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Applying as a Separated Couple

mmhughes

Star Member
Sep 7, 2009
180
4
Category........
Visa Office......
London
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
24-09-2010
File Transfer...
17-11-2010
Med's Done....
23-08-2010
Passport Req..
18-02-2011
I have submitted my sponsorship/permanent resident application for my husband who is currently in the UK. We are applying as a separated couple as I am currently working and living in Canada. He’ll be visiting me for a couple months over his birthday and Christmas and it just dawned on me that his application may come through (assuming all is well) while he is in Canada! Will he have to fly back to the UK in order to submit his passport to Canada Immigration in London? Or could he do this from Canada? I do understand that he would have to go through customs so it may entail us driving to the US and straight back into Canada.

Many thanks for your advice in advance.
 

mayasita

Full Member
Sep 19, 2010
42
2
I'm pretty sure he'll have to submit the ppt to the office that has processed the paperwork and is familiar with the application... They may allow him to fedex it in and fedex it back tho, not sure how London handles pprs...
 

kelKel

Champion Member
Apr 8, 2010
1,296
63
Canada
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-10-2010
AOR Received.
17-11-2010
File Transfer...
04-11-2010
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
28-02-2011
LANDED..........
03-03-2011
He would be able to send his passport via fedex to London and they would send it back.
 

matthewc

Hero Member
Jan 18, 2010
592
47
Grimsby, ON
Category........
Visa Office......
Inland (CPC-Vegreville)
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
27.09.2006
AOR Received.
05.12.2006
VISA ISSUED...
11.02.2008
LANDED..........
31.03.2008
Yes, you can mail the passport.

Once you receive it back, you either "flagpole" at the nearest US border crossing (no need to even enter the US, just tell them you want to return to Canada and why), or alternatively, phone the CIC call centre to arrange the landing at your nearest inland CIC office. The advantage of flag-poling is you can do it any time you like when the office is open (as long as it's a big border crossing, check it's on that can process new immigrants, and go during normal office hours).
 

mmhughes

Star Member
Sep 7, 2009
180
4
Category........
Visa Office......
London
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
24-09-2010
File Transfer...
17-11-2010
Med's Done....
23-08-2010
Passport Req..
18-02-2011
Okay. Just to recap. Even though we originally submitted the application as a separated couple and that his permanent address is in the UK. Let's say one of our family members opens the letter and it says that he's been accepted as a permanent resident. My husband could then Fedex his passport from Canada to the UK (Immigration London office) and they will then send it back to the address he is staying in Canada (my address).

There would be no problems in doing this since we actually submitted the application as a separated couple?

And then once he receives his passport stamped and we would just have to "flag pole" to and from the States?

Thanks for the clarification. I just want to make sure I understand 100%.
 

mmhughes

Star Member
Sep 7, 2009
180
4
Category........
Visa Office......
London
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
24-09-2010
File Transfer...
17-11-2010
Med's Done....
23-08-2010
Passport Req..
18-02-2011
Hi matthewc or anyone else who can help. Sorry to be such a pain but I hoping someone will be able to verify my understanding of my above reply.

Thanks so much I greatly appreciate this.
 
W

worriedbrit

Guest
I am not sure about them returning the passport to the canadian address from london, but even if it was posted to your address in england, family could then post it on to you in canada right?
Also, I wouldnt 'flagpole' I would actually go into the USA, even if just for 5 mins. In order to flagpole, US customs must deny you entry to the US, and being denied entrance can cause big problems if you do want to go to the USA in the future.
 

lynw

Hero Member
Jul 1, 2010
280
18
Vancouver
Category........
Visa Office......
Sydney, Australia
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
23-06-2010
AOR Received.
29-07-2010
File Transfer...
29-07-2010
Med's Done....
17-05-2010
Passport Req..
25-08-2010
VISA ISSUED...
20-09-2010
LANDED..........
23-09-2010
worriedbrit said:
Also, I wouldnt 'flagpole' I would actually go into the USA, even if just for 5 mins. In order to flagpole, US customs must deny you entry to the US, and being denied entrance can cause big problems if you do want to go to the USA in the future.
Not true. They can log you as flagpoling and "not seeking entry", just make sure you ask for that.
 

angelbrat

Hero Member
Oct 31, 2009
857
76
worriedbrit said:
I am not sure about them returning the passport to the canadian address from london, but even if it was posted to your address in england, family could then post it on to you in canada right?
Also, I wouldnt 'flagpole' I would actually go into the USA, even if just for 5 mins. In order to flagpole, US customs must deny you entry to the US, and being denied entrance can cause big problems if you do want to go to the USA in the future.


Nope not true.....they stamp your papers as ' flagpole'. I did this when I applied for my first work visa, since gaining my PR, I travel to the USA nearly every week to shop.

Apart from the fact I need a visa to enter the USA (they granted me a 90 day one initially and I just renew it every 90 days) I have never had any issue with going over the border.

The border guards on both sides are well aware of what 'flagpoleing' is.