Passport Request for Outland - But I'm in Canada!?

[GPSMiami1610]

Hi there! You guys have been so amazing in the past, and I'm just one inch away from this being final!

I got my passport request from Los Angeles for permanent resident through spousal sponsorship. I applied as an outland applicant to Buffalo, but they moved it from there due to extended waits.

I understand the whole sending my passport and the two pictures and the paper with my description on it, but the question I have so far, Buffalo has not answered. I'm in Canada right now with my partner, and had planned to stay as a visitor for a couple more months. Since it's incredibly expensive to just fly down to the US for no reason and so suddenly, I was wondering if I could send my passport to LA, get it stamped, and sent back to me here in Canada. Would it then be okay for me to just make a day trip of driving to the border, crossing into the US, and immediately crossing back as a landing immigrant?

I asked Buffalo this and they said to refer to the instructions, which of course didn't say anything about this at all, and I can't get through on the phone.

 

[pinklady]

Try posting this on the Buffalo thread. I think I saw somewhere a while ago that if you're in Canada already to send your passport to Fort Erie.

And its totally fine to make day trip to the border in order to land. I did this myself.

 

[Vercetti]

Try posting this on the Buffalo thread. I think I saw somewhere a while ago that if you're in Canada already to send your passport to Fort Erie.

And its totally fine to make day trip to the border in order to land. I did this myself.

That was my thread

Here's the link to what people wrote back to me with:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/passport-requests-t90145.0.html;msg1148317#msg1148317

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hi there! You guys have been so amazing in the past, and I'm just one inch away from this being final!

I got my passport request from Los Angeles for permanent resident through spousal sponsorship. I applied as an outland applicant to Buffalo, but they moved it from there due to extended waits.

I understand the whole sending my passport and the two pictures and the paper with my description on it, but the question I have so far, Buffalo has not answered. I'm in Canada right now with my partner, and had planned to stay as a visitor for a couple more months. Since it's incredibly expensive to just fly down to the US for no reason and so suddenly, I was wondering if I could send my passport to LA, get it stamped, and sent back to me here in Canada. Would it then be okay for me to just make a day trip of driving to the border, crossing into the US, and immediately crossing back as a landing immigrant?

I asked Buffalo this and they said to refer to the instructions, which of course didn't say anything about this at all, and I can't get through on the phone.

Why would you send your PP to Buffalo or contact them? Your application is being processed in Los Angeles. So you send your passport to LA, I assume you they sent you instructions. When the passport is returned, you go to the nearest border crossing, get a rejection letter from the US (no effect on future admissions) and return to Canada to "land" Or you can phone the call centre and make an appointment to "land" at an inland office.

 

[GPSMiami1610]

Wowie, replies already! 8)

I called Buffalo because the Los Angeles line says don't ask about the PR applications, even if it's at LA right now. The other thread led to a link that actually has different information than what was e-mailed to me! I was instructed to mail my passport to Los Angeles, but there wasn't any information there about what to do if your current address is elsewhere. From what I'm gathering, because my application got processed in LA instead of Buffalo, sending it to Ft Erie might not be the way to go? Obviously I'd rather that, but my instructions didn't mention it.

I didn't know I could make an appointment to land without crossing the border! That's amazing, totally doing that instead.

Note: Almost definitely sure I can't do Ft Erie, the whole idea is that it's close to the border with Buffalo, and my passport has to go to LA.

That leaves me with courier. My e-mail said NOT to use Canada Xpress, but that I could use USPS--kinda hard to do, since I'm not in the US to get the envelopes! They said to use a courier service--that'd be UPS, right?

 

[pinklady]

Or Fedex, DHL.

I used Fedex to send mine to London from Canada.

 

[ccbrasil]

I am wondering the same thing here, what happens if my husband is here and we have to send his passport to Brasil. I understand you can send a prepaid envelope for them to return it to you, but being a different country, do you think Fedex, DHL or UPS would do this? seeing as it's going backwards?

And also, since it is a prepaid envelope, can it be a different address from the one on your application?

Gosh, lots of questions.

I hope anyone can provide insight.

Good luck!

 

[AllisonVSC]

Hi there! You guys have been so amazing in the past, and I'm just one inch away from this being final!

I got my passport request from Los Angeles for permanent resident through spousal sponsorship. I applied as an outland applicant to Buffalo, but they moved it from there due to extended waits.

