Canadian Passport - Mail-In Application Timelines

[Lily3699]

Hi all,

just wondering when everyone needed to call to have the file transferred if passport not received. I leave August 31. If. Do not received should. Call h
to ask for transfer two weeks before. Thank you and good luck.

 

[Nofun2022]

Got the passport today. Here are my details of my adventure. Hope this helps others. First of all, major thanks to everyone (particularly to t1908) and the discussion in the form which really helped.

I am in Toronto. Sent the application over mail to the Gatineau on April 21st. Received on April 24th. Credit card charged on May 20th. Travel plans for June 24th (tomorrow).

I submitted 'track my application' form online on June 8th and got no response. I called the 800 number to request transfer on June 14th and couldn't get through. I called again on 15th right before 8:30am (when the lines open) and was 170ish in the line. Finally got through and asked for the status of the application. The agent requested my date of birth and last name to find the application, however, they couldn't find my application. Requested to transfer the application to Toronto downtown office. The agent used the mailing tracking number to transfer the application and confirmed that the Toronto office has accepted the transfer. The agent told me that the office will call to schedule a pick-up and it may take few days. The agent also said to wait as long as you are comfortable otherwise go to the office (good advice) and, if I go to the office, I can skip the normal line (not true). Waited until June 17th for the call back from Toronto office which never happened.

On June 20th, I went to Toronto downtown office and lined-up at 6:00am. There were likely about 30 people in front of me by that time (to give you a sense of the line: I was the last person before the line continued on Richmond Street). By 6:30, there was at least 10-15 people behind me. Didn't quite track the line after that. Around 7:30am, the security guard split the line (outside the building). They created 2 lines: one for the transfer and one for urgent applications. This was quite chaotic because the security guard wasn't super clear on how the lines are being split (the guard at this location is an incompetent person; he does not listen and speaks incoherently which is hard to understand when you are on the street). Some of the people who had lined up after me got in front of me in that chaos. I was about 15-20th in the transfer line. Finally, staff members from the location came (kudos to them to come before office opening hours) and chatted with every person in the line to answer any questions and also checking if we have got everything. The people in the transfer line were given a form to fill basic information so they can find our application. We were all given numbers (white slip; C series numbers). The other line were also given numbers (pink slip). They also cut the line after some point who were likely told they won't get the service that day. Even though the office opens at 8:30, it seemed some of the staff members were arriving as late as 8:45am. There was no movement in the line until 10:00am. I was inside the building at 11:00am and was welcomed with no waiting seats inside the building (good savings on our tax payer money!). I was at the counter at 11:45am. There were separate counters for the transfers. The person at the counter was super nice and asked for proof of travel, confirmed that the application has been transferred, and scheduled a pick-up for June 23rd (day before the travel). They didn't say anything around the transfer fees so didn't get charge for it. They told me there was no need to line-up for the pick-up. I was out of the building by 11:50am.

On pick-up day on June 23rd. I reached the office around 2:15pm for a 3:00pm pick-up. Only 3 people in the line-up for the pick-up. Unfortunately, they couldn't find my passport and told me to come back around 3:30 - 3:45pm. Reached back the office at 3:35pm. Around 7 people in the line-up for the pick-up. They had the passport this time. Phew! In all of this, I forgot to ask the phone agent or at the passport office about how I will be receiving my citizenship certificate back. If you know, please let me know.

My tips (if you are in the similar situation):
- Call the 800 number right before 8:30am - worked for me
- Once you are with the phone agent, stay on the call and ensure the office has accepted the transfer
- Don't wait for the office to call back if you requested a transfer - most people in the line hadn't received the call back. Go the office even if you are few days in advance to the travel (doesn't need to be 48 hrs)
- If you are going to Toronto downtown location, line-up before 6am and keep an eye on when they start to split the line: this might save you few hours

 

[Megs_22]

Hello, I've been keeping an eye to the forum while I was waiting for my passport to arrive. Sharing my timeline, hope it helps others, who are also patiently waiting for their passports.
I mailed in my application to Gatineau (had no upcoming travel plans). First passport as a new citizen.

- Application Sent: March 24, 2022
- Application Delivered: March 28, 2022
- Credit Card charged: April 22, 2022
- Passport Received: June 23, 2022
- Citizenship Certificate Received: Same date as the passport - both delivered in the same envelope.

I filled the web form twice, but never heard back.

I called 1-800-567-6868 about 20+ consecutive times on Monday and got through. The agent on the phone told me my passport is in production and I should received it by the end of the month, if not to call them back in July.

Luckily I received it today by Canada Post courier.
Thank you all for sharing your timelines and helpful tips!

 

[Anne91]

Hi. I'm wondering if you guys are on the same boat as me.
- Passport application sent: April 7, 2022 from Victoria BC
- Application delivered: April 11, 2022 Mississauga ON
- No credit charge until now

Tried to call them multiple times but unlucky to speak to any agents. Got hung up after disconnected voice message

sent status request few times with no reply
I'm really frustrated and worried. Any thoughts?

 

[mohdsafiuddin]

Hello, I've been keeping an eye to the forum while I was waiting for my passport to arrive. Sharing my timeline, hope it helps others, who are also patiently waiting for their passports.
I mailed in my application to Gatineau (had no upcoming travel plans). First passport as a new citizen.

