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Refugee Travel Document - Questions and Answers

KatbiyaNazi

Hero Member
Jun 13, 2019
311
184
Yes, I do have multiple visa which is still valid. Where do I need to find or how to write an explanatory letter?
I want to call to know do they work or no, if yes then I want to apply in person, do you know the phone number and short cut numbers to reach to call center representative?
And the last question. In the application, there is a part where a lawyer sign, should be the same one or we can ask another one or?
Their number is: 888-242-2100.
You just need to write a letter in English explaining that you need your previous RTD back after cancellation as you have this and that valid visas (I would mention exact page numbers and visas).

Guarantor and references could be different people. Not a problem!
 
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Ratmir

Hero Member
Jun 9, 2017
437
279
Their number is: 888-242-2100.
You just need to write a letter in English explaining that you need your previous RTD back after cancellation as you have this and that valid visas (I would mention exact page numbers and visas).

Guarantor and references could be different people. Not a problem!
thank you. on the website, it writes -
Refugee travel document or certificate of identity services (available for urgent travel only)
We suggest you don’t apply if
  • you don’t meet the above criteria for urgent travel
  • you have symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing or a fever
  • you’re in isolation.

It means still no open for non-urgent travelers who want to renew RTD. It is getting so hard, besides our PR applications being delayed and even we can not travel and see our families. And comes winter, cold, more depression. more cases, etc. Hope hope and hope. that is what we have right now.
 
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Mano1110786

Hero Member
Oct 25, 2019
278
97
thank you. on the website, it writes -
Refugee travel document or certificate of identity services (available for urgent travel only)
We suggest you don’t apply if
  • you don’t meet the above criteria for urgent travel
  • you have symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing or a fever
  • you’re in isolation.

It means still no open for non-urgent travelers who want to renew RTD. It is getting so hard, besides our PR applications being delayed and even we can not travel and see our families. And comes winter, cold, more depression. more cases, etc. Hope hope and hope. that is what we have right now.
Any updates regarding travel document?? I have heard that situation Is again getting worse. What do u suggest that should I apply a paper application
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,291
13,428
Do you mean when we return to Canada, where we live, we should rent a place. Can we not remain in our own apartment/house or whatever during the 14 days of quarantine after returning to Canada?
Thanks
If you live alone then yes you can remain in your own apartment. If there is a common entrance make sure to sanitize your hands before touching anything.
 

Mano1110786

Hero Member
Oct 25, 2019
278
97
Their number is: 888-242-2100.
You just need to write a letter in English explaining that you need your previous RTD back after cancellation as you have this and that valid visas (I would mention exact page numbers and visas).

Guarantor and references could be different people. Not a problem!
Hi any updates ??
 

Heritier

Member
Jun 24, 2018
15
2
Hi all., i have a Certificate of Ientity (Not a refugee Travel Document, but a Certificate of Ientity). I have my P.R. card. i am planning of visiting Mexico (of course when the 14 days quarantine is removed). Any one with experience of using the Certificate of Identity (grey cover) for travel to Mexico ??
 
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Mano1110786

Hero Member
Oct 25, 2019
278
97
Hi all., i have a Certificate of Ientity (Not a refugee Travel Document, but a Certificate of Ientity). I have my P.R. card. i am planning of visiting Mexico (of course when the 14 days quarantine is removed). Any one with experience of using the Certificate of Identity (grey cover) for travel to Mexico ??
How did you get certificate of identify ???
 
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Armaani

Star Member
Feb 20, 2019
193
145
Hello everyone, I have applied for RTD back In January 2020 still no update! Has anyone applied and received RTD non urgent??? Please let us know if they are working or not as there is talks about this second wave of Covid-19 and I am scared that they will shit down everything again
 
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Mano1110786

Hero Member
Oct 25, 2019
278
97
Hello everyone, I have applied for RTD back In January 2020 still no update! Has anyone applied and received RTD non urgent??? Please let us know if they are working or not as there is talks about this second wave of Covid-19 and I am scared that they will shit down everything again
I haven’t applied but all l can say is to have patience . I also need it on urgent basis but they are not accepting any urgency either. The are resuming cra, citizenships tests too . I hope they will resume RTD as well.
 

Mano1110786

Hero Member
Oct 25, 2019
278
97
Trust me, @Mano1110786 and I have the same situation, same concerns and same questions. But I think nobody has an answer with the current situation.
You will need to provide all the documents as the first time.
You can ask for the original RTD back in a clear explanatory letter IF you have a valid visa on it. But if there is no multiple entry valid visa, they won't give it back so no need to ask for it either. Just make photocopy of all pages for your records.
No idea if they are even accepting RTD applications by mail or in person.
Every country asks for at least 6 months' validity of passport/travel document not just while applying for visa but also while travelling and returning back. So, no matter where you want to go and come back to Canada, you need to have at least 6 months' validity upon your return date. I am in the same situation as yours.
However, I do not see improvements in travel restrictions and the pandemic anytime soon. So honestly, wouldn't advice anyone travelling even if they do have valid document and visa. But at the same time, I think, wish and pray every day to travel and meet with my family. So I understand completely your situation.
I need to discuss RTD with you. Can we talk
 

Heritier

Member
Jun 24, 2018
15
2
I created this topic to share my knowledge and experience with all of you. I will try to answer some important questions and concerns regarding travel as a Convention Refugee or a Protected Person living in Canada.

