When can i get my seized passport back? landing 2 wks ago as protected person

[soysong]

hi,everybody,i hope somebody can help me.

i was in Vancouver june 2011 made my refuge claim,2 weeks ago,i receive my landing paper in Scarborough and became a permanent resident.
but the problem is NOBODY knows when i can get my seized passport back.

when i received my PR interview appointment letter in april.the letter also request me sent a fax to 416-973-5123 within 7 days of the date of this letter.Scarborough CIC will request that your identity documents be sent to us for landing.

but when i receive my landing paper ,i ask the officer if she knows where is my original passport which seized by vancouver cic.she had no idea.
then i call the call center,they have no idea neither.they advice me sent the landing paper with the seizure form to the number again,so i did it again.
one week past,i just wonder where is my original passport.

they told me nobody knows when exactly i can get my passport back.it's annoying
i need the passport apply the us visa to attend a seminar held there in august.

is there anybody tell me what can i do?

 

[PRCR]

hi,everybody,i hope somebody can help me.

i was in Vancouver june 2011 made my refuge claim,2 weeks ago,i receive my landing paper in Scarborough and became a permanent resident.
but the problem is NOBODY knows when i can get my seized passport back.

when i received my PR interview appointment letter in april.the letter also request me sent a fax to 416-973-5123 within 7 days of the date of this letter.Scarborough CIC will request that your identity documents be sent to us for landing.

but when i receive my landing paper ,i ask the officer if she knows where is my original passport which seized by vancouver cic.she had no idea.
then i call the call center,they have no idea neither.they advice me sent the landing paper with the seizure form to the number again,so i did it again.
one week past,i just wonder where is my original passport.

they told me nobody knows when exactly i can get my passport back.it's annoying
i need the passport apply the us visa to attend a seminar held there in august.

is there anybody tell me what can i do?

Congratulations to you on your new status.
Regarding your question, if it is really urgent to you, don't you think to avoid all the bureaucracy it will be better to go to Vancouver where you made your claim with the "notice of seizure" you have with you and request for it.

Please can you share your timeline with us; your claim, interview or hearing, request for medicals, etc

 

[Boetie]

So you have now been given protected person status by Canada and you want to travel using the passport of the country you claimed were going to kill or torture you. You seriously think that is a good idea.

You might get away with it but your country of origin might get a bit upset or Canada might say if you can use your old passport, it proves you don't need protection and revoke your status and refuse your entry back into Canada.

You need to apply for Refugee Travel Document. It allows a protected person to travel before they gain citizenship.

You will also need a U.S. visa.

 

[PRCR]

So you have now been given protected person status by Canada and you want to travel using the passport of the country you claimed were going to kill or torture you. You seriously think that is a good idea.

You might get away with it but your country of origin might get a bit upset or Canada might say if you can use your old passport, it proves you don't need protection and revoke your status and refuse your entry back into Canada.

You need to apply for Refugee Travel Document. It allows a protected person to travel before they gain citizenship.

You will also need a U.S. visa.

If I understand this;
1. The passport is going to be returned. It usually is returned.
2. Persons who declared asylum and showed proper documentation (Country's passport) are not regarded as "stateless". People who declared asylum without Country's passport are stateless
3. One can identify one's self with that passport but cannot go back to the country from which he/she fled

 

[canuck_in_uk]

So you have now been given protected person status by Canada and you want to travel using the passport of the country you claimed were going to kill or torture you. You seriously think that is a good idea.

You might get away with it but your country of origin might get a bit upset or Canada might say if you can use your old passport, it proves you don't need protection and revoke your status and refuse your entry back into Canada.

You need to apply for Refugee Travel Document. It allows a protected person to travel before they gain citizenship.

You will also need a U.S. visa.

Refugees are allowed to travel on their own passports; the only restriction is that they cannot travel back to their home country. Canada will NOT refuse entry or revoke a refugee's status for travelling on their own passport. And using their own passport in no way indicates that the person doesn't need protection from that country. The Refugee Travel Document is for those persons who no longer have a passport and are unable to obtain a new one from their country of nationality.

 

[Boetie]

You might get away with it but why take a risk when you can do it without any hassles or potential problms. In this case, a possible extra problem would be the U.S. visa.

Refugee travel documents are issued to people in Canada with protected-person status, including Convention refugees and persons in need of protection. They are not just for those who cannot get a passport or are stateless and you avoid any hassles or potential problems.

according to http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=610&t=11 the following:

I am a refugee and I need to travel outside Canada. What documents do I need to travel?

You need to get a Refugee Travel Document from Passport Canada. It is recognized in all countries as a valid travel document. However, you cannot use it to travel to the country that you are a citizen of or the country of claimed persecution.

If you are a:

Convention refugee, or
person in need of protection,
you will need a Refugee Travel Document.

To apply, you will need to give Passport Canada proof of your status in Canada. You will need either:

a letter from the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB);
a confirmation of permanent residence; or
a Verification of Status (VOS) document.
If you are a Convention refugee, you should have a letter from the IRB. If you need to replace a lost letter, please contact the IRB.

If you are a protected person who was selected overseas and resettled as a refugee in Canada, you should have either a Confirmation of Permanent Residence document, or a Permanent Resident Card. If you need to replace an expired, lost or stolen Permanent Resident Card, you can apply for a new one.

If you are a protected person with a positive Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) decision, you should have a VOS. If your PRRA result was before December 17, 2012, and you did not get a VOS, or if you lost it, you can apply for a new one.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

There is no risk. The country of origin won't even be aware that the person is travelling on their passport; it's not like US immigration officer is going to notify the country that the person has used their passport. And Canada will not take any action against the refugee for doing this. As for the US visa, it is issued on the basis of nationality. A refugee travelling on the Refugee Travel Document is assessed the same as if they were travelling on their own passport.

