

[TimNDansMom]

Took both DSs with me to the London Passport Office this morning and arrived about 15 minutes after opening. I was expecting a huge line-up but it was pretty quiet.

Their applications were filled in online and I had everything needed, clipped to each application, so all the check-in person had to do was give me a number. We were #F912 and they were at #F906 for that grouping, with 3 other sets of numbers going on the board. We were in and out in about 35 minutes.

Tim needed an expedited passport since he's traveling with us at the beginning of February and that will be ready on January 18 for pick-up and mail-out date for Dan's is also January 18.

 

[polyhm83]

I went to the North York passport office today. I arrived at 10:30 and wasn't out of there until almost 1:30. Well at least its done and they will be mailed Jan 18th. I would definitely fill out the online form it is much less wait time, wished I had.

 

[CupidsKiss]

I filed my sons via efile. He was in and out of the Victoria BC office in an hour today. Will be ready on the 18th