Which courier to use for return shipping envelope when sending passport ?

[ahmadka]

Guys, I have a question. For those of you who are in the US and recently sent your passport to the Ottawa CIC office, which courier service did you use for the RETURN shipping envelope that you also sent to CIC ?

I want to use FedEx, but the problem is that when generating the return shipping label, you HAVE to mention a ship date. But I don't know when CIC will want to ship my passport back to me, and so I don't know what Ship date to mention. I have called FedEx customer service twice and both times they've said that an open ship date isn't possible.

So how are you guys dealing with this problem ? I'm confused ???

Another question is, you have to mention the recipient's telephone number when generating the send label. I don't know Ottawa office's phone number, so what number should I mention here ?

 

[andy108]

Try UPS...

i dont think they ask for a date, no?

 

[ahmadka]

I guess I could try that, but this forum is filled with people recommending FedEx for this task ... Why would everyone recommend FedEx if FedEx has this problem ???

I almost feels like I'm missing some obvious point here :-[

 

[legalfalcon]

I guess I could try that, but this forum is filled with people recommending FedEx for this task ... Why would everyone recommend FedEx is FedEx has this problem ???

I almost feels like I'm missing some obvious point here :-[

Usually UPS and FedEx do not provide prepaid expedited shipping labels. At least this is what I was informed when I sent my PP to Ottawa on April 5. However, I was prepared and asked one of my friends to send me a Canada xpresspost USA pre-paid envelope.

https://www.canadapost.ca/shop/envelopes/xpresspost-tm-prepaid/usa/p-102222.jsf;CPO_JSESSIONID=M4zxAJP2Zqk55Wg-AQ88F-0oZT2OwoUoMLjMXe4we4rBHzPBTaVY!-1572534088?execution=e1s1

I just filled in my return address and sent it across. It has a tracking number from USPS. I hope it should work. I have read a few posts by applicants who used this xpress post USA successfully.

 

[ahmadka]

That's a good idea however I don't know anyone in Canada who I can ask to send me this prepaid shipping envelope. Also, private couriers such as FedEx and UPS have a much better reliability which is why I was inclined to use them.

And it still doesn't explain why everyone recommends FedEx on this forum

 

[Deccan]

That's a good idea however I don't know anyone in Canada who I can ask to send me this prepaid shipping envelope. Also, private couriers such as FedEx and UPS have a much better reliability which is why I was inclined to use them.

And it still doesn't explain why everyone recommends FedEx on this forum

I picked a random return ship date--give or take 2 weeks from the time package shipped out to Ottawa. I believe that is a mere formality. The return label doesn't get activated until IRCC ships your documents back anyway. I used FedEx after a couple of people recommended it. Had no issues. Just make sure you complete the customs forms for both ways.

 

[ahmadka]

I picked a random return ship date--give or take 2 weeks from the time package shipped out to Ottawa. I believe that is a mere formality. The return label doesn't get activated until IRCC ships your documents back anyway. I used FedEx after a couple of people recommended it. Had no issues. Just make sure you complete the customs forms for both ways.

Based on fedex's website, you can only select a ship date that is upto 10 days in advance. Also, according to fedex's customer service, the shipping label is only valid for upto 3 days after the ship date. The FedEx rep told me that if someone tries to ship a FedEx parcel that has a ship date of 4 days or more before the current date, it will not go through and the FedEx person won't take the parcel, and will ask the sender to generate another shipping label.

So this all seems like very risky to me considering that my passport could get lost. It's very hard for me to believe that everyone takes this risk and everything seems to work out for everyone here. Something doesn't seem right :/

 

[Deccan]

Based on fedex's website, you can only select a ship date that is upto 10 days in advance. Also, according to fedex's customer service, the shipping label is only valid for upto 3 days after the ship date. The FedEx rep told me that if someone tries to ship a FedEx parcel that has a ship date of 4 days or more before the current date, it will not go through and the FedEx person won't take the parcel, and will ask the sender to generate another shipping label.

So this all seems like very risky to me considering that my passport could get lost. It's very hard for me to believe that everyone takes this risk and everything seems to work out for everyone here. Something doesn't seem right :/

I went to a brick-and-mortar FedEx office. The on-site manager walked me through all the steps. Outbound and inbound shipping/delivery went through without any hassles. Obviously, you'll have to decide what's best for you.

 

[legalfalcon]

Based on fedex's website, you can only select a ship date that is upto 10 days in advance. Also, according to fedex's customer service, the shipping label is only valid for upto 3 days after the ship date. The FedEx rep told me that if someone tries to ship a FedEx parcel that has a ship date of 4 days or more before the current date, it will not go through and the FedEx person won't take the parcel, and will ask the sender to generate another shipping label.

So this all seems like very risky to me considering that my passport could get lost. It's very hard for me to believe that everyone takes this risk and everything seems to work out for everyone here. Something doesn't seem right :/

The easiest and best way to go if you are in the US is to get the priority flat rate envelope and ask the post office clerk to make it postage paid for you. That works too.

 

[ahmadka]

I went to a brick-and-mortar FedEx office. The on-site manager walked me through all the steps. Outbound and inbound shipping/delivery went through without any hassles. Obviously, you'll have to decide what's best for you.

So you didn't do anything online on FedEx's website ? Also, how did the store handle the 'open ship date' issue for you ? Do you remember which FedEx service/product was used for the return envelope ? Lastly, if it's not too much trouble, can you exactly tell me the dates when things happened for you ? Like, on what date did you visit the store, and what date did they mention for the return envelope's ship date on that day ? Also, when did CIC ship the return envelope in reality (based on tracking info) ? This would be really useful to me.

Have you received your passport back safe and sound ?

 

[ahmadka]

The easiest and best way to go if you are in the US is to get the priority flat rate envelope and ask the post office clerk to make it postage paid for you. That works too.

I think you're suggesting using USPS here, right ?

 

[legalfalcon]

I think you're suggesting using USPS here, right ?

Yes. Thanks for pointing it out. I meant USPS priority flat rate envelope.

 

[Deccan]

So you didn't do anything online on FedEx's website ?
I do have an account with FedEx but I preferred walking in to a store to handle the shipment. I had tons of questions and it was next to impossible to find answers on their site or even by talking to one of their agents on the phone. Got conflicting information. Once in the store, the manager sat with me while I accessed my account there and helped me fill out all the fields.

Also, how did the store handle the 'open ship date' issue for you ?
This was not an issue when I created my shipment.

Do you remember which FedEx service/product was used for the return envelope ?
International Priority both ways.

Lastly, if it's not too much trouble, can you exactly tell me the dates when things happened for you ? Like, on what date did you visit the store
10/27/15

and what date did they mention for the return envelope's ship date on that day ?
11/10/15 (not sure of the exact date but I do recall the manager telling me we could plug in a date two weeks out.)

Also, when did CIC ship the return envelope in reality (based on tracking info) ?
Return tracker activated on 11/12/15. I received the packet the very next day i.e. 11/13/15

This would be really useful to me.

Have you received your passport back safe and sound ?
Yes. Completed landing formalities in Jan.

 

[ahmadka]

Thanks Deccan,

I'm gonna try to go to the FedEx store again tomorrow and see what happens. Fingers crossed!

 

[bocai328423146]

That's a good idea however I don't know anyone in Canada who I can ask to send me this prepaid shipping envelope. Also, private couriers such as FedEx and UPS have a much better reliability which is why I was inclined to use them.

And it still doesn't explain why everyone recommends FedEx on this forum

Hi Ahmadka, your profile says you received the passport request in May, and VISA was issued in December.. Seems quite a long time, was there any issue during the passport shipping process?