I understand the whole sending my passport and the two pictures and the paper with my description on it, but the question I have so far, Buffalo has not answered. I'm in Canada right now with my partner, and had planned to stay as a visitor for a couple more months. Since it's incredibly expensive to just fly down to the US for no reason and so suddenly, I was wondering if I could send my passport to LA, get it stamped, and sent back to me here in Canada. Would it then be okay for me to just make a day trip of driving to the border, crossing into the US, and immediately crossing back as a landing immigrant?

I asked Buffalo this and they said to refer to the instructions, which of course didn't say anything about this at all, and I can't get through on the phone.

From reading the Buffalo thread I got the impression that (now that there is no longer a counterfoil to attach to your passport) people were being told in their PPR to send a photocopy of the passport and two additional photos.

Here is a copy of the PPR email eeeeeeeeeeeeletric got

My actual letter (minus the file info and name header)



Dear Applicant:



This refers to your application for permanent residence in Canada. We are now in a position to finalise your application.



Within the next 30 days please submit your passport(s) or a photocopy of all passport pages for you and your accompanying family members.


We also require two (2) recent photographs of yourself and each accompanying family member.

The issuance of your Confirmation of Permanent Resident document(s) is time sensitive so it is important for you to submit your passport(s) or passport photocopies as requested. You must submit these items by mail. We recommend that you submit a prepaid envelope for the return of your Confirmation of Permanent Resident document(s) and passport(s). Please refer to our mailing instructions for further information.

Please note, though your passport(s) or passport photocopies are due at our office within the next 30 days, you must check your documents upon receipt. There will be a validity date indicated, and you must become a Permanent Resident on or before that date. The validity of the Confirmation of Permanent Resident documents cannot be extended. If you are not prepared to live permanently in Canada immediately after landing, please consult the website regarding residency requirements in order to ensure that you retain your status in Canada.

DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE.

FOLLOW THE LINKS BELOW FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Passport requirements

Photographs, height and eye colour

Instructions for passport submission

Important notice for family members

Immigration Section/Section de l'immigration

Consulate General of Canada

Consulat général du Canada

Buffalo, New York

 

[GPSMiami1610]

Huh! Maybe because mine's processed in LA instead, but my e-mail was VERY clear about it needing to be a valid, original passport, with one blank page. Perhaps they're doing things different in Buffalo now?

 

[AllisonVSC]

That leaves me with courier. My e-mail said NOT to use Canada Xpress, but that I could use USPS--kinda hard to do, since I'm not in the US to get the envelopes! They said to use a courier service--that'd be UPS, right?

There are UPS centers in Canada. Staples is one. You could probably Google UPS and your city to find options there. I think your best bet is to also include return prepaid postage with your Canada address on it.

 

[cantor2537]

You could just drive to the US (you said you were within driving distance) and send via USPS.

What is your timeline btw

 

[GPSMiami1610]

Well I'm not that close to the border, not where it'd be cheaper than paying Fedex.

I wonder though, will they know how to do this if I prepare the prepaid envelope here in Canada but expect it to work sending from the US?

They make it sound so intimidating with all their footnotes and rules. :'(

 

[AmericaninQuebec]

Okay, there is a lot of confusing info on this thread. Basically all I want to say is follow the links sent with your PPR for clear and proper directions. They should tell you explicitly what to do if you are already in Canada. If your file is in L.A. there may or may not be a Canadian address to send it to, but I would be very surprised if this isn't properly addressed in their information since the info from Buffalo gives you three ways to submit your passport (or photocopies if they have given you that option, which they've started doing in Buffalo as of Dec. 2011, but the satellite offices may not be yet). Generally they say how to submit it in person, from the U.S., or from Canada.

If you have further questions I really recommend checking out the Out land Buffalo thread. There's a wealth of information over there, and a few other people who currently have files in process over in L.A.

Last note, someone mentioned getting a letter of refusal of entry from the U.S. border services while flag-poling. If you are a U.S. citizen you can never be refused entry to the United States, so don't even bother requesting that letter. I once flag-poled to renew my visitor entry to Canada, and a brand new guard sent me inside for one of these letters. The older guys inside informed me that while they could hold me if they thought I was a threat or a criminal, they could never technically refuse me entry as a U.S. citizen.

When you flag-pole (which is by far the fastest way to land if you're already in Canada), you simply go down to the border, exit Canada, then turn right back around and re-enter. Then you tell them at the border that you're there to land and they'll send you inside to finish the process, which takes about 20 minutes.