HUGE problem regarding passport

[blueangel371115]

I'm trying to gather my documents for my application and I have a problem. We moved not long ago and things got all jumbled and I can't find my old passports. I have the numbers and everything, I even have a scanned copy of one but I don't have the actual passports as of yet. My in-laws may have just thrown it out without saying anything because it was expired, therefore no longer 'useful' in their minds when they came to help. What do I do? I had them at the time with no gaps during the period, I just don't have them NOW. I really DO NOT want anymore problems with them after all the crap I dealt with previously but it sounds like this is a problem based on the forms I'm reading. TIA.

 

[btbt]

The fact that you do not have your passports does not mean you will be denied citizenship, so while missing those documents is certainly an inconvenience (possibly a major one), it is not a insurmountable problem.

If you really can't find the passports you'll have to make a declaration that they were lost (if they were expired I'm guessing a notarized statement is likely the way to go, as police probably won't create a report for loss of an expired passport, I expect), and include a photocopy with your application.

You will need to have a list of all the trips you made to be able to complete the physical presence calculator. If IRCC deems your application unreliable because you did not include all trips you made, you are more likely to undergo close scrutiny and may have to prove your presence. There is a chance, because you do not have your passports, that they will ask for this kind of information anyway. There is a thread describing the kind of information IRCC may ask for in such cases.

You can start gathering that information just in case they ask for it. If they do, you have the information available. If they don't, you may have spent some time and effort unnecessarily. That's your call to make.

If you've only travelled to the US your entry/exit records should be available to them (as you'll permit access to CBSA records). It is possible to make a FOIA request to get your travel records from CBP, which could be another bit of documentation you'd have available. You can request CBSA records if you need them for yourself, but note that there have been multiple reports of trips being missing from this report (so this should not be your the basis for your physical presence calculation, it can be at best a corroborating piece of information).

Gathering booking confirmations, credit card/banking records,... may all be useful to document the trips you made. If you do not have a reliable travel journal you should cross-check as many sources as you can to create the list of trips you made.

Don't submit any information beyond what is asked for with your application. You would need to include a letter about the lost passports, of course, but any extra information you do gather should only be sent if/when it's asked for.

 

[keesio]

When did you get your current passport? If your current passport is older than 5 years, it may not be a big deal regarding your old passport.

In any case, just bring a copy of your scanned old passport.

 

[Psalm91]

Piece of advice. Get a police report for that passport. Even though its expired.

 

[btbt]

Piece of advice. Get a police report for that passport. Even though its expired.

Right, if your police service is willing to create a report do get one.

When did you get your current passport? If your current passport is older than 5 years, it may not be a big deal regarding your old passport.

In any case, just bring a copy of your scanned old passport.

As keesio says, you are only expected to show a passport for the eligibility period (the five years before the date you apply). If your current passport is close to being five years old, it may make more sense to just wait, so you have a passport that covers the whole time period.

 

[blueangel371115]

I got my new passport part way through my PR. I decided to change my name on my passport before landing. Yes, not the best idea, so basically in November 2014. So it's not quite three and a half. I have an FOIA report and a CBSA travel history for myself and those passports. I'm not sending them in but I wanted them because I traveled so much I wasn't just going to put in random dates as a guess. But maybe waiting is best.

When did you get your current passport? If your current passport is older than 5 years, it may not be a big deal regarding your old passport.

In any case, just bring a copy of your scanned old passport.

I do have a scanned color copy of that passport though, so that's good. Thanks folks.

 

[salem10]

Hi all,
My case, I have only my recent passport. I don't have my old expired passport. This passport expired within the eligibility period. My dilemma is to apply now and just write I don't ask to return my expired passport during the getting the new one. Or simply wait until the current passport covers all eligibility period (in this case I need to wait till June 2020 to apply).

 

[btbt]

Hi all,
My case, I have only my recent passport. I don't have my old expired passport. This passport expired within the eligibility period. My dilemma is to apply now and just write I don't ask to return my expired passport during the getting the new one. Or simply wait until the current passport covers all eligibility period (in this case I need to wait till June 2020 to apply).

I take it you've read this post, earlier in this thread. There really isn't much more to say.

You can wait. There is a chance you'll be asked for additional information/proof of presence.

Or you can apply now and there's likely a higher chance you'll be asked for additional information/proof of presence. We have no way to know how much more likely it is that you'll be asked for additional information in this situation.

The choice is yours. This is not a decision anyone else can make for you.

If you're wondering what to do when you send in your application: if you have the passport information include it on the application. Add a letter explaining you did not ask to keep your old passport, so it was kept by the embassy/consulate (or however it happened), which is why you're unable to include a photocopy of its biographical page. If you no longer have the passport information then mention that in your letter. (Keep your letter brief. A paragraph will probably do, two if you need to provide some context. More would be excessive.)

 

[sistemc]

The fact that you do not have your passports does not mean you will be denied citizenship, so while missing those documents is certainly an inconvenience (possibly a major one), it is not a insurmountable problem.

If you really can't find the passports you'll have to make a declaration that they were lost (if they were expired I'm guessing a notarized statement is likely the way to go, as police probably won't create a report for loss of an expired passport, I expect), and include a photocopy with your application.

You will need to have a list of all the trips you made to be able to complete the physical presence calculator. If IRCC deems your application unreliable because you did not include all trips you made, you are more likely to undergo close scrutiny and may have to prove your presence. There is a chance, because you do not have your passports, that they will ask for this kind of information anyway. There is a thread describing the kind of information IRCC may ask for in such cases.

You can start gathering that information just in case they ask for it. If they do, you have the information available. If they don't, you may have spent some time and effort unnecessarily. That's your call to make.

If you've only travelled to the US your entry/exit records should be available to them (as you'll permit access to CBSA records). It is possible to make a FOIA request to get your travel records from CBP, which could be another bit of documentation you'd have available. You can request CBSA records if you need them for yourself, but note that there have been multiple reports of trips being missing from this report (so this should not be your the basis for your physical presence calculation, it can be at best a corroborating piece of information).

Gathering booking confirmations, credit card/banking records,... may all be useful to document the trips you made. If you do not have a reliable travel journal you should cross-check as many sources as you can to create the list of trips you made.

Don't submit any information beyond what is asked for with your application. You would need to include a letter about the lost passports, of course, but any extra information you do gather should only be sent if/when it's asked for.

Dpenabil you?

 

[btbt]

Dpenabil you?

This sentence no verb.