Canadians traveling in the next 24 to 48 hours are being prioritized at some passport offices.
The move comes amid widespread reports of long lines and growing frustration with passport processing delays, causing Canadians to miss flights, cancel trips and even plug in. camp overnight to secure their travel documents.
Ferdinand Pollak told CTV News from a growing line in Montreal for those departing in the next 24 hours: “Before it comes first, serve first. “Now they change their mind, they follow the departure date and time.”
On the federal government’s website, it states, “We have new measures in place to help manage wait times at passport offices in Toronto, Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Montreal and Vancouver. We will prioritize those who need a passport within 48 hours. We will arrange for those with long-term travel plans to be served at other locations. “
Despite the priority, others remain uncertain in Montreal, which is facing the longest waits in the country.
“We’re traveling tomorrow at 9:30 so we don’t know if we’ll have our passports on time,” Dekra Bouissi told CTV News from a row of camping chairs.
In addition to missing jobs and scrambling for childcare seats, expensive flights are at stake. Others are urgently trying to get to their loved ones before it’s too late.
“We really needed to go to my hometown in South America, because my father was dying, he was dying fast,” Ludwing Perea Melendez told CTV New from London, Ontario.
His wife and five children camped in the family van, identified as first in line Monday morning after being turned away last week.
“Our kids slept there like sardines,” says Perea Melendez.
In Fredericton, Richard Caguioa told CTV News he had traveled a long way, some 2,000 kilometers, in hopes of obtaining a passport.
“I’m flying from Iqaluit, Nunavut because my son’s passport hasn’t arrived since two months ago or three, almost three months,” he said.
On Monday, the federal government announced the creation of a new task force to help address major delays to immigration applications and passport processing.
