These Canadians are the worst customer service. Sent them two emails asking to check the status of citizenship for my son and no answer at all. Tried to reach office in Canada and cannot get a hold of anybody. They are good with taking your money for application and your application stays in processing mode forever without any updates. I am really disappointed and frustrated with their mediocre service and I am Canadian citizen. read more

I just had a long conversation with Selome (I hope I have the spelling right). Very nice and informed person. The call I thought would be stressful calmed me down about the decisions I am making. She also e-mailed me many links to help me in my venture. Thank you and "Merci" read more

Wonderful polite staff who don't rush you. So very thankful of their kind service and how they treat everyone will dignity and respect.

My daughter and I went to our Canadian consulate in LA today with lots of anxiety as her passport was expiring before our trip back to Toronto. The consular officer was kind and immediately put us to ease. Very helpful and at the same time methodical and efficient. We came back home with peace of mind and a huge smile on our faces. We would like to thank our consular officer for helping us today. I wish all other Consular offices work the way the Los Angeles Canadian Consulate worked. Thank you very much Ramana & Nina read more

Agent was rude, patronizing and unhelpful. Also, very difficult to hear what she was saying because there was a thick layer of glass between us read more

I've said this before when dealing with the LA Consulate and I will say it again, they are SO friendly and helpful. I was panicking today and Tania was so professional and kind. It truly helps when you have good people in your corner. read more

As a Canadian Citizen, I found there attitude and demeanor very bad. I went to get advice on getting a tourist visa for a relative. They do not handle any issues regarding visas. Not only would they not answer questions they were arrogant and rude. Never going back there. Totally embarrassed to be a Canadian after my experience there at hope street read more

I'm a bit biased but I think our embassy has by far the best service for citizens of any embassy in Los Angeles. I was in the worst situation you could ever imagine & they provide me with some Outstanding service... I could never thank you enough madame : CHANTAL YOU'RE THE BEST!!! THANK YOU sooo much!!!!! ----- Ca me fait toujours chaud au coeur de m'exprimer de mon pays le Canada mais force d'admetre que l'ambassade Canadienne et probablemente la meilleure en ville (los angeles). J'etais dans une situation horrible, desesperante , mais le service que j'ai recu par mes concitoyens etait tout simplement exceptionnel. Madame CHANTAL j'ai aucun mot pour demontrer ma gratitude envers vous merci encore une fois read more

Awful service, need my passport ASAP and there's no one to contact I don't even need to go to Canada anymore but the stupid and awful 5 weeks processing time for the visa will make it impossible for me to travel. There's no freaking way to track the whole thing and you can only contact them by email but no one will ever reply back, this consulate is the worst mess ever. read more

Dear Canada If Donald Trump somehow becomes the President of the United States, I would like my husband emigrate to our beautiful lovely country. In meantime we will see how things go, and I'll be in touch. Best regards I'm Canadian living abroad read more

The hours for passport services are 1030am-1230pm then 130-300pm monday though friday. Forms are available for download at: www.passportcanada.gc.ca read more

This was my 2nd time applying for a Canadian tourist visa. Last time I applied was 3 years ago and I had walked in, gave my documents and picked up the Visa/Passport the next day. Fast forward to present day and you would expect things to be even better if not the same, but no. I walk in at 8:30AM, was told that they don't open till 9AM, even though the website says 8:30AM. Then conversing with the guard, he informs me that Passport pick up is no longer an option and the minimum processing time has now been changed to 30 BUSINESS DAYS. I was horrified, I had planned to visit my relatives for Xmas and was applying a good month in advance. 30 Business Days is complete BS, what the hell is wrong with these Canadian Visa folks, I can go to my home country and get a tourist visa in a week and it takes them a whole month just to process. Oh and I should mention, if you plan to park in the parking structure next to the consulate (opposite The Standard Hotel), its $2.50 for every 12 minutes, so don't show up at 8:30 AM like I did expecting to walk in and out..! I should also mention that I had emailed them 2 months in advance to ask how long it would take to process the VISA, so I could plan accordingly to get my relatives to send me an invitational letter, other documents etc, but no response yet. Unless, its true about all the Republicans moving over to Canada after the elections, I just can't imagine how a Canadian Consulate would be this busy at all ! read more