- Application Sent: March 24, 2022
- Application Delivered: March 28, 2022
- Credit Card charged: April 22, 2022
- Passport Received: June 23, 2022
- Citizenship Certificate Received: Same date as the passport - both delivered in the same envelope.

I filled the web form twice, but never heard back.

I called 1-800-567-6868 about 20+ consecutive times on Monday and got through. The agent on the phone told me my passport is in production and I should received it by the end of the month, if not to call them back in July.

Luckily I received it today by Canada Post courier.
Thank you all for sharing your timelines and helpful tips!

What time did you call them?
Any tips on how to get connected?

 

[mohdsafiuddin]

I just started following this thread, and here's my timeline so far -

I mailed in my application on March 27
Credit Card charged on April 24

No update after that.
I have tried calling but can't connect.

I have submitted the web form and no answer.
I'm gonna keep trying to get in touch with them again.

Looking at some other timelines here, Hopefully I'll receive my passport soon.

 

[mohdsafiuddin]

We have the same timeline, same dates.

Looks like we are in a blackhole.

However last time I called they said file is updated to July 5 and it might be mail out date.

I am in almost the same timeframe too.
- Mail Sent on March 27th
- Credit Card charged on April 24th.

Did you get any update for your application?

 

[mohdsafiuddin]

Hello all,
My girlfriend applied to renew her passport in late-March,
CC got charged: April 14.
After a bunch of calls, she was able to pick up her passport in June 1st (North York).
However, she still hasn't received back all her documents yet (Citizenship Certificate).
She needs it for something ASAP and we are getting frustrated that we still haven't gotten it.
She called bunch of times since June 10th and they are giving different answers every time she calls.
When she called the first time, she got the tracking number but the number is still not valid today.
So she called Canada Post and they said they haven't received anything under that tracking number and assumed the documents are still in Passport Office's mailing box.
She called the next day and the person said that they haven't shipped it out yet.
and the next day she called and they said they shipped it out on June 10th.
She also asked if we can pick it up at the Quebec office but they said we can't (we live 4.5 hrs from the office).

Did anyone else encounter this problem?
How long did everyone take for their documents to be mailed back after getting their passport?
I am just really surprised how they still haven't send out the package that was supposed to be sent out almost 2 weeks ago.

How or when are you guys calling to get through to an agent?

I called a lot but it's the same everytime. Just that generic message plays and the line disconnects.

 

[HabsFan416]

I lined up since 12midnight on wednesday at North York location. Of course, I was the first one in line. It was crazy. my travel date is on June 26th and I am picking up my passport tomorrow.

Holy s#!t. Midnight? What time did most people start arriving? I will have to make my way down to the North York office in the next couple days.

 

[anjanettem]

Holy s#!t. Midnight? What time did most people start arriving? I will have to make my way down to the North York office in the next couple days.

Yes, 12 midnight. You read it right. I think it's good to go there around 2-3am if you want to be in the first 10 people. Honestly, I haven't recovered yet. The security guard said the worst days are Mondays and Fridays. So go on mid week.

 

[whwidjaja]

Hi. I'm wondering if you guys are on the same boat as me.
- Passport application sent: April 7, 2022 from Victoria BC
- Application delivered: April 11, 2022 Mississauga ON
- No credit charge until now

Tried to call them multiple times but unlucky to speak to any agents. Got hung up after disconnected voice message

sent status request few times with no reply
I'm really frustrated and worried. Any thoughts?

Mine is similar to yours, by I applied from lower mainland. So I managed to speak with one of the agent yesterday. when some agents said that you're application in examination or in progress, it is likely that your application may not even have been scanned into the system. that's what happened with mine. I had been told by multiple agents in the past 2 months and a half that my application is in examination or in progress. But the agent whom I spoke with yesterday was more resourceful and helpful and gave more details on the status of my application. apparently it hasn't even been touched and scanned into the system after the application mailed out and retrieved by the centre in Mississauga. Imagine finding out that your application hasn't not even been touched after waiting for 2 months and a half.

 

[ReyZar]

I sent mine via Xpresspost for tracking number and I added a signature option. I think it was 19 dollars total. Very fast. But this was back in April….

Thanks! how long did it take to get to the destination? a few days?

 

[crocp]

So, what is the best phone number to call? And what time/day??

1‑800‑567‑6868

OR.....

1‑819‑997‑8338

Also, whatdo you guys do? Call, press the "1", and then hang up if it starts with "if general..."...

I cannot ever get through! Please help...

 

[anjanettem]

So, what is the best phone number to call? And what time/day??

1‑800‑567‑6868

OR.....

1‑819‑997‑8338

Also, whatdo you guys do? Call, press the "1", and then hang up if it starts with "if general..."...

I cannot ever get through! Please help...

Keep trying. I call them everyday to check on my application status. I end up calling them 100 times just to get through. I call the 1-800-567-6868

 

[crocp]

Keep trying. I call them everyday to check on my application status. I end up calling them 100 times just to get through. I call the 1-800-567-6868

Thanks....so you dial and press 1? How do you know when to hang up or when you get through?