Which is the best passport office to use in the Toronto area?

[MaryannF]

We've decided to get passports for our February trip. Does anyone have any insight into which passport office in the Toronto area is the best to go to? We want to hand deliver the applications but don't want to spend an exorbitant amount of time standing in line to do so. Are we dreaming or is a line inevitable? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[MECH8T7]

My understanding is that the one on Victoria Street in Downtown Toronto is generally the least busy.

We got our passports there last spring. I got there shortly after they opened. There was a line-up already but nothing like I've heard people describe at some of the other locations. I waited in line for about 20 minutes in the line-up for them to do a preliminary check of your documents. I was then given a number and sat down in the waiting area and did some work. My number was called within about 45 minutes.

By the way, if you are bringing any photocopies (rather than originals) of supporting documents for an application for another family member and the document is a two-sider (for example, drivers licences and photo health cards), make sure you copy both sides of the document and have the guarantor sign both.

 

[epcotfan]

If you can, try to arrive before opening. I got to the North York Passport Office at 6:50am and my application was processed at around 8:15. I was one of the first 15 people who arrived that day.

 

[msmere]

I have no idea if my visit was typical at all when I went to the Scarborough office last week. I arrived at just before 9 a.m., got in line and waited about 2 minutes to have our forms checked and was sent to the next line to have them processed. I waited about another 5 minutes since there was someone in line ahead of me. The processing was the longest part of the whole deal since we had four passport forms for the staff to go through. Still, I was out of there before 9:30 So I don't think I can complain.

 

[BeamsofLight]

I've always used the Hamilton office (I realize this doesn't qualify as GTA), and I've never waited more than 15 minutes. It's probably a toss-up between the drive to Hamilton versus how long you wait in line elsewhere though. Granted, we were driving from Oakville .. bit different if you're driving from, say, Etobicoke. My husband used the North York office and said he waited about 10 minutes mid-day on a Wednesday.

This was before they changed the forms and such though .. I'm not looking forward to renewing these suckers.