The Candian Passport Office - “Passport Purgatory”
April 23rd, 2007Are you caught in Passport Purgatory? When you go to Passport Canada’s website this is what you will find posted.
“Volume Increase
Passport Canada is experiencing a sharp volume increase in passport applications in all of its offices, by mail and through its receiving agents. Please note that we are also experiencing up to 25 business days delays, in addition to our service standards when delivering your new passport. “
Not very encouraging, is it? The sad reality is that if you were planning a March break get-away south of the border and you have not already applied for your passport, you are out of luck. Since last November Passport Canada has been receiving approximately 21,000 applications a day. Due to this absolute deluge of applications the process will realistically take almost 9 weeks if you apply by mail. To try to respond to the demand Passport Canada is currently hiring 300 additional workers. They had better be prepared because another deluge is expected later this year. Everyone crossing into the United States by land will need a passport in January 2008. Sadly, it appears that we have gone from road rage to passport rage. In Toronto 5 provincial police officers were brought in to keep the peace and restore calm as applicants became increasingly agitated in very long line-ups.
