'It's very frustrating': Passport problems putting long weekend trips in jeopardy
Dozens of people who camped overnight outside the Surrey, B.C., passport office were told they won’t get their paperwork processed on Thursday, putting their long weekend trips in jeopardy.
Most had applied to renew their passports weeks ago but haven’t received their new one yet. With their flights quickly approaching, they were told go in-person to a Service Canada office within 48 hours of their departure to get an emergency passport.
The desperate would-be travellers spent the night on folding chairs and in tents in the Central City mall parking lot to get a better place in line at the Surrey office, but were quickly disappointed.
“At 7 o‘clock this morning somebody came from inside and said today we are not taking any applications,” said Vinder Jaggi, whose 12-year-old daughter needs her new passport for a family trip to New Delhi on Saturday.
Serena Vlassovoulos had been looking forward to a trip to Las Vegas on Saturday. Her new passport hasn’t come, so she arrived at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday night hoping to apply first thing Thursday morning, within the 48 hour window for a emergency passport.
“They said to bring proof of travel and of course there’s a big line up, but that’s what it says to do. But when you get here, they’re pretty much telling you nope, if you don’t have an appointment, just leave,” said Vlassovoulos.
David Miller needs his new passport for a work trip to Nevada on Sunday. He also camped out overnight hoping for an emergency document, and was furious when security guards told the line up that only those with appointments would be seen on Thursday.
“It’s very frustrating, especially when the queue is moving so slowly and they have hardly anyone working,” said Miller.
While Service Canada claims it’s back to pre-pandemic capacity and has re-opened all its passport counters across the country to deal with the massive backlog, Miller says that’s not true in Surrey.
“I poked my head in earlier on my way to the bathroom, and there were 20 counters and there were three staff. So I just want to know what’s going on. It’s a joke,“ he said.
“I’ve never seen living in a country like Canada something happening like this,” said Vaggi who came from India 42 years go, “It’s very disappointing.”
At the front of the line, Sukhbir Singh and his wife have been taking turns waiting outside the mall with their baby since Monday, hoping to get an emergency passport for their flight to New Delhi on Friday night.
“They said anyone within 48 hours, they can stay here. And after one hour, they said they’re not going to take any applications for today,” said Singh, who decided to keep waiting because he would have to pay hefty fees if they have to cancel their flights.
“We have three tickets, so probably $1,200, $1,300. That’s a lot, right?” said Singh, adding “This is the worst experience.”
Vlassovoulos also decided to keep her place in line. “I stayed here all night, I’m just going to stay here ‘til it closes. I mean, I feel Iike I just wasted the whole day otherwise. It’s the only thing I can do at this point,” she said.
Miller was determined to wait as well. “If I can’t get it today, I have to come back tomorrow and hope for the best,” he said. “And if I can’t get it on Friday, then the whole thing’s got to be cancelled.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Bayer recalls hydraSense baby product over 'potential contamination'
Bayer announced Thursday it is recalling two lots of its hydraSense Baby Nasal Care Easydose due to a potential contamination.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.