Hong Kong timeline

[motorcyclerider]

OrangeFlame, since Taiwan is listed as a visa exempt country for entry into Canada it may be that your wife doesn't need to sent her passport in since she doesn't need a visa to enter Canada. From what I have read applicants who are from countries that do not require visas to enter Canada do not need to sent in there passport and just receive the COPR as a letter.

 

[Fencesitter]

That's odd. The PPR letter we got did not mention anything about a deadline for landing. It just stated 'Pending a final assessment of eligibility criteria, your visa may be ready for issuance in the near future.' On the back of the first page there was a box at the bottom that started with 'Now that you are on your way to Canada...'...followed by some information about culture, jobs, etc. Is this the same letter that you got, mobeyk?

Thanks,
FS

 

[mobeyk]

yes, same as we got. Just that your medical expires next year. So ours is close to the date they issue the visa that is why they mention the landing date before the medical expires. Ours does not say a specific date though, just that we have to get to Canada before expiry.

 

[Fencesitter]

Yeah, so we got the same letter. Actually, aside from the first bullet point, all the rest (on the first page) go on about making sure we check the expiry date of the visa and ensure we land before that date (they kind of repeat themselves, but I guess this is to drive the point home that you must land before the visa expires).

The best part of that letter was the back of the first page where it goes on about living in Canada and adjusting to the culture etc...

I really hope they send back my wife's passport soon! The next week will be a holiday here in China, so I'm not sure how that's going to impact the HK visa office...

FS

 

[mobeyk]

The holiday in HK is 3 days, so all gets delayed by 3 days. I hope my wife can get tomorrow the notarized translation and send all with passport via courier. So you hear sooner than we are. Once you get the visa we will be close to ours as I guess they will fast track ours because of expiry of medical mid november. I cannot book a flight now as we do not know 100% but I guess we have to find a flight within 2 weeks once we get visa. At least it will be a quieter time of year for travel.

 

[zeushk]

OrangeFlame, since Taiwan is listed as a visa exempt country for entry into Canada it may be that your wife doesn't need to sent her passport in since she doesn't need a visa to enter Canada. From what I have read applicants who are from countries that do not require visas to enter Canada do not need to sent in there passport and just receive the COPR as a letter.

My wife is a Hong Kong Passport holder, which is also visa exempt to get into Canada for visiting purposes, and yet, have been asked for the passport. We believe the actual Permanent Visa is physically put on a page of the passport.

 

[Fencesitter]

Yeah, 3 days is not so bad.

If your wife gets the documents sent to HK early this week, you should be able to get the passport back by the end of October, or sooner.

We've already booked our flight...depart for Vancouver on January 30...so it gives the visa office plenty of time to finish up and send my wife's passport back to us...shouldn't be a problem.

You should check on ctrip for flights...we were able to get 2 adult tickets plus an infant ticket (roundtrip) for CA$2160 (Air China). Pretty decent price...at least compared to what I saw on other sites. Expedia was about CA$1300 more expensive for the same flight...crazy.

FS

 

[mobeyk]

My wife is a Hong Kong Passport holder, which is also visa exempt to get into Canada for visiting purposes, and yet, have been asked for the passport. We believe the actual Permanent Visa is physically put on a page of the passport.

Yes this is right. It is a sticker. That is why the passport is requested. I think that they want to make sure the passport is valid too. You might be right with the visa exempt countries.

 

[mobeyk]

FS, I found a one way flight for $750 from Hong Kong to Toronto on chinatravel.com
I always booked flights over them in the past. Kayak.com is pretty good too .We go with one way ticket as we will fly for spring festival to china and want to fly together. I don't know if I can get same flight as her return flight if we take a round trip out for her now. We want to wait for her PR card and then book in January.

 

[zeushk]

FS, I found a one way flight for $750 from Hong Kong to Toronto on chinatravel.com
I always booked flights over them in the past. Kayak.com is pretty good too .We go with one way ticket as we will fly for spring festival to china and want to fly together. I don't know if I can get same flight as her return flight if we take a round trip out for her now. We want to wait for her PR card and then book in January.

i found that booking a round trip from Vancouver is always cheaper than booking a round trip from HKG. It is strange even with the taxes and everything. We usually book with CX and they usually have a good rate for going to an additional location via hkg so, with a return ticket to places like taiwan, philippines, shanghai, and beijing for something like an extra 100 cad.

Which i think is cheaper than going to victoria from vancouver!

 

[computergeek]

Yes this is right. It is a sticker. That is why the passport is requested. I think that they want to make sure the passport is valid too. You might be right with the visa exempt countries.

This is Operational Bulletin 348a (it's been amended): http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2011/ob348a.asp

It is discretionary still for the visa office if they just want a copy of your passport, but for visa exempt countries they no longer put a TRV into your passport, since it is not required for travel. All they do is send you the COPR. Some visa offices still seem to request your passport, however.

 

[OrangeFlame]

This is Operational Bulletin 348a (it's been amended): http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2011/ob348a.asp

It is discretionary still for the visa office if they just want a copy of your passport, but for visa exempt countries they no longer put a TRV into your passport, since it is not required for travel. All they do is send you the COPR. Some visa offices still seem to request your passport, however.

does this mean they didn't just forget to ask for her passport. Just send back the shipping labels and they'll send her the COPR and we'll be good to go?

 

[OrangeFlame]

For returning the mailing labels.

Is it sufficient that I type in the name, address, etc. and email it back.

Or should I print it out and mail it to them?

and for mailing where do I mail it to?

I see the PO Box address and the actuall address.

Visa Section
Consulate General of Canada
G.P.O. Box 11142
Hong Kong

or

Immigration Section
Consulate General of Canada
12th Floor, Tower 1, Exchange Square
8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong

 

[mobeyk]

PO Box address is for regular mail, the other one for courier. I would print out and mail it to them plus I would email it back to them adding that you printed the labels with your address and sended them with your address you want to receive your visa documents. You can ask too if a passport is needed or if you just receive the COPR.

 

[Fencesitter]

The courier address on the PPR letter we received is slightly different:

Consulate General of Canada
Immigration Section
12/F, 1 Exchange Square
8 Connaught Place
Hong Kong

But I'm sure both are fine...

Too bad they don't send a quick e-mail confirming they have received the passport...

FS