Contrary to many reviews on here, I had a fantastic experience with the Consulate. They were efficient, helpful, and responsive. Long story short--Some airlines don't let you fly internationally unless your passport has at least six months of validity. Unfortunately, that was something I didn't realize until a few days before my trip to Mexico, and my passport was expiring in three months. In my desperate state, I called the Consulate on Monday to ask what options I had in order to make my Saturday flight. The lady who picked up was INCREDIBLY sympathetic to my situation even though it was completely my fault, and walked me through all the steps to apply for an expedited temporary passport. My particular situation was a little more complicated, as I was a legal minor when I received my original passport and my citizenship card was with my parents abroad, but she was able to walk me through everything I needed to do and answered all of my questions. She emailed me the forms that I needed (which weren't available online since they're only needed under particular circumstances) almost immediately. I also sent her a follow-up email to thank her and to confirm what she had told me over the phone, and she responded very quickly. I went into their office on Tuesday morning with all my documents and by Thursday afternoon, I had my temporary passport in my hand, ready for my trip to Cabo :) read more

Omg Kathy and the other gal that helped me were amazing, I got my passport In 1 week, thanks ladies

Services provided at this consulate have gone way down from the past. Just about everything needs to be sent to Canada to get done... so I'm not sure what the value is of this location. On the plus side, I didn't need to make an appointment in advance, and service was prompt when i showed up during their desk hours. Though as I mentioned above, all I got was a printout of instructions on where to send my documents in Ottawa for further processing. Downtown parking is hell, so if you can, take the metro or bus. I was in & out in 20 minutes. read more

They're trying to streamline things now by making you submit everything via internet. In our case, internet was definitely faster. The visa request that was submitted via Austria location was approved in 3 days, and when we brought in the passports along with approval letter to the Los Angeles location in person -- as opposed to mailing it -- on a Friday, we received our passports by Tuesday or Wednesday. As with dealing with other GC or embassies, you have to be prepared with all your documents, prepaid envelopes, questions, etc; just because you never know what they're going to throw at you. You can't be there too early because they won't even let you wait inside the building; let alone on the floor. So there you are, with maybe 30 other people, outside the building, waiting to get in. If you're not able to sneak in, or squeeze your way through the herd a couple of minutes early, most likely by the time you get up to the consulate's floor, there's a line for the security. Your bag has to go through a screener, and you have to go through a metal detector. You're not allowed to bring bottled water -- if the security sees it. Once you go through the metal detector, then the security gives you a number. After you get your number, and you head on to the waiting area (visa to the left, Canadian passport stuff to the right). When I was there, there were 2 people behind the windows. There *is* a restroom in the waiting area, so you won't need to step outside and miss your number. I took the metro. BUT there is an $8 all day parking by Macy's. And if you need to get self-address prepaid envelope, there's a post office in the Macy's building. read more

I had a second, very smooth and simple experience here. Several years ago I had a first passport issued here and recently I came back for the renewal. Claudine was patient and very informative on the phone and in person, making what is for me, a stressful situation, much less so. There were two times she needed to call me back and did so in a very timely manner. Even the security guard was friendly and helpful, giving opinion on local hotels. read more

After my passport being rejected due to pictures, called the embassy, they replied back with in 24 hours, the lady was a little annoyed with my questions but answered all. She advised that once they return my passport I could go to the consulate in LA during certain hours with my itinerary and they would give issue me a temporary passport that I would have to exchange it with in 60 days. I went today, the lady who helped was very nice and caring. She even made small talk with me. After reading reviews I was worried about the quality of service but I was impressed with the great service this specific government office offered. I have to go back and pick up my passport in 48 hours. She also offered to mail but due to timing I couldn't take that risk! read more

My experience at the Consulate in LA was outstanding. It was like going back to Canada for a visit. Everyone was professional and helpful. Even the security guard was great. My meeting with Ani was excellent. Her correspondence with me before our meeting was very thorough so I came with everything I needed to ensure the processing of my documents would be done efficiently. She was fully prepared for our meeting, answered all my questions and handled my issue quickly, professionally and with a smile. If you need your Consulate, request Ani. She is brilliant! I am very grateful for her help. read more

