High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom Reviews Summary

Communication and Responsiveness

Pros:

• "The staff were super friendly and helpful."
• "The consular staff have always been excellent in dealing with passports and other documentation."
• "The staff in the citizenship services are so kind and compassionate."
• "They kept us up to date at all stages of the process."
• "For me, as being someone who required a study permit to study in Canada, I contacted them through IRCC's web form, thoroughly explaining the urgency of my situation, got a response to my study permit application the very next day."
• "Everyone I have ever encountered working here has always been incredibly friendly and helpful."
• "The team was super responsive via email and did their best to speed up the process."

Cons:

• "I tried to call, email and submit webform, many times. I got no response back."
• "Lack of communication is another characteristic of theirs."
• "The worst embassy I have ever dealt with. Waiting 4 months for a response for visitor visa."
• "Been waiting for an ETA now 10 months !"
• "Very poor service for issuing tourist visa.... 90 days passed still no response...Kept in dark whole time, never a single reply for email...."
• "Absolutely shocking how it is totally impossible to speak to a human being!"
• "Appalling customer service as every time I email or call or fill out a web form, all they say is 'please be assured your application is in process.'"

Service and Support

Pros:

• "Excellent service, Chantell Pellizzeri helped us with getting us our temp. Passports and applied for new Canadian passports."
• "Had to get a Canadian passport as I was born in Canada and moved to the UK when I was 13. Rules now state that any Canadian citizen can only travel to Canada on a Canadian passport. Although the process is not easy I found the people at the embassy really nice and helpful."
• "I submit my application online on the 26 October 2019. I did my Biometric on October 29, 2019, My visa was Approved on December 11, 2019, and my original passport was required for. I carry my passport to the embassy on December 13 and receive it back on December 17, 2019, in the mail because I use their courier service for return, the service was very good and quick."
• "Got citizenship certificates and passports for our 2 daughters born in London in less than 2 months. Very helpful and knowledgeable via email."
• "Outstanding service! I needed my passport to be renewed urgently and I got it back in less than 10 business days!"
• "I just received my new passport, having dropped off the forms and documentation at the High Commission premises, barely two weeks ago."
• "Service was friendly and overall fantastic."

Cons:

• "Completely crazy - I will never want to visit Canada again."
• "I have been suffering from stress regarding this and I had to pay taxi fare of £75.00 for my journey back and petrol to go back to my house."
• "The guards won't let you in unless you hold a Canadian passport."
• "Massive backlog and they handle it in the worst way... Inefficient workforce and literally impossible to contact."
• "DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR PASSPORT FOR PR VISA/DOCUMENTS AT THIS LOCATION DUE TO SEVERE BACKLOG."
• "Canada should be embarrassed, in this bad situation of countries Canada show their prejudice For everyone, they said that we would give visas to Ukrainians and Afghans, my husband and children who had Ukrainian passports obtained visas, but not me."
• "Absolutely useless. Applied for two visitor visas 4 months ago and still not heard anything since submission."

Facility and Location

Pros:

• "Lovely grand greek revival building, great location on Trafalgar square."
• "Amazing building in the heart of London, so much Canadian art + history on display."
• "It's nice building in Trafalgar Square great location and architecture, Canada House is a Greek Revival building on Trafalgar Square in London."
• "If you get a chance to attend an event here go and experience a taste of Canada."
• "The most gracious hosts. Wonderful people, welcoming the new Madam High Commissioner."

Cons:

• "Completely agree with the reviews below about the commissions careless attitude regarding visa processing deadlines."
• "Nothing friendly about this place, I went to visit but the guard didn’t let me in because they didn’t believe I was Canadian."
• "Unless you are Canadian, its closed to you regardless of how many open doors you see."
• "When we went to the High commission building in Trafalgar square, we were stopped by the guards."
• "So disappointing. They charge such a high application fee, but there’s no commitment to quality and no respect to applicant’s time or money."