Passports Tips
If you're in need of a Canadian passport, I have some tips for you:- The quoted wait time on Passport Canada's website is horribly wrong. Multiply the time by four or five to get a more realistic wait time.
- If you complete your passport application online you will be served in a priority queue. The guy behind me in the reception line was served about half an hour before me for this very reason. (I sure wish they advertised this, as I didn't even know such an option was available.)
- The reception line is always long. The office opens at 07:30, and people usually start lining up at 07:00. Bring a book.
- When you get your ticket with your number, a letter will precede it. "A" means regular adult. "E" means you've filled out your form online, and you will be served sooner.
- By no coincidence, there are no visible clocks in the passport office. Bring one if you want to keep track of the time.
- A series of overhead fans keep things pretty breezy in the waiting area. Bring a jacket or sweater to stay warm.
Oh yes, I also asked why you're not permitted to smile in your passport photo. I was told it was to prepare everyone for biometrics, a technology that can identify you based on measurements between key features of your face; smiling affects said measurements. If I were in charge, I might insist that everyone smile, and base the biometrics on a happier person.
Comments
Tip number 6: get your passport in a foreign country. I sent my application in the mail to the High Commission in London and received it back in less than a week! - Luke, Wednesday, April 19, 2006 Er...make that tip number 7. (blush) - Luke, Wednesday, April 19, 2006 I second that, Luke. The Canadian High Commission in Canberra Australia sorted mine out in a few weeks, all through the mail. Only problem is that it's not machine readable, which pisses off some customs/immigration agents. The Germans beat the Canadians though. It took only four days for my German passport to arrive in the post, and all I had to do was drop by their offices in Melbn. - jurgen, Wednesday, April 19, 2006 Well, score another one for the chaps in London -- they are producing machine-readable passports, and I got one. - Luke, Thursday, April 20, 2006 |  |
Post a comment |
