An Ontario woman says she's devastated at the thought of being forced to cancel her family's $35,000 trip due to delays acquiring passports for her two sons, especially after she followed all the rules.
Milton, Ont. resident Tammy Glendinning said the trip was gifted to her family in 2019 by her sons' 84-year-old grandfather, who travelled the world after retiring from being a school principal.
At the time, passport officers were being overwhelmed by customers whose applications were put in hold during the pandemic. The safari—with a base cost of about $35,000—is scheduled to start in less than three weeks on Aug. 9. Once the family gets the passports, Glendinning said they must also apply for a travel visa, which could take anywhere from two to 15 days depending on the embassy.
"I followed the rules," she said. "I did everything they wanted me to do. I can't even get an update." Service Canada is advising anyone who needs a passport within two business days, and has proof of travel, to visitFor those travelling within 3-45 business days, walk-in services at one of the 35 specialized passport sites are recommended. These services may still take up to two weeks, plus mail time. Appointments are recommended, and proof of travel is required.