I’m not a lawyer, just a person who likes clarity. I am very proud to call Canada my new home. I want continue traveling and explore the world, but at the same time stay I want to stay mindful, and avoid doing anything wrong that would compromise my PR or Refugee status here. Some terms are below being simplified.

As most of you know, when you make your refugee claim, your passport is being seized by CIC or CBSA.

When my refugee claim was accepted I discovered that there are certain things we are not advised to do:

• Do not travel back to your home country
• Do not renew your home country’s passport.
• Do not travel on your home country’s passport, even to a third country, such as USA for example
• Just simply don’t have any contact with embassy of your home country.

All those things could put you at risk of losing your refugee status, because CBSA may interpret those actions as you no longer fear your home country, so you no longer need Canada’s protection.

I am not able to specify which law applies here and so on, but I know for sure that there are legal cases in which government took action and stripped or tried to strip person’s protection because they did one of above mentioned things.

Also it’s a matter of interpreting the law, so I think we should take those warnings seriously, it’s our lives and protection we are talking about.

If you want to get more information, I would suggest checking out Canadian Council for Refugees and other websites.

After I received a positive decision on my refugee claim, soon I applied for RTD and was able to get it. It says that the RTD validity period is determined by the issuing office. In my case it was issued for 2 years. I personally know at least four other cases, where people applied for RTD before becoming PRs and received it also for 2 years. So I guess it’s safe to assume that majority of people, before PR will get it for 2 years.

When I was applied for it, I noticed that on application form it says: “I understand that if I am issued a Canadian travel document and later obtain a passport issued by my country of citizenship, I am obliged to return the Canadian travel document to Passport Program, Citizenship and Immigration Canada.”

Obviously I started to get worried, because once I become a PR, CIC will return my national passport and in theory I must return RTD. I will have no choice, but to use my national passport to travel, but I don’t want to do that! What should I do?!

After more than two years, I got my PR interview, I got my passport back, at the end of my interview I decided to ask officer in person about my RTD dilemma.


So I did, I called them and I talked with call center agent at first, and explained my situation:



So finally after several minutes of back and forth, agent agreed to put a special call back request directly from “Certificate of Identity Section - Passport Program” located in Gatineau, QC.

Next day I received a call and talked with a senior officer from that department, I explained my situation to him and finally I got the missing peace of a puzzle.


Some important points and additional information:

• As a Convention Refugee or a Protected Person in Canada we do have a right to travel.

• In order to be able to travel internationally, we must have a valid Travel Document.

• The only Travel Document we entitled to is a Refugee Travel Document, forget about Certificate of Identity

• In order to apply for RTD you need to use an application form “[PPTC 190] Adult travel document application form”, form is universal and is used to apply for both – RTD and COI.

• After becoming a Permanent Resident, you are still considered to have a refugee status in Canada

• RTD issued for 2 years before PR and after becoming PR for 5 years

• If you got your national passport back when you became PR, do not use it, instead send it to “Certificate of Identity Section - Passport Program” along with your explanation letter

Travel Document - is an identity document issued by a government and allowing us to travel internationally. Generally, Travel Documents look like a passport-like booklets. The most common Travel Document is a Passport.

Government of Canada has a special department responsible for issuing Travel Documents for Refugees and Stateless Persons, and it’s called: “Certificate of Identity Section - Passport Program”, located in Gatineau, QC

That department is issuing two types of a Travel Documents:

1. Refugee Travel Document (light blue) (United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, 1951 and its Protocol of 1967): issued to persons in Canada with protected person status, including Convention refugees and persons in need of protection

2. Certificate of identity (grey or formerly brown): issued to permanent residents of Canada who are not yet Canadian citizens, who are stateless or who are unable to obtain a national passport.

Personally I would advise everyone including myself, travel only using RTD, we shouldn’t put ourselves at risk. Getting RTD for 5 years is a great solution and hopefully by the time we need to renew it, we will have our Canadian Citizenship :)

I will mention it again, I am not a lawyer, just sharing summary of my findings with you. If you have additional questions or information, you are welcome to ask and contribute.
Do you have some experience or knowledge about traveling with the Certificate of Identity? Especially in Mexico. People have more experience on the Refugee Travel Document but none about COI.