Original letters/pictures/cards included in application. Do I get these back?

[shandymoo]

I have original letters and cards for my application as well as 200 pictures. Will these be sent back to me when my application is complete or do they keep them? I would like to keep the originals really! I could photocopy them but it wouldnt have the same impact would it?

 

[bonbon9]

I have original letters and cards for my application as well as 200 pictures. Will these be sent back to me when my application is complete or do they keep them? I would like to keep the originals really! I could photocopy them but it wouldnt have the same impact would it?

Send photocopies of everything! You only need to send the originals of the forms and police certificates.

 

[rrdiggy76]

We scanned all of our cards and letters etc. on to additional sheets of paper which we attached to the back of the relevant form that required that particular proof. Photographs are digital so we just printed extra.

We have just got our PPR and no sign of any documents being returned, so i'd suggest if at all possible, send copies!

 

[shandymoo]

What about ticket stubs and travel itineraries? I dont care for these back really... I only collected them over the years because I knew I would need them for evidence for this application. What if your application is rejected do they send you your stuff back?

 

[rrdiggy76]

What about ticket stubs and travel itineraries? I dont care for these back really... I only collected them over the years because I knew I would need them for evidence for this application. What if your application is rejected do they send you your stuff back?

Same. Photocopied or scanned. Not because we wanted them back, but in case our application was destroyed/lost/stolen or who knows what on it's way round the world!

If we ever needed to recreate the application, we could.

 

[kelKel]

I know if you withdraw an application they send everything back.

 

[canadianwoman]

My application is over and done with, and I haven't got anything back. Some people on the forum have said they got their originals back, and some have not. It depends on the visa office and visa officer. To be safe, send copies of everything (except for anything CIC specifically wants the original of). You can photocopy or scan and print cards, letters, ticket stubs, boarding passes, etc., and you can get a second copy of photos. Especially with boarding passes, ticket stubs, and receipts, or anything small, I think it is better to copy them onto regular 4-sized sheets of paper; that way they are less likely to get lost.
It is not likely to happen, but occasionally an application package is lost, or parts of it are lost, so you may have to redo it; so it is best to keep the originals and just send copies.

 

[BeShoo]

Sometimes they will return originals if it looks like they are irreplaceable, but not necessarily always. For most things, photocopies are better.

 

[Kess]

Same. Photocopied or scanned. Not because we wanted them back, but in case our application was destroyed/lost/stolen or who knows what on it's way round the world!

If we ever needed to recreate the application, we could.

This was the biggest reason I sent in scanned copies of everything. Printed neatly on 8.5x11" paper so the application was organized. We also wanted to make sure we could recreate the application since my husband is coming to visit in November (for the duration of the application process) and we wanted to be prepared at the border.

Their operating procedures manual does state that originals are to be returned but we've seen from many posters that it may not happen. It's best to send copies unless requested othewise.

 

[Inlandappl]

My opinion is that you should just send the photocopies while for photos i would print them in photo paper (anyway they are digital... Dont send your original love letters and cards probably they ll never send them back to you....