Passport Office Nightmare!

[Lollipop's Mom]

Just an FYI to anyone who is thinking of going to get a passport. Don't rely on those internet updates that tell you how long the wait is.
I went to the Surrey, BC office yesterday and the internet said it was a 23 min wait (I called my mom and had her check). I went in and it was more like a 23 min wait just to get my initial paperwork checked and be issued a number. Well STUPID me left off one address on the form. One of my friend's I was using as a reference. I didn't know her exact address and meant to call her, and forgot. So I had to go out, write down the address, then get back in line to have it checked again.
Well they have blocked cell phone service in that building. I was told it was too noisy with all the phones ringing and people on their phones, so they did whatever it is they do to block cellphone signals. So I had to go all the way back downstairs 9 floors to the lobby, call my friend for her address, then back up. Another 15 mins in line and I had my number. I looked and 11 people were ahead of me, but there must have been 70 in the waiting area. There were 11 ahead of me for passports, but there were 5 other groups that would also be served for different things they were there for. Group A,B,C,D,E,F - and it would go in order.....so DD and I sat there with coughing, hacking people with colds for a full hour and 10 mins before our number was called. I am convinced I am going to come down with something now. LOL. All these people coughing all over me. I got out the purrell pretty quick.
So the 23 mins might be the wait to get your number, not the actual wait. Or the internet is just plain wrong.
In short, don't go to the passport office unless you have 2 hours, some snacks, purrell, a good book and a babysitter!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

That sucks what happened. I guess we can all use it as a lesson when before going to the Passport Office, to always make sure you have all the information 100% correct, eventhough they make it a nightmare when you forget to write in 1 thing & etc. It would be nice in the future that cell phone service could work in the buildings. In March when I went to get my new Health Card, I had no service in the building & had to go outside call my Dad to let him know so he could call my Mom's cell which for some reason got service.

 

[drag n' fly]

I just wanted you to know all is not as bad as your experience. I went an applied for passports for all five of us in the spring in Calgary. We were handled quickly and efficiently with at leat 15 people in line to be checked and approx 75-100 waiting. They had all agents working that day. You made a very important point...check check and recheck your application. I had to redo my husbands at home after his signature went out of the little box. Bring a book, bring water, dont bring your kids, bring extra change for parking. I was able to call my husband on my cellphone from the booth with no problems. I was in the Federal Harry Hays building so I am unsure why your building was blocked. Two of my applications were complicated due to me having full custody of my first 2 kids from a previous marriage and needing the proper documentation to process their applications. Despite me having everything in order I did stand for 90 minutes at the booth processing all five applications. Just remind youself that who gets a passport and who shouldn't is a matter of safety and despite the fact it was expensive and very time consuming I would much rather them be thorough than run us through like cattle.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

The internet may be on a delay - it's like at Disney - the wait times aren't updated every minute - they may only be updated every 1/2 hour or even every hour.

So by the time your mom checked and you got down there, things could have changed substantially.

Passport is also entering their busy season - it is usually much faster to get your passport in the spring than in the fall.

 

[donkthemagicllama]

Same here drag 'n fly, I went to the south passport office (not Harry Hays) last November, and it was really quick... lots of people working, and someone at the door who would pre-screen your application to make sure you weren't wasting your time with an improperly filled out form. I think I was only there for about 20 minutes for my wife and my passport. It was much faster than the last time I did it (5 years ago).

As a bonus, it's easy and free to park at the south location... I won't be going to Harry Hays again! I'd recommend it for all you Calgarians who don't work downtown.

 

[Miandrea]

Well, on a positive note - brought my passport to the post office, paid $15 for them to look it over and in exactly 1 week (7 days) my passport arrived at my house. The extra charge made my life so easy!

 

[sammi]

WOW I've been there with the long wait and then after a pre-clearance look at all of my ID I wait in line with my number only to be told after a long wait that because there is a rip in my birth certificate (it had been taped nearly 40 years ago!!!) that I would have to apply for a new BC first THEN come back and start all over again which I did!

Now that was 2 years ago........Today we went back again only with DS as he's leaving for WDW in 3 weeks with his DGF and 8 other members of her family to WDW We were only in there 1/2 hour and the girl we got was fabulous! They also courier them to your home now so now we won't have to go back to pick them up either!

Sorry about your rough experience Lollipop's Mom!

 

[deany]

I send my passport application away and it was supposed to take about 20 working days. Ten weeks later I got it - just a day before we left for Hawaii. I know, I did not really need my passport but it sure is easier with it.

 

[AIW]

I had a great experience at the passport office in Toronto. We prepared for a long wait, but we were in and done in about 40 minutes. We got there early enough and by the time we left, the room was full. 10 days later, we got our passports and WDW, here we come!!