Refugee Travel Document - Questions and Answers

[Fadros]

PRTD is actually a PR visa that will be attached to your passport, not a Travel document by itself and usually is good for one entry. You would need a (1) Valid travel document (such as passport) and (2) to be outside Canads (3) without your PR card to get this document. On the other hand, RTDs are a Travel document that the government issues to (1) eligible people like refugees, who (2) are inside Canada.

Here's more information about the PRTD process

Thanks for the clarification @Kaisa_18 . The question is, if I am a permanent resident ( with no pr card) and I carry a valid RTD, do I still need to get a PRTD? or the RTD itself is enough to re-enter?

Before I became a permanent resident, I used the RTD to travel back to Canada, there were no issues whatsoever to re-enter Canada, would it be different after becoming a permanent resident and I would need an extra document with the RTD?

Your input is much appreciated.

 

[Kaisa_18]

Thanks for the clarification @Kaisa_18 . The question is, if I am a permanent resident ( with no pr card) and I carry a valid RTD, do I still need to get a PRTD? or the RTD itself is enough to re-enter?

Before I became a permanent resident, I used the RTD to travel back to Canada, there were no issues whatsoever to re-enter Canada, would it be different after becoming a permanent resident and I would need an extra document with the RTD?

Your input is much appreciated.

The only official information I found online came from CBSA's Guide for Transporters:

Permanent Residents of Canada

(...) Permanent residents may also travel to Canada with a Canadian Refugee Travel Document, a Canadian Certificate of Identity or a Single Journey Travel Document. Where a permanent resident travels on one of these documents, the permanent resident must be in possession of a permanent resident card or permanent resident travel document (counterfoil).

Source; CBSA

This made me wonder if you don't tell airport agents that you're a PR, would they know? And more importantly will the CBSA officer let you enter Canada with RTD only?.

 

[Kaisa_18]

Hi every one,
My canadian citizenship is due now and I have to submit my form.
My home country passport was kept in Gatineau QC office, exchanged with the travel document.
What shall I write in a form about passport, in the explanation section? passport was also expired.

Thanks.

Didn't you get a notice of travel document seizure from them?.

You would need to explain the whereabouts of the passport and why/when it was seized/sent to The Certificate of Identity Office (being refugee, can't have 2 valid travel documents etc) with any proof of the seizure.

Personally I would write all the steps in a timeline if the passport was taken twice from me (CIC / passport) so there will be no gap in the passport location history.

 

[Fadros]

The only official information I found online came from CBSA's Guide for Transporters:


Source; CBSA

This made me wonder if you don't tell airport agents that you're a PR, would they know? And more importantly will the CBSA officer let you enter Canada with RTD only?.

@Kaisa_18 I'm actually AMAZED of the bureaucracy!!! I can't believe it. They are making a BIG DEAL out of this plastic piece of *****!!! in some cases it's 9 months - ONE YEAR to get this meaningless piece of plastic AFTER you already become a permanent resident, and they put all THESE restrictions if you don't have the card??!!!.

Furthermore, they are opening every single mall in Canada this Monday, while CIC offices are closed because of Covid. You can go to the mall, shop at Nike, wander in Hudson Bay, all this is good and Covid is not there, while in IRCC Etobicoke watch out there is LOTS of Covid! LOL!

Anyway, looks like the best course of action is to get a travel document and apply for a PRTD from there. If they accept the application there, so be it, if not, the travel document should be enough and I would get an official written email from them saying it's enough.

 

[Sunshi]

Hello Everyone!
i am new to this forum.
Can you please guide me through the procedure to get traveling documents? is it being issued these days or not? we got COPR but not PR yet so can we get five years documents or it would be issued for two years only?

 

[Kaisa_18]

@Kaisa_18 I'm actually AMAZED of the bureaucracy!!! I can't believe it. They are making a BIG DEAL out of this plastic piece of *****!!! in some cases it's 9 months - ONE YEAR to get this meaningless piece of plastic AFTER you already become a permanent resident, and they put all THESE restrictions if you don't have the card??!!!.

