Passport Return: Canada Post strike

[MC1 36]

13 hours ago, BChance said:

Thank you. You’ve been beyond helpful. Congrats too by the way!!!

Just a heads up, if you want to be able to request that Canada Post make delivery accommodations because its behind schedule, do not select Post Office Delivery, but instead select delivery to your house.  I selected Post Office Delivery (so I don't get a "missed you" slip, then need to wait a day for the package to be delivered to whatever local post office site), and now the package is behind schedule, and the supervisors I've been speaking to have been consistent in saying if the US consulate has specified a post office, they can't change the destination to any other post office or to your home.  Apparently the US consulate specifically and strictly instructed them on that.  And the US consulate told them if the visa holder has any issue with that arrangement, for the applicant to call the US consulate.  

 

I'm still working on it.  Hopefully will get passport soon.  But definitely didn't think choosing post office delivery v. home delivery would have such an important but hidden caveat!

 

[BananaButton5 175]

1 hour ago, MC1 said:

Just a heads up, if you want to be able to request that Canada Post make delivery accommodations because its behind schedule, do not select Post Office Delivery, but instead select delivery to your house.  I selected Post Office Delivery (so I don't get a "missed you" slip, then need to wait a day for the package to be delivered to whatever local post office site), and now the package is behind schedule, and the supervisors I've been speaking to have been consistent in saying if the US consulate has specified a post office, they can't change the destination to any other post office or to your home.  Apparently the US consulate specifically and strictly instructed them on that.  And the US consulate told them if the visa holder has any issue with that arrangement, for the applicant to call the US consulate.  

 

I'm still working on it.  Hopefully will get passport soon.  But definitely didn't think choosing post office delivery v. home delivery would have such an important but hidden caveat!

 

Good to know, thank you. We also decided to do Post office delivery for the same reason but now I'm thinking of changing it. 

[BChance 38]

1 hour ago, MC1 said:

Just a heads up, if you want to be able to request that Canada Post make delivery accommodations because its behind schedule, do not select Post Office Delivery, but instead select delivery to your house.  I selected Post Office Delivery (so I don't get a "missed you" slip, then need to wait a day for the package to be delivered to whatever local post office site), and now the package is behind schedule, and the supervisors I've been speaking to have been consistent in saying if the US consulate has specified a post office, they can't change the destination to any other post office or to your home.  Apparently the US consulate specifically and strictly instructed them on that.  And the US consulate told them if the visa holder has any issue with that arrangement, for the applicant to call the US consulate.  

 

I'm still working on it.  Hopefully will get passport soon.  But definitely didn't think choosing post office delivery v. home delivery would have such an important but hidden caveat!

 

I selected home delivery and back up to a close by post office with a third party who can pick it up with correct ID. I will not be leaving the house until I have my passport in hand!!! I’m so nervous this week. I leave from Mexico to Montreal on Sunday. Medical on Tuesday. I have no warm clothes, so will be in layers of whatever I have lol. Good luck on getting your passport!!

[MC1 36]

5 minutes ago, BChance said:

I selected home delivery and back up to a close by post office with a third party who can pick it up with correct ID. I will not be leaving the house until I have my passport in hand!!! I’m so nervous this week. I leave from Mexico to Montreal on Sunday. Medical on Tuesday. I have no warm clothes, so will be in layers of whatever I have lol. Good luck on getting your passport!!

It is so. cold. in montreal.  I'm saying this as someone from vancouver, but seriously, I went with husband, and we couldn't walk further than three blocks for food, and sometimes turned back after one block.  We finally discovered the underground, and it did get warmer after a couple of days (stayed there 4 nights), so I think there are ways around the stay-in-hotel hunkered down.  

 

Also, would definitely advise getting a taxi to consulate, cuz you'll be waiting outside till your appointment, and it'll be cold and maybe make you cranky.  Walking in the cold if you're not used to is just additional stress that's not worth it on that important of a morning. 

 

 

 

 

[BChance 38]

Just now, MC1 said:

It is so. cold. in montreal.  I'm saying this as someone from vancouver, but seriously, I went with husband, and we couldn't walk further than three blocks for food, and sometimes turned back after one block.  We finally discovered the underground, and it did get warmer after a couple of days (stayed there 4 nights), so I think there are ways around the stay-in-hotel hunkered down.  

 

Also, would definitely advise getting a taxi to consulate, cuz you'll be waiting outside till your appointment, and it'll be cold and maybe make you cranky.  Walking in the cold if you're not used to is just additional stress that's not worth it on that important of a morning. 

 

 

 

 

Thanks. Downloaded the Uber app for this very scenario. I’m staying about 5 blocks from US consulate, but cabbing it if it’s cold

[JennOnline 3]

Can anyone sign for the passport or does it have to be you? Also if you miss it does it get redirected to a pick up location ? Usually packages go to shoppers drug mart's canada post section. You then have to bring photo ID to pick it up. 

