About 40 people lined up outside Thursday morning at the Passport Canada office in downtown Toronto, a reality that lasted several weeks. Demand for new passports has exploded with the removal of health measures and Service Canada is struggling to meet them.
Kishan Kotadya is ready to drive all over town to get the desired document. He arrived early in the morning at the Service Canada offices in Mississauga where his application could not be processed. The queue there was over three hours. [Les agents] told us they could no longer serve other people.
So he went to an office downtown to try his luck. After more than an hour of waiting, he was already in the middle of the growing line.
For Mr. Kotadya, the processing times for an application by mail are too long. He needs to quickly start visa procedures for his next trip.
Not everyone is on vacation
Many people we met have applied for their first Canadian passport or want to renew them for business, family or emergency trips.
This is the case of Orely Ngioba who travels to accompany her ailing brother to the United States. When he bought his plane tickets on Friday, he realized his passport was no longer valid. Two days before he left, he was desperate to get his documents.
” I was here yesterday, and in the same place [où je suis dans la file]they decided they wouldn’t be able to be with people anymore, so I’ll be back now as soon as possible. “
Applicants without proof of travel are not included
Saya Inokuchi came out of the high -rise downtown with a smile on her face. He was able to complete his application for a new passport. He was told he should receive it within two weeks.
As she waited for her turn, Ms. Inokuchi some people who were not denied access to the queue due to lack of proof of travel.
The 35 centers that process instant passport applications in Canada, one of which has an office in downtown Toronto, require applicants to show proof that they will be traveling within the next 45 days.
We are almost forced to procrastinate at this pointsaid Ms. Inokuchi, who says he heard officers tell people to come back when they have proof of travel.
In an exchange of e-mails, Service Canada said it was inviting Canadians to make sure they had a passport before making travel commitments.
More than 300 service centers accept passport applications in person from those who have been traveling for more than 45 days. No proof of travel required. It is also possible to submit a renewal request by mail.
Service Canada expects to deliver between 3.6 and 4.2 million passports between April 2022 and March 2023, three times higher than last year.
Martin Leclerc
Source: Radio-Canada
