Roll call: How many have their passports with the Canadian Embassy in Manila?

[mr.peace]

Wow, this is not a very heartening thread. Sorry for all you who have to put up with this nonsense. Just don't understand at all why the VO would request the passport and then sit on it for so long. You would think the request means that they are close to or have made the decision to issue a visa...very odd & not very considerate to applicants in the Philippines. Do they think that they're all too poor etc. & aren't going anywhere anyway? I'm sure they don't do this in western countries, very disappointing!

The same thoughts here. They are depriving people from traveling abroad. I am actually in another country and don't have a passport. If something happens here, I couldn't fly back to the Philippines immediately. I don't know how they could address this. Such a crazy logic!

 

[cruise]

Anybody else out there with passports being held by the Canadian Embassy in Manila? My spouse's passport has been there for 6 months now. Just want to get an idea how long the embassy holds on to it before coming up with the visa. I am now over my 14th month normal processing time.

 

[nezya]

This is to determine more or less the approximate waiting time after the Canadian Embassy requested the passports. My spouse's passport has been with the embassy for 6 months now. We are now on our 14th month of processing time which is the average processing time for the Philippines. Anybody willing to share? Even those that have been processed already. Will appreciate your input. Thanks

I am the applicant our passport was requested by CEM- MANILA May 2013. I renewed my NBI, and was asked for new medical me and my daughter got the visa end of August.

 

[cruise]

Hi nezya, thank you for your contribution. Your passport was held by the Canadian embassy in Manila for about 4 mos. then. It's been 6 mos. now for us. Good luck in Canada

 

[JGM613]

Anybody else out there with passports being held by the Canadian Embassy in Manila? My spouse's passport has been there for 6 months now. Just want to get an idea how long the embassy holds on to it before coming up with the visa. I am now over my 14th month normal processing time.

Heh cruise...if you check on the English speaking Manila thread check the bottom of Gooner' s posts...there's a link there for a spreadsheet showing stats from the Manila VO..
You can see historically what the trend has beens over time in how long they've help passports..
It's changed dramatically fairly recently I think and it's now longer than it used to be.
Seems everything is dependant on the VO that has your file..there's isn't a standard that all VO s follow.. it seemsthat way..

 

[cruise]

Heh cruise...if you check on the English speaking Manila thread check the bottom of Gooner' s posts...there's a link there for a spreadsheet showing stats from the Manila VO..
You can see historically what the trend has beens over time in how long they've help passports..
It's changed dramatically fairly recently I think and it's now longer than it used to be.
Seems everything is dependant on the VO that has your file..there's isn't a standard that all VO s follow.. it seemsthat way..

Hi JGM613,

Thank you. i will check that spreadsheet link. Based on what you mentioned, I would not like what I will see there in terms of processing delays but it will give an indication how long the embassy holds on to the passport. Thanks again

 

[bienncorey]

Hi guys, just wanna butt in here....

Canadian Embassy Manila had our passports since November 18,2013... 2 weeks from now it'll be it's 4th month!! I'm getting worried because our meds will expire on April 1! Sooooo tired of waiting.. :'(

 

[pipes]

Hi guys, just wanna butt in here....

Canadian Embassy Manila had our passports since November 18,2013... 2 weeks from now it'll be it's 4th month!! I'm getting worried because our meds will expire on April 1! Sooooo tired of waiting.. :'(

Don't worry bienncorey...my passport and my kids as well including the passport of my canadian son...nasa CEM since August 2013 ...

 

[JRPW]

For sure this is abusive behaviour on the part of those in the VO's who are so cavalier in their treatment of people from the Philippines, India and elsewhere. I love my country but I'm totally appalled by the callousness of those who perpetrate this nonsense. It really does merit a formal notification to Immigration Canada if it proves to be so widespread.

I think not. There is a reason why applicants from the Philippines, India, Pakistan, China et al are scrutinized more than applicants from visa exempt countries. The majority of fraudulent immigration cases come from many of the previously mentioned countries. I'm not saying that all cases from these countries are fraudulent, but quite a few are. The visa officers are doing their jobs to make sure that Canada only lets in applicants that can help make Canada an even better place to live. If that means that applicants have to wait at least a year, so be it.

 

[PAGASA]

Can we ask CEM to return our passports if they are not coming up with a decision yet?
It has been 18mos and my family wants to take a vacation in April.
Is it legal for them to hold passports for more than a year?

 

[eddieR]

Hi, our passports is held for 11months now. Our medical expired last Feb. 27 and still no news or update from CEM..

 

[Wel28]

The same thoughts here. They are depriving people from traveling abroad. I am actually in another country and don't have a passport. If something happens here, I couldn't fly back to the Philippines immediately. I don't know how they could address this. Such a crazy logic!

MR peace bakit po binalik PP mo? accdng to your timeline dalwa mo besess sinend yung passport mo ?

 

[mr.peace]

I think not. There is a reason why applicants from the Philippines, India, Pakistan, China et al are scrutinized more than applicants from visa exempt countries. The majority of fraudulent immigration cases come from many of the previously mentioned countries. I'm not saying that all cases from these countries are fraudulent, but quite a few are. The visa officers are doing their jobs to make sure that Canada only lets in applicants that can help make Canada an even better place to live. If that means that applicants have to wait at least a year, so be it.

I don't think holding the passport long has anything to do with checking fraudulent cases. What's in a passport anyway? They should at least request he passport when visa is about to issue. Holding the passport long would deprive the person to travel abroad, and putting at risk to those who are living abroad just like me.

 

[mr.peace]

Can we ask CEM to return our passports if they are not coming up with a decision yet?
It has been 18mos and my family wants to take a vacation in April.
Is it legal for them to hold passports for more than a year?

Yes you can do that. They actually returned my passport when I told them how important my passport is while living abroad, and how I need it with my job as I need to travel to other countries from time to time.

 

[mr.peace]

MR peace bakit po binalik PP mo? accdng to your timeline dalwa mo besess sinend yung passport mo ?

It's because I explained how I needed my passport and had a scheduled trip. After a month from a trip, I emailed them that I don't have scheduled trips anymore. They then told me that I may send my passport back. If I knew it would take this long i woudnt have returned it yet.