I have travel planned in a couple of weeks, so wanted to get the passport quickly via urgent or express service (BC lower mainland). I’ve been checking the walk-in times in the last few days, and it’s usually 4-5 hours in the morning at all local passport offices (Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey), although sometimes it’s only 2-3 hours in the afternoon. On Wednesday I met with a friend who signed my application as guarantor , so afterwards at around 2pm I decided to check the walk in times, and noticed Richmond was only one hour wait time (never saw it that low before). Luckily I was only 10 minutes away from the office, so drove there, and only had to wait 45 minutes until my turn came. I think I was the last one they let in, so maybe they don’t let people in after 2:30pm. Not sure. Anyways, it was very empty, no lines or anything, just waited until my number was called, when one of the agents was finally free. I asked for urgent next day pickup , since I have a flight in a week or so, but he said that doesn’t qualify for urgent, only for express (which is a lot cheaper), and I still get to pick up my passport two days later. So it’s a win-win. Picked up my passport today, so everything took less than 48 hours, including filling the application, getting the photos, guarantor signing , submitting it (Wednesday for all the above) and getting the passport (today, only took 10 minutes, parked in a public parking across the street, $4 for 30 minutes).
