Canada Passport Office Delays
If you are planning to travel abroad and you need to update your passport - expect some long delays at the passport office. I waited in line for nearly two hours this afternoon, and I only had to add my married name to my current passport. Although I did notice the wait time was substantially less for the folks who had completed their forms on-line.
The number of passport applications coming through is up by as much as 33% compared to last year at this time. Passport Canada spoke with CTV News about the increase, and offered this information:
CTV.ca News Staff
"Passport Canada is making every possible effort to meet the increase in demand while respecting its service standards," Gérald Cossette, Passport Canada's chief executive officer said in a written statement.
"We are taking steps to reduce waiting times without jeopardizing the security and the integrity of the Canadian passport" he added.
The agency is implementing several measures to reduce waiting times:
Are you planning a trip to the US? As of January 23, 2007 all travelers planning to fly to the US will now be needing a valid passport or a special NEXUS Air Card. Your photo identification and birth certificate will no longer be kosher, unless you plan to get there by land or sea.
