'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
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
U.S. FAA launches investigation into unauthorized personnel in cockpit of Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto
The U.S.’s Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a video that appears to show unauthorized personnel in the cockpit of a charted Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto.