Passport Timesaving Tips! (In Fredericton anyway)

[FreddyBeach]

Just went in to the passport office this morning to put in our passport applications for our trip to WDW in May. I had gotten some tips to help reduce my wait time and I would like to share them with you.

Since the lineups have gotten longer recently, the Fredericton Office has implemented a numbering system in a separate waiting room. The secret is that this room opens to the public at 6:00am. If you have the inclination, you can zip down to the office (I live close by) grab your # and then head back home again. When the office opens at 8:30am, you are close to the front of the line.

Here is the best piece of information to reduce your wait time, and I believe this applies to all offices.

Fill out your application online!!!​

The first people they ask for (In Fredericton) when the doors open, are those who filled out their passport application online. If you are only getting passports for your kids, you are out of luck with this one, since I think the applicant has to be 16 to use the online forms.

Anyway, my experience was fine. Since I did both of the above (wasn't sure about the online tip) I ended being first in line and was on my way (after applying for THREE passports) in 15 minutes.

I hope this helps.

Mike in the Maritimes.

P.S. They TELL me that I should be receiving the Passports in the mail by February 28th... That's about 19 working days if they end up being correct. A person I work with applied for his passport and for his kids as well in early January and received them by the end of January.

 

[Freddie Beach Shelly]

Hi Mike,

As I was reading your post, it was like deja vue. My co-worker did the exact same thing this morning as well! Like the saying goes "it's a small world afterall". You were probably standing in the line together.

 

[pooksma]

Another Freddy Beacher here-planning to go on March break to stand in line-I cant take the time off work. Heard a story recently about a guy who came from Moncton and took the day off to stand in line. We only have to get DS' passport but he's 6 and we cant do it online. Bummer!

Maybe the lines will slow down a bit by then...My In-Laws are coming tommorow to spend the night so they can go and stand in line Monday. I'll let you know how they make out!

 

[maritimetraveler]

Hi Pooksma!
I was in line a few weeks ago (F'ton office) dropping off my daughters application ~ Applied on Jan 6 and received it yesterday as they promised. It was a 4 hour wait. Anyhow, i'm a little worried for you because I think you mentioned that your inlaws were going to bring the application for you? I'm pretty sure they can't do that. I was told that you can only bring applications for people living at the same address. Make sure they ask someone as soon as they get there so they don't end up waiting for nothing! Good luck

 

[pooksma]

Sorry-misunderstanding. They are actually taking in their own applications. We are taking the one for DS.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I work at FRED FM -- on the same floor as the Passport Office in Fredericton.

The lines were POSITIVELY insane in January.

Here's what I noticed recently...

Tuesdays and Wednesdays the lines dropped off considerably after 2pm. This past Tues/Wed, the overflow room wasn't used at ALL after 2pm.

Mondays and Fridays are the worst.

J

 

[FreddyBeach]

That's pretty cool.

After I posted, I thought "Well, I'm pretty much going to be the only person who finds that useful".

I'm glad there are other "Beachers" out there.

Mike.

 

[declansdad]

It must have been less crowded today in Fredericton. My parents were in and out by 9:30 this morning. They would have got there between 8 and 8:30.

 

[maritimetraveler]

Thanks for the tip CanadianGuy! I went to the office around 2pm today (wednesday) and was back to worth in an hour!

 

[CanadianGuy]

It was a bit busier this week.. Today at 1pm they were using the overflow room but nobody was downstairs.

By 3pm the overflow room had emptied.

J

 

[brooker]

I was wondering if anyone might have any other updates on the length of time for passports. We dropped our sons off at a Service Canada site back on Jan 26 in western Newfoundland. This is where they check it over, take your payment and then send it on its way to somewhere else. He said it may take up to 25 additional business days over the standard 20 days. Is this still a realistic number? We just booked a packaged booked for April 30th and now I am starting to wonder if we made a mistake.

 

[CanadianGuy]

You should have your passport by mid-to-late March at the latest.

They are backlogged a bit.. but if you put your travel dates on the application.. you should get it in plenty of time.

J

 

[brooker]

You should have your passport by mid-to-late March at the latest.

They are backlogged a bit.. but if you put your travel dates on the application.. you should get it in plenty of time.

J

Unfortunately I didn't have it booked when I filed for his passport. Would it do any good to call Passport Canada and tell them I have a vacation booked?

 

[disneyfan2]

having the date on it won't gaurantee you will get it. My SIL received hers yesterday and she leaves Saturday Talk about close call. The receiving agents are considered like mail service so it should be around 45 working days. I have been told they are taking them in order of receiving them. good luck. Check with them towards the end of the month to see if they received it. As a backup see about getting your Birth Certificate back. That takes a minimum 10 days to locate!