Ottawa Passport Office

[Nagle]

My wife drove up to Ottawa the Friday of the August long weekend. She got there just before 7:30 AM and was about 100th in line. While she felt they could have had more wickets open, things moved along relatively well and she was out of there within 1.5 to 2 hours and back to Brockville by lunch time. The passports arrived last Tuesday (our son's) and Wednesday (my wife's) Not too bad at all 2.5 weeks and they were in our possession.


She also said that by the time she left, the lineup was at least twice as long as when she got there so it paid to be there early.



John

 

[binky1]

For those of you who think they might do the same thing, you might also want to try going to the Gatineau office which is just across the river from Ottawa. It is always much faster than the downtown office - I think alot of people don't even know it's there.

 

[sheilag]

fill out your application online, print it off, get guarantor/signatures (whatever today's requirement is) - you'll get kicked into different queue once you actually make it inside. I renewed in July (before new rules) and waited 45 mins to get inside the door - but because I'd filled out apps online for me and hubby (they won't let you for kids - too many custody issues, apparently) and had handwritten ones for kids, I was bumped into different line once checked in inside. Guy ahead of me in line to get inside the office did all his by hand, and he was still waiting patiently when I was good to go

 

[ilovemangoes]

Whatever you do, DO NOT drop off your passport renewal at a Service Canada location if you want it back quickly. I dropped off my son's passport renewal application at the local SC office on May 22nd and it still hasn't been processed!!

I called Pasport Canada earlier this week to inquire and they said that applications dropped of at Service Canada outlets take on average 10-12 weeks longer than if you visit the Passport office.