Not at all. If you come to a regular office or even to a regular outreach site to get a social insurance card, they will give it to you right away. They will process your data in the computer and give you a number. In a community office, they could only give you general instructions and tell you what information had to be provided. You had to go somewhere to apply. In order to obtain a social insurance card, you have to go in person to the office to get the service. However, people who receive employment insurance and who want to change their address or change their application for direct deposit can do this at a regular outreach site. This cannot be done through a community office.
On March 8th, 2011. See this statement in context.