Request for passport biopage COPY and correct....WHAT DOES IT MEAN???

[achkorea]

We received a request for my partner's passport biopage copy and a correct mailing address to ensure delivery to the correct address. What does this mean? They aren't requesting the passport, I think...just the copy? I'm so confused. Can anyone help? Thanks so much!

 

[achkorea]

Sorry, I have to add that they requested a new med and a new police check a few months ago. Seoul received our app. in June 2011. E-cas was changed in May 2012 to say that they began processing--the average processing time is 9 months in Seoul.

Anyway, we've heard nothing since May and then we received these requests today. Would they issue a permanent resident visa without asking for a passport (South Korea is visa exempt, despite the fact that it states North Korea on the website--which I'm pretty sure is an error).

Any thoughts? Anyone?

Thanks in advance.

 

[judylopez]

Passport biopage copy means the info page of your passport.... usually the photo and name, date of birth, date of issue, expiry etc. Did the passport expire nice you applied?

Correct address? Did your partner move to a new place?

 

[truesmile]

The web-site says 'Korea, North' for those countries that "REQUIRE" a visa and then continues below with:

Many people do not require a visa to visit Canada. These include:

•citizens of Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (National Passport holders only), Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Latvia (Republic of), Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco . . .

Apparently from 'visa-exempt countries' they will do so, YES.

 

[achkorea]

No, everything is current.
They asked for my partner's delivery address in Korea (they know that we are actually living in Canada now).

Here's what they wrote:


(X) Passport biopage copy for you (updated/valid passport details required)

(X) Accurate mailing address in Korea/telephone number to ensure delivery to the correct address

If you do not submit the above documents within 15 days from the date of this letter, your application may be refused. Please advise this office if you cannot meet this deadline so as to avoid refusal or significant processing delays.
I hope it's good news. The avg processing time is 9 months, but it's been 14 months..

 

[achkorea]

Thank you Truesmile~I misread that.

 

[achkorea]

OK, upon further investigation, I read somewhere that the biopage is not enough to issue a visa, they need copies of every passport page. Does anyone know anything about that? That was a statement issued at the end of 2011, I'm just wondering if this is, in fact, what they've been doing. Or, if anyone has been issued their visa with just the information from the biopage.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Harju]

Isn't this your "passport request"? They stopped issuing PR visas for applicants from visa-exempt countries since they do not need a visa to enter Canada. Now they do not request your passport but a copy. I see from the link below that the op bulletin says they want every page but Seoul may simply not follow that requirement. Just send them the bio-page (and all the other pages, if that makes you comfortable). There is no reason to speculate about anything.Just do it!!! Our PR visa in Korea was turned around in a day after went sent in the passport (this was before they stopped issuing counterfoils). Our application also took 14 months.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2011/ob348a.asp

 

[achkorea]

Thanks, Harju, we sent it and received confirmation within 10 minutes. We had just heard conflicting information about what they need to issue the paperwork. We're simply unsure if this means that we will receive it or it's just another step in the process.
I'm referring to this:
"An officer may use discretion in determining whether it is necessary to see the original passport or whether a photocopy of all passport pages is sufficient. A photocopy of only the bio-data page is not acceptable, as notations may have been made on other pages regarding the individual’s name, marital status or other pertinent information. "
I'm just wondering if this is the case for everyone and if there have been exceptions to this rule, especially since my partner is in Canada with me.
After the 14 months, I'm sure you were also speculating about what everything means, right?

 

[Harju]

Yes, we did a lot of speculating. Now it appears your speculating, worrying, thinking time is over so I hope everything moves quickly for you now.

 

[achkorea]

Yes, thanks so much! Hopefully we'll know more soon. Does anyone else know of any exceptions to this biopage rule?

 

[achkorea]

Another quick question that is adding to our anxiousness is that my partner will return to Korea for some medical treatment that will take several weeks, then he will return. If this request from the embassy is to issue him his paperwork, he will need to land at some point.

2 MORE Questions:
1) If he does get his paperwork, how much time will he have to land?
2) He is currently on a Temp Resident visa in Canada, is there any way we can assure that he will be allowed to come back in, if the paperwork hasn't gone through yet?

Thanks so much again!

 

[Harju]

Generally, the expiration date for landing is one year after the date of the medical. I think you said the medical has been redone recently.

 

[achkorea]

Yes, thanks, Harju. That's what I thought. Just wanted to confirm

 

[runningfree]

just adding on that I also received a request for passport bio-page, updated criminal record, and entry/exit record from korean immigration. I was surprised to read "in order to continue processing..." since the ECAS site still says "App received". Anyone have any info on what this means? I can't imagine that they're nearing the end of my app since I only mailed it to Mississauga in March 2012 and Seoul just received it in June 2012. Then again I'm surprised they're already looking at my app!