This review is for the VAC processing center at El Segundo, the front desk lady, and others were very nice and helpful. thanks to Laura H, saved us 2 hours on traffic. We went directly to the VAC office not the consulate. After a day looking for an address on their website, could not find it. Their website by far is the worst one ever seen for information. go the El Segundo VAC for your visa please!!! read more

Ani completely saved my ass when I was stuck in LA with a dog-chewed passport and no resources. The employees here are incredibly helpful, and work to help their clients get what they need in the quickest, easiest way possible. Everyone I saw within the consulate left happily with what they needed, because not only do they help with your disasters, they help calm you with their humour and patience. I appreciate everyone here so much that helped me! Thanks again Ani, I am now home safe in Toronto with quite the story to tell. read more

Cathy and Chantal did a great job of assisting me in getting a temporary passport after a nightmare experience at LAX traveling to Asia. Cathy actually answered the phone and tolerated my endless questions while guiding me through the process and the passport arrived on time. Be aware you cannot visit this office to obtain a regular passport and now must mail your application to Canada unless you are traveling soon and cannot wait the 30 days. The service I received would compete with any private business never mind a government office so great job to all who assisted me there. She even referred me to a photo place couple blocks away that will take a Canadian passport pic. be careful of this because it's a different size from US passports. read more

I have heard (and Consulate Site also mentions) that they would process the Visa on the Same Day. So, I flew from San Francisco to LA and showed up first (it was Thursday) at the Consulate at 8:45 AM, thinking that I will receive my Visa by 3:00PM and would return back. After taking my documents it was told to me that I could collect my Passport on Monday. I was surprised at that. They told that they stopped giving Visa on the same day since 2010. Thankfully I carried Pre-Paid Express Main Envelope (with $18.95 Stamp). I received Visa/Passport/My Original I797 on Tuesday. It would have been better had they mentioned it on their website, not to expect Visa on the same day. So that I could plan my return flight accordingly. Apart from this everything went fine. When filling for Visa Application follow instructions on LA website rather then the Main Website. I reached LAX at around 8:00AM and it took my ~30 min to reach Consulate via Cab (using the car pool lane) and costed ~$60. There is a small coffee shop beside in the adjacent building, so you can help yourself if you reach there early. If you want to use public transport, its also easily possible. You can take a day pass of Metro ($5). The metro station is just around the consulate. You need to change the metro once, and you would reach LAX, where Terminal Bus would take you to required terminal. Guard at the Consulate is very nice. He would scan your Bagpack etc. and give you a number that reflects your turn. Overall it was a OK experience as it took me just 4 days to receive my Visa. Only thing to keep in mind is that don't expect to receive you Visa on the same day. It might not happen and you may have to change your plans accordingly. read more

What a pathetic consulate. It's website doesn't even mention the holidays and days it could be closed. This should be first thing mentioned on their home page or at least should be there on the Office info page. Drove all the way from San Diego to find that it's closed. :( At the consulate there were so many people waiting. There also there was no notice of any sort that the office is closed in observance of a holiday. I wish I could give 0 star. read more

For a government office, this place is not bad. For one, the security guard is friendly, which I found to be a pleasant, though shocking, surprise. Of course, there are rules, like you have to turn your cell phone off and you have to pay by money order or cashiers check. However, they aren't total bureaucratic sticklers. For example, they stop issuing tickets at 10:30, but the nice security guard pleaded the case of a guy who arrived at 10:35 from San Diego and the consulate official let him in. Another plus is that they have a nice, big, clean bathroom right in the waiting area. Maybe that seems like an odd thing to Yelp about, but after sitting around and waiting for 3 hours you'll be appreciative too. read more

Yes! The security guy is super helpful even this office never does whatever I need them to. He is super! read more

