International Passport Error.....Please advice.

[Bethel7]

Hello,
I just noticed that there is an error in my place of birth on my new International Passport different from my old passport. And I am trying to apply for my citizenship. I just noticed it 2 hours ago.
Please how do I fix this? Will it pose a problem in my Citizenship Application?
If yes, what is the way forward?
Thanks for your honest and professional advice as usual.
Regards,
Bethel7

 

[chakrab]

i suggest you change the passport first before applying for citizenship. it is an important piece of information.

 

[jujuberanch]

your "international passport"?

Hello,
I just noticed that there is an error in my place of birth on my new International Passport different from my old passport. And I am trying to apply for my citizenship. I just noticed it 2 hours ago.
Please how do I fix this? Will it pose a problem in my Citizenship Application?
If yes, what is the way forward?
Thanks for your honest and professional advice as usual.
Regards,
Bethel7

 

[wayne_vega]

Go to whoever issued that passport and have it corrected.

 

[manianz47]

your "international passport"?

Probably the OP is referring to a Passport issued by the Embassy/Consulate in a foreign country

To OP:
It is critical that you contact the issuing authority and get that corrected. Place of issue is required at multiple places (not limited to the Citizenship application).

 

[Bethel7]

Yes, my International Passport. Error in my "Place of birth" not where passport was issued or renewed.
My old passport and my immigration documents has my small town where I was born.
But when I went for renewal of the old passport in my Country's Embassy in Ottawa, they issued me a new Passport last year. And since then I didn't notice the said error in my place of birth.
Instead of putting the "Place of Birth" as it appears in the old Passport, they put another Town which of course happened to be my local Government Headquarters. Completely different from what I have in the old Passport.

 

[manianz47]

My error.
But if you have the old passport (and probably Birth registration document, if required), changing should be immediate since it is their error. Place of birth is a critical field to be specified in many documents (including back-ground checks)

 

[Bethel7]

Hello,
What do you mean by "Including background check"? Do you mean I should go do police report & include it in my citizenship application?
Secondly, most of my traveling in & out of Canada has been with this particular newly renewed passport with this place of birth error. And this error is already in CIC system different from my Immigration documents. I didn't notice it on time. I hope correcting it will not still create more problems for me? Because I think i will be issued another passport.
Thanks
Wisdom7

 

[manianz47]

Hi
What I meant was: It is a critical field required for back-ground checks [NOT that you should do one now and enclose]
Please call back your Embassy/Consulate and get it confirmed. They may not issue a new Passport (number). They may amend the current one.
When you have traveled on the new passport, normally no one (agent) checks place of birth.
Better contact your embassy and sort out.

 

[Bethel7]

Hello Guys,
I contacted my country embassy in Canada. And I was told that the error can only be corrected in my country Nigeria. Even when the Passport was issued here from the same embassy.
And for the correction to take place in Nigeria, I must be physically present. Infact, I couldn't believe it. In a 21 st century.
Anyway, is there any other legal alternative I could use to ensure that my Citizenship application will not be returned when submitted because of the said error?
Thanks
Bethel7

 

[parlvu]

If I were you, this is what I'd do

1) Apply for a new passport with your embassy. Ask them to ensure the correct place of birth is made. Talk to someone senior there.

2) Get your existing citizenship application ready. You still have lots of time. The new law isn't in yet. If you feel the law is passing soon and need to pull the trigger then submit the application and hope for the best. If it comes up in RQ or interview, then you can explain it there with your other docs and birth certificates.

 

[wisdom7]

Hello Guys,
Still on the Citizenship Application on question 5 C & D.
5C : Are you a citizen of any other countries?
5D : Do you have permanent resident status in any other country?

I was born in Nigeria and still hold her International Passport till date.
What should be my answers to these 2 questions? 5C&D Yes?
Thanks
Wisdom7

 

[Goldline]

Hello Guys,
Still on the Citizenship Application on question 5 C & D.
5C : Are you a citizen of any other countries?
5D : Do you have permanent resident status in any other country?

I was born in Nigeria and still hold her International Passport till date.
What should be my answers to these 2 questions? 5C&D Yes?
Thanks
Wisdom7

You are CITIZEN of Nigeria.
Don't tell them you are permanent resident of Nigeria. if you don't have legal residence in any other country(like Green Card in US) just check NO

 

[Goldline]

Hello,
I just noticed that there is an error in my place of birth on my new International Passport different from my old passport. And I am trying to apply for my citizenship. I just noticed it 2 hours ago.
Please how do I fix this? Will it pose a problem in my Citizenship Application?
If yes, what is the way forward?
Thanks for your honest and professional advice as usual.
Regards,
Bethel7

This is not a big issue. It's a common mistake that can happen to anybody and the cic agents are not aliens , they are humans and they understand this kind of mistakes, so my advice is
1- DO NOT change your passport. If you change it you will still have to show the old one (with the mistake right) or maybe you think you can hide or skip it...it's gonna be worst.
2- Apply like nothing is wrong. on the form it says:
4-A Birth details as shown on immigration document. Your immigration document is your landing form(IMM 5292) and I guess you have the correct birth place on that form and on the 1st passport as well. On the permanent resident card it just shows the Nationality, so no issue.
They may not even notice it and if they do TELL THE TRUTH. Nothing else but the truth explain that it's a small town Versus the regional capital .... and that you only noticed a few days before submitting the application and it was too late to change the passport. I'm sure they would accept it. If you deserve the citizenship you will get it wether you were born in a small village in the end of world or in New York.
Lastly, another option is to explain the situation in details in a cover letter that you include with your application and this way you come out clean.
But no matter what you do, DO NOT CHANGE YOUR PASSPORT.

 

[IBMER]

One thought to the OP: You would do well to take a color photocopy of each and every page of your passport; keep an e-copy safe. Just in case you happen to be in Nigeria and you have time you could simply get this changed.

Finally, why would you use the adjective - international - to describe a passport? How different is an "international" passport from an otherwise one? This is a genuine question; I would like to know if there is indeed any difference.
Good luck!