Went to the passport office today

[MaryannF]

My husband dropped me off at the passport office at the Joseph Shepard building at Yonge/Sheppard, North York this morning at 7:50. By the time I got to the 3rd floor, where the office is, it was just before 8 and they had already started pre-screening people and handing out numbers. I got number 52. The application was handed in and paid for by 9:05. I didn't think that was too bad considering the horror stories I had heard of people waiting 3-4 hours. They told me that it would be sent registered mail on Dec. 1.

 

[hellooothere]

What I wouldn't have given for your Toronto line up last week in Vancouver!! Yikes! I know you have to go early ....and I didn't...I know you shouldn't bring your kids....and I did....I know you should be prepared to wait....and did I ever. I got there at 11:15am and did not leave until 2:25pm. Hopefully we won't have any line ups like that in Disneyworld....

 

[Bridget68]

Does anybody know?

In 2003, I went to Florida with a friend. She didn't have a passport but we went through customs without any problems. We're returning next month. Do you think she should have a passport? Has anything changed at the customs since?

 

[MaryannF]

You don't need a passport to cross the border as long as you have the appropriate identifiction with you. I found that on our last trip to WDW we had to show our ID to so many people as we made our way through the airport that I was worried that I would lose a piece of it. Showing just a passport seemed like a good idea. It took me 2 years to get my husband to the photo store to start the passport application process. He gets hassled at the border regularly. I just don't think they like the look of him. Every time the only thing that has saved him is his employee identifiction card. We are both born and raised in Canada and have lived within the same 2 mile radius all our lives, I'd hate to think what it would be like trying to cross the border if we weren't born here.

 

[Bonnie40]

I went to the Kitchener passport office last Wednesday and my passports actually arrived in the mail yesterday (Wednesday)! One week! I couldn't believe it!

 

[paula0000]

...We just went this morning to the STC passport office. I was ready to wait for hours...We arrived about 9:20 after the kids went to school and I was out of there with everything done by 9:55am. Everything was really quick!

 

[mejaie]

We noticed a bunch of people fiddling with all of their ID and both airline and customs people sorting through them. To each his own but we used passports, and literally zipped through everywhere. They just swiped our passports and said have a nice trip.

Although the AC guy in Montreal did ask my DW if her picture was taken just when she got out of prison. LOL

 

[Bridget68]

LOL

Thanks everyone. I'm a little less worried.

I think we're going to try to go through customs like we did 2 years ago. At least, me and my DSs, we have our passports. My friend doesn't have hers but since we're going to Florida by car, I guess it'll be okay.

 

[MaryannF]

The passports were delivered Dec. 1 exactly 2 weeks from when we dropped the applications off at the passport office. Unfortunately no one was home when the postman knocked so we had to go to the postal outlet to pick them up. Everything is coming together nicely, now if Disney would just post February's hours I'd be really happy.

 

[DutchsMommy]

I just finished filling out DSs passport application and mailing it off - because I couldn't get down to the Passport office on Elizabeth Street. The stupid passport forms don't say that Yonge and Sheppard is a passport office!!!! Ii go up there like at least 4 times a week for work.....right across the street!!!! I have even said many a time - I wish that Gov't building was a Passport office. Why wouldn't the passport documentation list that site?!?

Oh well, hoprefully everything will work out through the mail.

 

[MaryannF]

I just finished filling out DSs passport application and mailing it off - because I couldn't get down to the Passport office on Elizabeth Street. The stupid passport forms don't say that Yonge and Sheppard is a passport office!!!! Ii go up there like at least 4 times a week for work.....right across the street!!!! I have even said many a time - I wish that Gov't building was a Passport office. Why wouldn't the passport documentation list that site?!?

Oh well, hoprefully everything will work out through the mail.

It is listed, under North York, Suite 380, 3rd floor, 4900 Yonge St. Joseph Shepard Building.
There is also a Canada Post receiving agent in Toronto...
Canada Post Outlet
2384 Yonge Street
Office hours:
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 8:00 - 18:00
Thursday and Friday: 8:00 - 21:00
Saturday: 10:00 - 18:00

 

[ChisJo]

To the people mailing your applications - BEWARE! I mailed mine, waited and got it back, rejected because the photo wasn't very good....Got the picture changed, went back to my guarantor to sign it AGAIN, sent it it with new everything, got rejected. I called the passport office and asked what I could do differently, they told me to try a new picture place, which I did the second time. I repeated the process, this time they lost my application at the passport office somewhere, meanwhile, I need my birth certificate that they have for a trip to the US that I was leaving for in 4 days (got a rush one made, in case you were wondering). They found my application with all my personal information, sent it back to me 3 weeks later, yep, rejected again, because of the photo. This time, I am angry. I went back to CMA, got the photo redone (looked the exact same as the 3rd one) and went down to the passport office personally (which I know I should have done the second and third times, but time and availability and distance and school just would not allow me to do that). They had no problems with the photos that I provided, and my passport application was accepted. So, moral of the story, always go in person.
Jo