Maybe my experience will help:
I completed my Oath on November 3
Certificate was sent on November 5th
Certificate received on November 16th
I went to the passport office in Kitchener today (17 November 2021)
- I was there at 7:45 AM and the office opens at 8:30 AM
- People who had a scheduled appointment were sent in first at 8:30 AM
- I had to wait for less than 5 minutes before I was sent in (I was the first in line for the walk-ins)
- Info verification for passport process took less than 15 minutes
- I paid $20 extra for in person pick up
- I have been called back in 2 weeks on Dec 1 to pick up the passport
I want to thank you one more time! Your experience was a great guideline for me!
So, this is the story:
I received Certificates for my family and myself yesterday (Nov 18, 2021), whereas my oath was on Nov 12! So fast!
I drove this morning from Toronto to Kitchener and was there at 8:10am, approx. 10 people were in front of me, none with the appointment. I did not have it either. When they opened the office, I was the third in line for passport application. When my turn came, few more guys appeared to be with appointments and they were served first. The first clerk who checked the documents and gave me a number for another window took it 2-3 minutes to screen the docs. I waited for the next 5 minutes in the waiting area and approached the window. The person who took my application (one-by-one) was super kind and supportive! Indeed the best service ever. I have some plans to travel on Dec 10 (not confirmed yet) and I mentioned it on our applications. The clerk said the normal standard processing time will make the passports ready by Dec 3, therefore I don't need to apply for express / urgent. Moreover, someone was requesting the urgent pickup with travel plans late December and was rejected - the officials said there is no need and reason as they will still make it on time. So, save your money
.
So, I applied for 3 passports, paid standard fee + pickup fee from their location. My in-person pickup date is December 3.
I left the passport office at 9:30am.
Thank you again! Good luck to all!