In-person vs mailing Passport application (regular processing)

[shadowtwixy]

Good day everyone
What is the pros and cons of doing an In-person (at a regular service Canada to a receiving agent, non-passport office for regular possessing time) passport application over mailing it?

Do in-person receiving agents courier/mail my application to Quebec or does the information gets captured in their system immediately and the 26 business day processing start? If I show my citizenship certificate to an in-person agent, do they return it back to me on the same day?

 

[CaBeaver]

Good day everyone
What is the pros and cons of doing an In-person (at a regular service Canada to a receiving agent, non-passport office for regular possessing time) passport application over mailing it?

Do in-person receiving agents courier/mail my application to Quebec or does the information gets captured in their system immediately and the 26 business day processing start? If I show my citizenship certificate to an in-person agent, do they return it back to me on the same day?

In-person applications are faster. It takes 10 business days compared to 20 business days for in-mail (in reality it takes more than that. Around 5 calendar weeks for most applications). Your certificate and identification will be checked and returned to you, so your guarantor doesn't have to sign you ID copy as for in-mail. Also, you pay on the spot instead of sending a certified check or any other payment method. You may need an appointment though, but check your local office, it may allow walk-in. I wouldn't worry where they send the application to, as long as you pick your passport up in the same office.

 

[shadowtwixy]

In-person applications are faster. It takes 10 business days compared to 20 business days for in-mail (in reality it takes more than that. Around 5 calendar weeks for most applications). Your certificate and identification will be checked and returned to you, so your guarantor doesn't have to sign you ID copy as for in-mail. Also, you pay on the spot instead of sending a certified check or any other payment method. You may need an appointment though, but check your local office, it may allow walk-in. I wouldn't worry where they send the application to, as long as you pick your passport up in the same office.

does 10 business day processing time apply even to a non-passport office regular service Canada office? Is there an additional fee?

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/receiving-agents.html

 

[CaBeaver]

does 10 business day processing time apply even to a non-passport office regular service Canada office? Is there an additional fee?

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/receiving-agents.html

I am not sure what those are. If you are in Canada, why not go to a passport office?

 

[shazahsan]

I am not sure what those are. If you are in Canada, why not go to a passport office?

I think it's because passport offices are still by appointment only but Service Canada centres are now open for walk in or appointment for those who need passports in more than 26 business days - that was the latest change on the website on March 1.
There is a difference between Service Canada Centres that accept passport applications as "receiving agents" i.e any Service Canada office, who can check and verify your documents and then forward your application (to the main office) and the processing time for these are 20 days, versus Passport Offices which are only in certain major cities and where passports can actually be printed, and that's where the 10 business days or more urgent options show up.
You can see both options under "office types" on this page: https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/passport/map/map.asp

 

[CaBeaver]

I think it's because passport offices are still by appointment only but Service Canada centres are now open for walk in or appointment for those who need passports in more than 26 business days - that was the latest change on the website on March 1.
There is a difference between Service Canada Centres that accept passport applications as "receiving agents" i.e any Service Canada office, who can check and verify your documents and then forward your application (to the main office) and the processing time for these are 20 days, versus Passport Offices which are only in certain major cities and where passports can actually be printed, and that's where the 10 business days or more urgent options show up.
You can see both options under "office types" on this page: https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/passport/map/map.asp

OK, I didn't know that. Thanks for clarifying. I had no experience for in-person, as I had to mail my application before March 1st.

 

[shadowtwixy]

I think it's because passport offices are still by appointment only but Service Canada centres are now open for walk in or appointment for those who need passports in more than 26 business days - that was the latest change on the website on March 1.
There is a difference between Service Canada Centres that accept passport applications as "receiving agents" i.e any Service Canada office, who can check and verify your documents and then forward your application (to the main office) and the processing time for these are 20 days, versus Passport Offices which are only in certain major cities and where passports can actually be printed, and that's where the 10 business days or more urgent options show up.
You can see both options under "office types" on this page: https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/passport/map/map.asp

Bingo. That's what I wanted to know. I was contemplating between driving to a regular service canada receiving agent vs just mailing it.