Got my passport yesterday (June 16).
Here's my previous post for more details.
Short version: mail-in application sent April 28, received May 2. CC charged May 26. I had travel booked June 24 and had heard nothing by June 8 (12 business days) so called the main number to request a transfer. Took about 45 minutes to get on hold, then on hold for about 2 hours. Once connected it was all pretty straightforward and they transferred my file.
My local office (Kitchener) called me an hour or two later to confirm the transfer and say that I could pick up my passport June 17. I had to fax them proof of travel (easy enough with a web application - google is your friend here). I called June 10 and left a message asking if they could confirm they'd received the fax, but never heard back. I wasn't too bothered by this (I figured that no news was good news here; if they got a message asking if they'd received the fax and they hadn't, then I'd expect them to call, whereas if they had received the fax I figured they probably wouldn't waste time contacting me to say so).
I called them on Wednesday (June 15) to confirm that it was still fine to pick up on Friday (today). Took a lot of redials but eventually got through and they confirmed my passport was already printed and I could pick up immediately. Headed down to the office.
If you're picking up you don't have to line up - there wasn't actually much of a line (5-6 people) but this was at about 2pm so I assume this was just the last of the people who'd been lining up since the early hours. There was a huge pile of camping chairs strewn around the front of the line, which rather told the story. If you're there for pickup just go straight to the front and tell the security guard that's what you're there for. They'll direct you to a desk and after a short wait (one person in front of me) they'll call you over and ask for your ID and find your passport. In and out in maybe five minutes.
Overall it was a remarkably smooth process considering how much chaos there is otherwise. If I'd known 2 months ago what the process would be like I wouldn't have really had any worries or concerns, but of course it's the uncertainty that is exhausting.
Now I have my passport and am finally free of the immigration system (I submitted my citizenship application in February 2020) I am going to write to my MP. Maybe if enough of us do this they'll fix some of the broken parts of this system. I know they'll try and claim it's all the 'unprecedented' consequences of the pandemic (an excuse that cannot work forever), but there are fundamental issues that could be remedied, most notably the fact that you lose the ability to re-enter the country (on commercial transportation) by becoming a citizen even if you have a passport from another country. I have explained countless times to friends that yes, before I became a citizen I could leave/re-enter without issue, but the moment I became a citizen I lost that ability until I had my passport - every time I explain it they are completely baffled.
Good luck everyone still waiting.
which is unfortunate
Happy travels!