Furthermore, they are opening every single mall in Canada this Monday, while CIC offices are closed because of Covid. You can go to the mall, shop at Nike, wander in Hudson Bay, all this is good and Covid is not there, while in IRCC Etobicoke watch out there is LOTS of Covid! LOL!

Anyway, looks like the best course of action is to get a travel document and apply for a PRTD from there. If they accept the application there, so be it, if not, the travel document should be enough and I would get an official written email from them saying it's enough.

Agree.

I would recommend changing the card mailing address to a friend or relative while you're away as they might send the card before you end your trip. It would be easier than requesting PRTD.

Is your card coming from Etobicoke? I just saw someone whose been waiting since sep 2020!

 

[Kaisa_18]

Hello Everyone!
i am new to this forum.
Can you please guide me through the procedure to get traveling documents? is it being issued these days or not? we got COPR but not PR yet so can we get five years documents or it would be issued for two years only?

Before PR card you'll get 2 years RTD. The office is issuing RTDs for urgent reasons only at the moment but you definitely can try getting one.

You need to have a guarantor & 2 references before start working on the form.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/travel-documents-non-canadians/apply.html

 

[Fadros]

Agree.

I would recommend changing the card mailing address to a friend or relative while you're away as they might send the card before you end your trip. It would be easier than requesting PRTD.

Is your card coming from Etobicoke? I just saw someone whose been waiting since sep 2020!

@Kaisa_18 Exactly. That's the plan.

Yes, Etobicoke. To be honest with you I will not stress about this card. Life goes on. I find it really insulting to put my life on stand by because this piece of plastic. If I have to go through PRTD abroad and I have a valid RTD, it's ok.

Regarding the processing time, yes Etobicoke seems really bad, I've seen people since July and August and they haven't got their card yet, but the strange thing is that I saw some people ( not on the threads you follow though ) who mentioned they know people who got their cards in 45-60 days and they mailed their pics ( no portal ). You never know. Also bare in mind that usually people on the forum are the people who are delayed, that's why they are on the forum, while people who get their card they tend to go on their lives and they don't say anything on forums. I'll keep you updated regarding everything though ( Card, RTD, PRTD ).

 

[Fadros]

@Kaisa_18 do you know by any chance the number they call of the pr card applications?

I saw it somewhere on one of the threads, people were getting updates if the card is in production/ not started yet....etc. It's not the normal CIC number people call to ask for permanent residency applications.

 

[Sunshi]

Before PR card you'll get 2 years RTD. The office is issuing RTDs for urgent reasons only at the moment but you definitely can try getting one.

You need to have a guarantor & 2 references before start working on the form.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/travel-documents-non-canadians/apply.html

we got COPR, still two years?

 

[hamasi]

Yes, same everything.

If your reason for travel isn't urgent there's unfortunately no guarantee that they'll approve the application on time.

so you mean, i cant change my travel document if i dont have any urgent reason/ purpose of travel listed on irc website, even though its expired?

 

[nsy1980]

My wife is protected person in canada,i got BIL but needs me to have a travel document or passport in order to give my biometrics and picture.how do i get the travel document ? Am right now stateless and in another country with no documentation

 

[NewinKit]

Anyone knows how long is it taking to process RTD applications now? for non urgent cases. Also, if something urgent came up how I can advise them so they speed it up?

Thanks!

 

[Vijanti]

Hi Everyone, hope everyone is doing great.
I submitted both my PR and Travel Document with a copy of Notice of Decision that my lawyer had send me but today I received my copy with a true copy certified stamp on it. Now I am worried, please advise me on what can be done now. I would really appreciate it.
Thank you

 

[Ekemini Kingz]

Anyone knows how long is it taking to process RTD applications now? for non urgent cases. Also, if something urgent came up how I can advise them so they speed it up?

Thanks!

Hi dear, I was hoping to ask the same question, hopefully we get help