How long does it take to get a passport?

Hi: has anyone sent in a passport application by mail from the US recently? It says up to 9 weeks on their website. In this year, I've heard anywhere from 4 weeks to 6 months.

Thanks!

Well, I didn't send mine in from the US, but you can use this as a benchmark. I mailed my passport application the last week of June and just received it last week. So that's a 15 week wait when sent in Canada.

on another forum a few people stated it took around 11 weeks to get a Cdn passport while residing in the USA

A friend of mine applied in the second week of January and didn't get it back until the first week of march (this year) and she had paid extra to have it "rushed". That was from within Canada and personally delivered to the passport office in our city. Maybe it has relaxed since then, but I would suggest you leave yourself plenty of time.

Allyssa

A friend of mine applied in the second week of January and didn't get it back until the first week of march (this year) and she had paid extra to have it "rushed". That was from within Canada and personally delivered to the passport office in our city. Maybe it has relaxed since then, but I would suggest you leave yourself plenty of time.

Allyssa

I sent in my passport application in the spring as I had a trip to Ireland scheduled for Aug 29th. The departure date got very close so I contacted an MP from my former hometown. I was advised my best bet was to return to Canada and apply at a local office for an "Urgent" or "Express" passport for an extra fee as I had proof of paid travel. So I flew from Dallas to Grand Forks via Minneapolis and caught a bus to Winnipeg -- getting removed briefly from the bus for some obscure reason at the border, then permitted to re-board. I had a three-day stay in Winnipeg & got my passport on the second day. Made the return trip via bus then plane, but at least I got to Ireland after all! And I really enjoyed visiting The Forks in Winnipeg.

Thanks to everyone for their stories! I am just worried that the photos will get rejected. The dimensions are correct (had to get it done a second time). One thing I didn't catch before sending the package though is that one of my ears is darker due to the angle of the light.

But, they should be able to pick out the image digitally. There is a big contrast between the foreground and background.

If the photos get rejected, do I need to get them signed again by the guarantor?

Just an update.they received my passport in the first week of Oct. and charged my credit card in the first week of Oct.

They are just processing the application NOW! They phoned me to ask for some info yesterday. It might take 3 more weeks to get my actual passport.

Indeed the website says it'll take up to 3 weeks to PROCESS your application. This does not count the time between their receipt of your application and the actual start of processing.

Just an update.they received my passport in the first week of Oct. and charged my credit card in the first week of Oct.

I meant that they charged my credit card in the first week of Nov.

Well, my wife just got her passport rejection 5 weeks after sending it in. They didn't even state why it was rejected but when she called them they figured out it was because the guarantor (me) signed the bottom of her official birth certificate. Apparently your not supposed to do that even though the section the guarantor signs says " I have signed a copy of all identifying paperwork" (something like that). Aaaaarrrrgggghhhh.
I had my own passport rejected earlier this year because of shadows behind my ears. I went to the photo store that took the original ones, they took 12 additional shots and couldn't get rid of the shadows. I went to the post office to take pictures, they took 3 sets, couldn't get rid of the shadows. Both of them said they have NEVER heard of a passport rejection for that reason! (they ultimately accepted the pictures with my explaining my sob story to them).

I'm wondering if they intentionally give expats a hard time just to stick it to us.