Any refugee can apply and get the Refugee Travel Document but they don't need it if they have their passport.

 

[PRCR]

There is no risk. The country of origin won't even be aware that the person is travelling on their passport; it's not like US immigration officer is going to notify the country that the person has used their passport. And Canada will not take any action against the refugee for doing this. As for the US visa, it is issued on the basis of nationality.
A refugee travelling on the Refugee Travel Document is assessed the same as if they were travelling on their own passport.
Any refugee can apply and get the Refugee Travel Document but they don't need it if they have their passport.

Well said, I agree.

 

[Boetie]

There is no risk. The country of origin won't even be aware that the person is travelling on their passport; it's not like US immigration officer is going to notify the country that the person has used their passport. And Canada will not take any action against the refugee for doing this. As for the US visa, it is issued on the basis of nationality. A refugee travelling on the Refugee Travel Document is assessed the same as if they were travelling on their own passport.

No risk. You must be kidding. Only Canadian citizens with valid passports have the guaranteed right to enter Canada. No one else, regardless of their status can say there is no risk. It might be very very small risk, but it does exist. Even having a Canadian passport doesn`t totally eliminate risk when travelling. Ask Maher Arar. Having a Canadian passport didn`t stop him from being deported by the U.S. and tortured.

How do you know the passport is still valid and the country of origin isn`t going to revoke it. Don`t you think some countries aren`t very happy with their citizens for seeking refugee status especially if they actually are victims of that country.

How do you know the U.S. won`t notify the country of origin when they apply for a U.S. visa. Maybe years ago but they are a little paranoid now. You say it depends on the nationality but you have no idea what nationality that is. Don`t you think it might depend on the fact that the U.S. considers them to be friend or enemy (they might actually be friends totally unrelated of course to the fact they might be killing and torturing their own citizens.)

On top of that are potential hassles with airlines.

The Canadian government recommends all protected persons get the Refugee Travel Document. It is safe and eliminates most risks of travel for a protected person. Why take a risk when you can avoid it.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

A Refugee Travel Document is not a Canadian passport and DOES NOT GUARANTEE RE-ENTRY INTO CANADA. Canadian immigration treats a person with an RTD the same as a person with their own passport.

Most refugees don't tell their own countries when they claim refugee status somewhere else. And Canada doesn't tell the other country. If the refugee was threatened with the cancellation of their passport, then yes, it could have been cancelled when they left. Otherwise, the passport will still be valid until it expires.

Millions of people a year get US visas, the US doesn't notify those countries that their citizens have applied. And again, whether a traveller needs a US visa DEPENDS ON NATIONALITY! Saying it might depend on whether "the US considers them to be friend or enemy" is stupid. It depends on what country they are from.

Airlines go by visas and passport validity. Again, the person travelling on the RTD still needs the EXACT SAME VISA to enter the US as the person using their passport. An airline cannot discriminate against a traveller because of the nationality of their passport.

 

[PRCR]

A Refugee Travel Document is not a Canadian passport and DOES NOT GUARANTEE RE-ENTRY INTO CANADA. Canadian immigration treats a person with an RTD the same as a person with their own passport.

Most refugees don't tell their own countries when they claim refugee status somewhere else. And Canada doesn't tell the other country. If the refugee was threatened with the cancellation of their passport, then yes, it could have been cancelled when they left. Otherwise, the passport will still be valid until it expires.

Millions of people a year get US visas, the US doesn't notify those countries that their citizens have applied. And again, whether a traveller needs a US visa DEPENDS ON NATIONALITY! Saying it might depend on whether "the US considers them to be friend or enemy" is a stupid. It depends on what country they are from.

Airlines go by visas and passport validity. Again, the person travelling on the RTD still needs the EXACT SAME VISA to enter the US as the person using their passport. An airline cannot discriminate against a traveller because of the nationality of their passport.

Well said, thanks

 

[gosia]

thanks... im renewing my passport after landing

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Well said, thanks

Thanks PRCR

 

[gosia]

hi,everybody,i hope somebody can help me.

i was in Vancouver june 2011 made my refuge claim,2 weeks ago,i receive my landing paper in Scarborough and became a permanent resident.
but the problem is NOBODY knows when i can get my seized passport back.

when i received my PR interview appointment letter in april.the letter also request me sent a fax to 416-973-5123 within 7 days of the date of this letter.Scarborough CIC will request that your identity documents be sent to us for landing.

but when i receive my landing paper ,i ask the officer if she knows where is my original passport which seized by vancouver cic.she had no idea.
then i call the call center,they have no idea neither.they advice me sent the landing paper with the seizure form to the number again,so i did it again.
one week past,i just wonder where is my original passport.

they told me nobody knows when exactly i can get my passport back.it's annoying
i need the passport apply the us visa to attend a seminar held there in august.

is there anybody tell me what can i do?

this is now getting me worried as i will be landing at that same office in 2 weeks. I have already faxed my notice of seizure document within 7 days of receiving my landing letter. hopefully they will give me my passport back on that day

 

[Boetie]

My point was actually the same, that it depends on the nationality. The U.S. is going to treat someone with a passport from somewhere like North Korea or Iran differently than someone with a passport from Mexico or St. Vincent. Canada takes refugees from all of those places but I do think it is going to be easier to get a U.S. visa if you happen to come from a country the U.S. does not imagine to be a threat to them.