[BChance 38]

12 minutes ago, JennOnline said:

Can anyone sign for the passport or does it have to be you? Also if you miss it does it get redirected to a pick up location ? Usually packages go to shoppers drug mart's canada post section. You then have to bring photo ID to pick it up. 

If you chose home deliver, any adult can sign for it. If you chose post office, or you missed delivery, then you must have gov issued ID in the name of the package. I contacted AIS about this and that’s what they told me

[Smashy 155]

I am a bit confused here. Are you saying that selecting "post office delivery" where i physically go down, show ID is not a good idea?

On 12/31/2018 at 10:11 AM, MC1 said:

Just a heads up, if you want to be able to request that Canada Post make delivery accommodations because its behind schedule, do not select Post Office Delivery, but instead select delivery to your house.  I selected Post Office Delivery (so I don't get a "missed you" slip, then need to wait a day for the package to be delivered to whatever local post office site), and now the package is behind schedule, and the supervisors I've been speaking to have been consistent in saying if the US consulate has specified a post office, they can't change the destination to any other post office or to your home.  Apparently the US consulate specifically and strictly instructed them on that.  And the US consulate told them if the visa holder has any issue with that arrangement, for the applicant to call the US consulate.  

 

I'm still working on it.  Hopefully will get passport soon.  But definitely didn't think choosing post office delivery v. home delivery would have such an important but hidden caveat!

 

 

[MC1 36]

On 1/1/2019 at 6:05 PM, Smashy said:

I am a bit confused here. Are you saying that selecting "post office delivery" where i physically go down, show ID is not a good idea?

 

It may not be a good idea if you are needing Canada post to accommodate any changes to delivery method (ex.  If they didn’t meet the guaranteed delivery date and now you need them to expedite the passport to you in whatever wya possible).  

 

From what I learned from speaking to several Canada post supervisors (four of them) is that if you select that the passport be delivered to a specific post office (from a drop down menu on the aid site), then if there is a problem with your delivery, all Canada post will do is track that item and try to get it to that post office as soon as it can.  It won’t deliver to any other location that might be more convenient.   Ex.  If you have a flight the next day, and the passport has not been delivered to the selected post office, and the post office will be closed, Canada post won’t send someone to deliver to your house.  Apparently they have strict orders from the consulate that if a post office is selected as a final destination, the mail must go there.  And not to accommodate any other adjustments to delivery method.  not to do that.  I read on VJ that someone did actually get home delivery after selecting post office deliebry after he said he had a flight to catch, and so told supervisor about it, but when I cited that instance to the supervisor to suggest she can do same for me, supervisor said that the other person who authorized the change in delivery method/destination was willing to ignore the rules.  I spoke with several other supervisors over the next few days, and they were consistent – if the passport destination is a post office, they won’t do anything other than track the package and see if they can maybe speed the delivery up.  Nothing more.  

[BananaButton5 175]

We had interview yesterday. Today we got tracking number but it doesn’t seem to have been sent yet and CEAC is still showing Admin processing. I’m guessing it will get shipped tonight or tomorrow morning. 

[PSMB 23]

1 hour ago, BananaButton5 said:

We had interview yesterday. Today we got tracking number but it doesn’t seem to have been sent yet and CEAC is still showing Admin processing. I’m guessing it will get shipped tonight or tomorrow morning. 

I had the interview too yesterday and ceac shows on admin processing. I just got an email from the Canada Post that they’ve already picked up my passport and estimated date of delivery to the post office will be tomorrow. The ceac website still has not updated despite the fact that canada post has already the parcel.

[BananaButton5 175]

11 minutes ago, PSMB said:

I had the interview too yesterday and ceac shows on admin processing. I just got an email from the Canada Post that they’ve already picked up my passport and estimated date of delivery to the post office will be tomorrow. The ceac website still has not updated despite the fact that canada post has already the parcel.

Congrats on your approval as well! And yes we just got the shipment and a delivery date of tomorrow! CEAC also not updates yet for us. 

[BChance 38]

22 minutes ago, BananaButton5 said:

Congrats on your approval as well! And yes we just got the shipment and a delivery date of tomorrow! CEAC also not updates yet for us. 

Congrats to you both!! Looks like the delivery process is speeding up. Did you both choose home delivery?

[PSMB 23]

16 minutes ago, BChance said:

Congrats to you both!! Looks like the delivery process is speeding up. Did you both choose home delivery?

Thanks! I chose pick up.

[BananaButton5 175]

15 minutes ago, BChance said:

Congrats to you both!! Looks like the delivery process is speeding up. Did you both choose home delivery?

We chose home delivery so we would have the option for escalating it if needed, but yeah looks like it’s speeding up and we won’t need to do that anyway!