This consulate is far far better than many other consulates (multiple countries) that I've been to. The service was quick and smooth. The best part about this consulate is the security guard who works there. Usually the security guards at the consulates are mean and rude but this guy is really helpful. All the required info is there on their website and I find it hard to believe that people just walk up to the consulate without doing any homework or research. Of course, there were clueless folks standing in the queue, wasting other people's time. However the guard handled them very efficiently and politely. The visiting hours are 8:30 to 10:30 am mon - fri. There's a parking lot right opposite the consulate building. Cell phones need to be turned off when you're inside the consulate. Get all your paperwork, application and fees info here: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/los_angeles/index.aspx?lang=eng read more

I mailed in my application for a Canadian visitor visa. Although the website indicates a 30-day processing time, I got my passport back within about a week. I had the same 1-week processing time when I did this 3 years ago. read more

Do not bother going here, it is like a deserted office...all visa processing etc happens at the Visa Application Center (VAC). Closest VAC from here is in El Segundo read more

Had a very good experience here. Needed to come in for an interview for immigration. We had gotten there a few minutes early and tried to use the elevator, but it only works for that floor when the office is open, so we waited in the lobby downstairs. Once the office opened the elevator allowed us go to the floor. The security guard in the lobby and at the Consulate were very nice. Surprisingly we were the only people there. The interview went well with no problems. read more

I actually had a decent experience at this consulate. They have strict rules (you couldn't pay cash unless it was in Canadian dollars, but they accepted cashiers checks/money orders in US dollars... WTF??) but once you get in, they are actually fast and efficient. Also, they let me change something that I got wrong on one of the forms, and when I got home and realized I had forgotten to give them a document, they were fine with me emailing it to them. The only complaint I have was that we got kicked out of the sitting area in the building lobby (why the hell do you even have a sitting area if people cannot sit in the damn chairs??? JERKS), but that's not the consulate's fault I'm assuming. Overall I'm a fan though :) read more

HUGE THANK YOU and shout out to the Adjoint Consulaire who help me in the processing of the permission/authority to apply for a passport of my son in Surey, BC. and they know all the requirements (they have the template), he genuinely was a nice man! Also thanks to the security guy who then guided me and made my experience there super memorable. To allow the person who helped me maintain some privacy I will be leaving his name anonymous in the review. He, however, was VERY helpful throughout the entire process and let me know everything I needed to expedite the processing. I found parking nearby in front of the Consulate. - For the parking I'd just pay $6.00 read more

BE AWARE THE BUSINESS HOURS HAVE CHANGED!!! 10am-12pm 1:30pm-3pm It would have been an absolute waste of time but the nice security guard gave me a card with the direct line to the people I needed to speak with. Thank you sir! read more

What a total joke! I was under the impression that Canada was a first world country! And i have lived in some third world countries that provide better services than Canada! I have 5 days left to complete tasks recieved via letter from the embassy in LA, challenge is, I can't get them to answer my documented emails, 5 in total! Yes, I have 5 confirmation emails from them too. I'm concerned as after contacting doctors, lawyers to try to obtain answers as to medical, support document request, they themselves have no idea what the embassy is requesting, without answers, how am I expected to provide the documents!!! Sadly, I'm faced with the same challenges from immigration Canada, when and if you can obtain a live person they have no answers, other than to tell you that they are understaffed and over worked ..... REALLY! Why is that my challenge or problem, I was under the impression they are employed to do the job!!!! read more

I had the mis-fortune to visit the Canadian Consulate office in downtown Los Angeles, today to obtain a tourist visa for my daughter. The staff (security guard on the 9th floor and other staff) were extremely rude in their behavior. Not only they were extremely unhelpful, they were downright rude in their comments and their demeanour. They made fun of me for not reading the instructions on the web site. If the Canadian Govt. trained them to be rude to visitors trying to get travel visa to visit their country, they are quite successful. In this day and age I cannot think of an organization that can be so rude to their clients and get away with that (has to be a govt. employee). Biman read more

I don't understand, everybody says Canada is immigrants country, but with this attitude to people this country can be compared to North Korea, Iran and Sierra Leone. First two I suppose are more fair to human rights than Canada is. They take your passport, they don't answer to telephon and email inquiries, they tell you nothing - is it democracy? Where does minister of foreign affairs looks?!!! read more

