Damaged Passport and Visa Expiring

[Hamidishfaq]

Hi All,

I am writing this post on behalf of a friend who has found himself in a rather complicated situation.

Backstory:
He travelled to Colombia 2 3 months ago to visit his family. Before leaving, he was on a PGWP in Canada and had already applied for his PR in September which is in process and has also applied for a bridging work permit which is pending approval. His current visa which he was given based on the PGWP is set to expire in 2 weeks.

The Problem:
He was scheduled to fly back today but a few days ago, his dog chewed his passport and damaged the front cover badly due to which he was not allowed to fly today as his passport was considered damaged. All the information in the passport is fine but since the front cover is damaged badly, the authorities at Bogota airport didn't let him through.

Current Situation:
The Colombian passport office has what is called an emergency passport option which allows a citizen to get a passport within a day or so after their application is approved. He is already working on getting the application submitted ASAP. We are hoping and praying that he gets his passport within the week and he can travel on another flight next weekend.

BUT, in case this current plan doesn't go as expected and he either is unable to get an emergency passport OR if it arrives after his visa expires OR if the immigration officials still deny him entry given that his visa is on the damaged passport and they might classify as invalid, in which he needs a new visa on his new passport. What other options in your personal or professional opinion does he have?

@legalfalcon I have seen you provide some very valuable answers on other posts and if you could kindly share some opinion here, we'd be really grateful.

Thanks for reading through this post and your replies.

Regards,
Hamid

 

[scylla]

Hi All,

I am writing this post on behalf of a friend who has found himself in a rather complicated situation.

Backstory:
He travelled to Colombia 2 3 months ago to visit his family. Before leaving, he was on a PGWP in Canada and had already applied for his PR in September which is in process and has also applied for a bridging work permit which is pending approval. His current visa which he was given based on the PGWP is set to expire in 2 weeks.

The Problem:
He was scheduled to fly back today but a few days ago, his dog chewed his passport and damaged the front cover badly due to which he was not allowed to fly today as his passport was considered damaged. All the information in the passport is fine but since the front cover is damaged badly, the authorities at Bogota airport didn't let him through.

Current Situation:
The Colombian passport office has what is called an emergency passport option which allows a citizen to get a passport within a day or so after their application is approved. He is already working on getting the application submitted ASAP. We are hoping and praying that he gets his passport within the week and he can travel on another flight next weekend.

BUT, in case this current plan doesn't go as expected and he either is unable to get an emergency passport OR if it arrives after his visa expires OR if the immigration officials still deny him entry given that his visa is on the damaged passport and they might classify as invalid, in which he needs a new visa on his new passport. What other options in your personal or professional opinion does he have?

@legalfalcon I have seen you provide some very valuable answers on other posts and if you could kindly share some opinion here, we'd be really grateful.

Thanks for reading through this post and your replies.

Regards,
Hamid

Does he hold a valid TRV?

 

[Hamidishfaq]

Does he hold a valid TRV?

Yes he does but that is expiring in 2 weeks.

 

[scylla]

Yes he does but that is expiring in 2 weeks.

He needs to be holding a valid TRV at the time he boards the flight to return to Canada. If the emergency passport is approved and he travels to CAnada before the TRV expires, then he shouldn't have any issues. If the passport is approved after the TRV has expired or he isn't able to travel until after the TRV has expired, he will need to apply for a new TRV and then wait for the new TRV to be approved before he will be able to return.

 

[Hamidishfaq]

He needs to be holding a valid TRV at the time he boards the flight to return to Canada. If the emergency passport is approved and he travels to CAnada before the TRV expires, then he shouldn't have any issues. If the passport is approved after the TRV has expired or he isn't able to travel until after the TRV has expired, he will need to apply for a new TRV and then wait for the new TRV to be approved before he will be able to return.

That makes sense. However, at that point his work permit will also expire and his bridging permit hasn't been approved yet, so will he still be able to get a TRV?

 

[scylla]

That makes sense. However, at that point his work permit will also expire and his bridging permit hasn't been approved yet, so will he still be able to get a TRV?

He should be able to get a TRV approved. The only issue is that processing times for TRVs are extremely long right now (200+ days) due to COVID-19.

 

[Hamidishfaq]

He should be able to get a TRV approved. The only issue is that processing times for TRVs are extremely long right now (200+ days) due to COVID-19.

I see. Thanks for the guidance. Appreciate the prompt responses.

 

[legalfalcon]

Hi All,

I am writing this post on behalf of a friend who has found himself in a rather complicated situation.

Backstory:
He travelled to Colombia 2 3 months ago to visit his family. Before leaving, he was on a PGWP in Canada and had already applied for his PR in September which is in process and has also applied for a bridging work permit which is pending approval. His current visa which he was given based on the PGWP is set to expire in 2 weeks.

The Problem:
He was scheduled to fly back today but a few days ago, his dog chewed his passport and damaged the front cover badly due to which he was not allowed to fly today as his passport was considered damaged. All the information in the passport is fine but since the front cover is damaged badly, the authorities at Bogota airport didn't let him through.

Current Situation:
The Colombian passport office has what is called an emergency passport option which allows a citizen to get a passport within a day or so after their application is approved. He is already working on getting the application submitted ASAP. We are hoping and praying that he gets his passport within the week and he can travel on another flight next weekend.

BUT, in case this current plan doesn't go as expected and he either is unable to get an emergency passport OR if it arrives after his visa expires OR if the immigration officials still deny him entry given that his visa is on the damaged passport and they might classify as invalid, in which he needs a new visa on his new passport. What other options in your personal or professional opinion does he have?

@legalfalcon I have seen you provide some very valuable answers on other posts and if you could kindly share some opinion here, we'd be really grateful.

Thanks for reading through this post and your replies.

Regards,
Hamid

The visas do not expire and he should be able to travel with the new passport and visa in the damaged passport.

Once he is in Canada, his status can be verified in the GCMS system by the CBSA, so that should not be an issue.

 

[Hamidishfaq]

The visas do not expire and he should be able to travel with the new passport and visa in the damaged passport.

Once he is in Canada, his status can be verified in the GCMS system by the CBSA, so that should not be an issue.

I see.

Thanks for the replies both of you.