Canadian Passport - Mail-In Application Timelines

[taekwondo]

I send my passport application by mail on 7th Feb and was received in Passport Office Quebec on 8th Feb. But no movement post that. I have tried calling up the passport call center and they just have a standard reply that it is in progress. It's been 42 days now which seems like way longer than their processing time of 20 business days. I even missed seeing my grandad in the last days of his life & his funeral since I couldn't travel out of the country without a passport to visit him even though I had requested to expedite my passport! Is anyone else in the same boat of waiting more than double their said timeline?

I am in the same boat ...my mail was delivered on 11th Feb and till now no movement. Always getting that stupid response that file is under examination every time I call them.

 

[CaBeaver]

Yeah I read they are doing some checks with IRCC to validate your eligibility. The barcode in your citizenship certificate should be sufficient to verify and that’s what they scan if you apply in the Passport Canada office before Covid.

What I suspect is that, it depends if you mentioned any nearby date as the date of travel in your application. If you put ‘Unknown’ , your application could be put on low priority to be processed whenever.

This was my mistake. I should've put a travel date. It's not like I don't have travel plans. I do. But it is in the 2nd half of April, and I thought by applying in Feb, I would get my passport before April even if I put "unknown". Now I am afraid, I will have to call them and ask them to transfer my file to a local office, and then they'll ask me to pay extra $50 + transfer fees to get my passport in time. That would be ridiculous. I am filing a complaint next week if I don't get my passport. I don't understand what they verify with IRCC. IRCC scrutinized us for years and gave us the certificate as a proof. But it's not enough to them

 

[CaBeaver]

I am in the same boat ...my mail was delivered on 11th Feb and till now no movement. Always getting that stupid response that file is under examination every time I call them.

I would file a complaint. I am filing one next week if I don't get my passport by then. This is simply unacceptable.

 

[PumpkinJack]

This was my mistake. I should've put a travel date. It's not like I don't have travel plans. I do. But it is in the 2nd half of April, and I thought by applying in Feb, I would get my passport before April even if I put "unknown". Now I am afraid, I will have to call them and ask them to transfer my file to a local office, and then they'll ask me to pay extra $50 + transfer fees to get my passport in time. That would be ridiculous. I am filing a complaint next week if I don't get my passport. I don't understand what they verify with IRCC. IRCC scrutinized us for years and gave us the certificate as a proof. But it's not enough to them

Yeah I put ‘Unknown’ as well, I’ve started to believe my application is going to take another month to get even a response. We could get more insights on this theory if we come to know what other applications waiting since February put there.

I would still suggest any future applicants to put a date there so your application can be taken for processing at some point.

 

[taekwondo]

I would file a complaint. I am filing one next week if I don't get my passport by then. This is simply unacceptable.

Planning to call them today / tomorrow as my bank has issued a new Credit Card to me and I dont know how long this process will take ( so better get it update). If I still get that stupid response of File under examination then I'll also file the complaint .

 

[CaBeaver]

Yeah I put ‘Unknown’ as well, I’ve started to believe my application is going to take another month to get even a response. We could get more insights on this theory if we come to know what other applications waiting since February put there.

It is not the same for everyone. Someone applied Feb 28th, got the passport in 3 calendar weeks. This is an outlier, though, because many others who applied earlier or at the same time are still waiting. We don't know why is this huge discrepancy.

 

[sting_hard]

what should we answer to below question, i just got my citizenship certificate and this is first time applying for canadain passport.

3. Previous Canadain Travel document been isued in your current name or any other name ?

 

[Naush4]

what should we answer to below question, i just got my citizenship certificate and this is first time applying for canadain passport.

3. Previous Canadain Travel document been isued in your current name or any other name ?

The answer will be "No"

 

[gofar]

Application XpressPost Couriered to Gatineau: February 7 2022
Application Arrived in Gatineau: February 8 2022
Requested Status Update (via online form): March 9 2022
Credit Card Charged (from St. Johns SCC & Passport): March 14 2022
Passport Received: March 24 2022

I still have not heard from my status update.

35 business days from receipt of application to receipt of passport.

 

[CaBeaver]

Application XpressPost Couriered to Gatineau: February 7 2022
Application Arrived in Gatineau: February 8 2022
Requested Status Update (via online form): March 9 2022
Credit Card Charged (from St. Johns SCC & Passport): March 14 2022
Passport Received: March 24 2022

I still have not heard from my status update.

35 business days from receipt of application to receipt of passport.

Congratulations. Did you receive your certificate in the same envelope?

 

[smitsmart]

When did you apply? I would say 2 weeks if CC charged after 3 weeks from delivery, but according to recent report, passport Canada is experiencing a high volume of applications these days. I am not sure if they will find an efficient way to handle the load. So far, the indication is they are not very efficient. For example, if you want to call, you need to wait 1.5-3 hours to talk to an agent, and update requests are basically not being answered.

I sent my application on Feb 21st. and CC got charged on March 23rd.

 

[Corgi]

Application delivered to Mississauga (from BC) on Feb 25th in the morning, but since this was a Friday I am counting the business days from Monday 28th. So tomorrow will be 20 business days.

Haven't heard anything. Submitted a status update request last week sometime and no response. No CC charge (I was optimistic that this would have happened this week).

Also put 'Unknown' as the travel date. Seems like that could be the issue.

 

[deadbird]

I recently applied for an "express service" passport, but it seems like I won't be able to make the time slot for the passport pick up due to an urgent last minute conflict. Does anyone know what happens if you're unable to pick it up on the same day? Do they keep it for a few more days or do they mail it by post?

 

[sk000]

Yeah I read they are doing some checks with IRCC to validate your eligibility. The barcode in your citizenship certificate should be sufficient to verify and that’s what they scan if you apply in the Passport Canada office before Covid.

What I suspect is that, it depends if you mentioned any nearby date as the date of travel in your application. If you put ‘Unknown’ , your application could be put on low priority to be processed whenever.

Seems like if you are putting a date at least you are gonna get a call for an appointment based on the travel date, interesting. I was thinking to put "Unknown", I guess I am not going to.

Canadians experience lengthy wait times for passports due to surge in demand
"Priority for appointments is given to clients with immediate travel needs based on their date of travel,"

 

[PumpkinJack]

I sent my application on Feb 21st. and CC got charged on March 23rd.

Did you put travel date as ‘Unknown’ ?