*This applies only for visa application via mail* Their website says that it takes 30 days to process the visa application (which seems like a lot!), and they are not exxagerating. In my case, it took them the full 30 days. I saw some reviews saying that it's only a week or two, but no. I had to cancel my trip plans because the passport arrived too late. If you want a faster service, you should either fly all the way to LA, or have an agency do it for you (one agency guaranteed delivery in 12 days). read more

The most horrible experience I've had from any consulate, ever! Wife applied for passport early December based on their approximate processing times. It's been about a month beyond it and they haven't returned the passport. We have urgent ravel coming up in 5 days' time. Every avenue to determine status has resulted in a dead end. No one responds on email, and neither does anyone answer the phone. I understand that entry to a country is a privilege, but it doesn't mean they are allowed to keep a foreign nationals passport hostage, especially beyond the time they promised for return. We can only hope the passport isn't lost and is merely sitting on a tray in this place. If there was a way to sue an embassy for mental anguish, I'd have used it by now. It's a sad situation that a 'developed' nation has absolutely ZERO respect for people reaching its doors through legal means. read more

I received my Canadian Permanent Residency over 5 year back but I decided not to move to Canada, so I stayed put in the US waiting for my American Green Card to wind its way through a long wait time. In January this year, my Canadian Permanent Residency expired. I applied for Canadian Visitor Visa (TRV) at Canadian Consulate, Los Angeles for a 2 week vacation to attend a yoga camp in Toronto. More than a week after submission of my application for TRV, they asked me to submit Application for a Travel Document - Permanent Resident Abroad (IMM5524) along with another $50 fee) which is illogical because my Canadian Permanent Resident Card expired (and I did not meet my residency obligations and do not care to move to Canada) and Declaration - Relinquishment of Permanent Resident Status / Residency Obligations Met (IMM 5539) which is even more moronic (not to mention this form cannot be found anywhere). Such stupid, illogical and onerous bureaucratic requirements for a mere visitor visa? Are they hiring complete idiots to process these applications or are their immigration officers so drunk on the job that they cannot even read the application and connect the dots. I mailed them my expired Canadian Permanent Resident Card along with IMM5524 and another $50 fee and asked them to reject my application for TRV and return my passport if they cannot process it in a timely manner. And it has been a month now. I'm yet to see my passport, with or without TRV Visa. (And yes, I'd sent pre-paid US Priority Mail envelop for return). This is the most pathetic consulate I've ever dealt with. They reinforce Canada image of merely being America's backyard (now sullied with Tar Sand Oils and withdrawal from Kyoto Protocol). I'll think I'll spend my tourism dollars in the US or somewhere else. They're not welcoming of tourists. read more

My sons mother is a Canadian, she took my son to Canada over 6 years ago, I have not seen my son ever since, yes it has been over 6 years that I have not seen my son. Rather disturb my son between our quarrel, I decided to apply for Canadian VISA, shockingly I was refused a VISA, more interesting fact is that I have already visited Canada and came back in 9 days with good conduct, no traffic ticket or any trouble, VISA was granted for 6 months and I could only sphere 9 days so I came back after playing with my only child for 9 days, he was little, now that he wishes to see me and I am dying to see him, the Los Angeles embassy refused me a VISA with 6 wrong reasons, and told me that they are not convinced that I will return back in time. I convinced and appealed the Ambassador that none of the refusal reasons are right, there was no response for 37 days, so I sent another letter to the Ambassador and I was sent an email that once a visa is refused there is no appeal for it and file is closed. However these Canadians have previously refused me VISA in 2003 and I had appealed and I was granted a VISA, in appeal I informed the entire issue about my son but they do not care, so much for the human rights that Canadians make publicity of. Above all with this stable job why would I or any one go to Canada and live there illegally, to my knowledge it is Canadians who come here and look for work or even work illegally because their economy sucks, I have never heard of any one from USA going to Canada for work. It is a shame, who wants to go to Canada; I would not even bother to go there if my son can come here. Above all I found them unfriendly last time when I was finally approved and I found them unfriendly this time as well. Please reconsider applying for VISA if you have a foreign status, they will charge you fees and won't even spent time to read your application, they did it to me they can do it to you. read more