Ex Refugee, PR with no passport (Need help)

[canada7869]

Hello,

I was a refugee and my passport was seized by IRCC. I received my permanent residency last year in May, meanwhile, my passport is expired and IRCC didn't give back my passport. Right now I only have PR card.
My question is if I want to travel now to any country or back home, what documents do I need? Can I apply to renew my passport? Can I travel to my country?

Thanks in advance!

 

[sohaib1]

Hello,

I was a refugee and my passport was seized by IRCC. I received my permanent residency last year in May, meanwhile, my passport is expired and IRCC didn't give back my passport. Right now I only have PR card.
My question is if I want to travel now to any country or back home, what documents do I need? Can I apply to renew my passport? Can I travel to my country?

Thanks in advance!

You cannot travel to your home country until you become a Canadian citizen. You shouldn’t renew your passport. You will need a RTD to travel or identity document

 

[canada7869]

You cannot travel to your home country until you become a Canadian citizen. You shouldn’t renew your passport. You will need a RTD to travel or identity document

Thank you for the advice. I really appreciate it. I had 2 applications going on: one refugee claim and 2nd sponsorship application. Both of them got accepted. Refugee got accepted first, later month sponsorship was also accepted. I have received my PR in April 2021. Could you please tell me when I will be eligible to apply for citizenship and what are documents I will need? Will it cause a problem since I don't have a passport?

 

[sohaib1]

Thank you for the advice. I really appreciate it. I had 2 applications going on: one refugee claim and 2nd sponsorship application. Both of them got accepted. Refugee got accepted first, later month sponsorship was also accepted. I have received my PR in April 2021. Could you please tell me when I will be eligible to apply for citizenship and what are documents I will need? Will it cause a problem since I don't have a passport?

The moment you get copr then you have to wait 3 years to apply for citizenship. There should be no issues. The documents you will need is

English proficiency certificate
Citizenship fees
Application
Passport size photos

 

[canuck78]

All you need to do is indicate that your passport was confiscated when you applied for asylum and is expired and still with CBSA.

 

[canada7869]

The moment you get copr then you have to wait 3 years to apply for citizenship. There should be no issues. The documents you will need is

English proficiency certificate
Citizenship fees
Application
Passport size photos

ok, 3yrs. Thank you. And what might happen if my passport was renewed without my presence back home for application purposes suggested by a Canadian lawyer while my spouse was applying for sponsorship aaplication. Also need to mention, I never received that passport either.

 

[canada7869]

All you need to do is indicate that your passport was confiscated when you applied for asylum and is expired and still with CBSA.

All you need to do is indicate that your passport was confiscated when you applied for asylum and is expired and still with CBSA.

Thanks, I have a question. what might happen if my passport was renewed without my presence back home for application purposes suggested by a Canadian lawyer while my spouse was applying for a sponsorship application. Also need to mention, I never received that passport either. What should I do in this case?

 

[sohaib1]

ok, 3yrs. Thank you. And what might happen if my passport was renewed without my presence back home for application purposes suggested by a Canadian lawyer while my spouse was applying for sponsorship aaplication. Also need to mention, I never received that passport either.

Its just a risk, you applied for refugee which means you have danger in your home country. Your refugee case passed now you are renewing a passport of a country that you went away from. Its your choice but its just a risk. Many members here recommend not to renew or travel to your home country when you become PR.

 

[canada7869]

Its just a risk, you applied for refugee which means you have danger in your home country. Your refugee case passed now you are renewing a passport of a country that you went away from. Its your choice but its just a risk. Many members here recommend not to renew or travel to your home country when you become PR.

It wasn't my decision, the lawyer advised my spouse. Later on, I got to know I shouldn't have renewed and I was upset at the lawyer. I and my spouse weren't aware of it. Also, I have no plan to visit back home either. But I'm anxious if this case might cause any issues in the future. What do you think? Would that cause any trouble in the future when I will apply for citizenship? What should I do?

 

[Simba112]

It wasn't my decision, the lawyer advised my spouse. Later on, I got to know I shouldn't have renewed and I was upset at the lawyer. I and my spouse weren't aware of it. Also, I have no plan to visit back home either. But I'm anxious if this case might cause any issues in the future. What do you think? Would that cause any trouble in the future when I will apply for citizenship? What should I do?

If they find out, yes you may be in trouble...

 

[Simba112]

If they find out, yes you may be in trouble...

and how do someone renew passport without your knowledge?

 

[canada7869]

and how do someone renew passport without your knowledge?

Renewing passport is really easy in backhome, only need to pay $50 , my spouse did it on my behalf

 

[Simba112]

Renewing passport is really easy in backhome, only need to pay $50 , my spouse did it on my behalf

ooh okey. thanks for clarify

 

[canuck78]

Thanks, I have a question. what might happen if my passport was renewed without my presence back home for application purposes suggested by a Canadian lawyer while my spouse was applying for a sponsorship application. Also need to mention, I never received that passport either. What should I do in this case?

Would keep any email correspondence from the lawyer advising you to renew your passport. Do not pick up the passport or use it if you have received it. You are still responsible for anything that is done on your behalf. If you have not used your passport you likely should be fine

 

[canada7869]

Would keep any email correspondence from the lawyer advising you to renew your passport. Do not pick up the passport or use it if you have received it. You are still responsible for anything that is done on your behalf. If you have not used your passport you likely should be fine

Thanks for your advice. Lawyer advised us verbally when we were in his office. A valid passport number was needed to apply for the sponsorship application. (my spouse applied for sponsorship application for me when I was in refugee status after we got married.) Even though lawyer made us to renew but he didn't use the new passport info on my sponsorship. Instead, he wrote a letter stating my passport is with IRCC. I really regret his decision when he told us to apply for renewing though. Coming from a lawyer's mouth, we didn't verify what we should not do since he was in care.

Yes, I never received that passport.