Sending Original Passport for stamping in Different Country

[sof_8822]

Hi everyone,

I am an Argentinian citizen who applied for Permanent Residency in Canada through Express Entry approximately one month ago from Argentina. I have already given my biometrics at the visa application centre (VAC) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which is my country of residence. I also passed my medical exam; I am waiting on updates regarding the other aspects of my application.

Notably, I am planning to visit my partner who lives in western Canada (Vancouver), again, in January 2020. Argentina is a country that requires a Visa to enter Canada. Given that I have visited Canada in the past as a tourist, I already hold a Temporary Resident (Visitor) visa.

It is very likely that if my Permanent Residency application is approved, I will get my “Passport Request” to get the Permanent Resident Visa attached to my Argentinian passport while I am visiting in Canada.

If this is the case, it makes little sense to fly back to Buenos Aires only to get the Permanent Residency Visa attached to my passport. Furthermore, I worry about sending my passport via international mail from Canada to Argentina (to the VAC in Buenos Aires), in terms of timeliness and the potential for it to be lost.

My question is: is it possible to send my Argentinian passport by courier to the VAC in Los Angeles, the closest VAC to Vancouver, to get the Permanent Residency Visa attached once I am approved?

In other words, if I have to mail my passport (from Vancouver, Canada) to a VAC to get my Permanent Residency Visa attached to my Argentinian passport – it would be quicker and safer to send it to the VAC in Los Angeles instead of the VAC in Buenos Aires.

If this is possible, do I have to make certain arrangements first?

Thank you for any insights and instructions! All the best,

 

[dotslash227]

Hi everyone,

I am an Argentinian citizen who applied for Permanent Residency in Canada through Express Entry approximately one month ago from Argentina. I have already given my biometrics at the visa application centre (VAC) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which is my country of residence. I also passed my medical exam; I am waiting on updates regarding the other aspects of my application.

Notably, I am planning to visit my partner who lives in western Canada (Vancouver), again, in January 2020. Argentina is a country that requires a Visa to enter Canada. Given that I have visited Canada in the past as a tourist, I already hold a Temporary Resident (Visitor) visa.

It is very likely that if my Permanent Residency application is approved, I will get my “Passport Request” to get the Permanent Resident Visa attached to my Argentinian passport while I am visiting in Canada.

If this is the case, it makes little sense to fly back to Buenos Aires only to get the Permanent Residency Visa attached to my passport. Furthermore, I worry about sending my passport via international mail from Canada to Argentina (to the VAC in Buenos Aires), in terms of timeliness and the potential for it to be lost.

My question is: is it possible to send my Argentinian passport by courier to the VAC in Los Angeles, the closest VAC to Vancouver, to get the Permanent Residency Visa attached once I am approved?

In other words, if I have to mail my passport (from Vancouver, Canada) to a VAC to get my Permanent Residency Visa attached to my Argentinian passport – it would be quicker and safer to send it to the VAC in Los Angeles instead of the VAC in Buenos Aires.

If this is possible, do I have to make certain arrangements first?

Thank you for any insights and instructions! All the best,

While you are in Canada, when you get a PPR and you are unable to access an Argentinian VAC, you need to write to CIC and request a change in processing center, most likely they will allow you to submit your passport and get a COPR within Canada.

 

[sof_8822]

While you are in Canada, when you get a PPR and you are unable to access an Argentinian VAC, you need to write to CIC and request a change in processing center, most likely they will allow you to submit your passport and get a COPR within Canada.

Thank you for your answer!
When you say “write to CIC”, you mean using the web form (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/contacts/web-form.asp)?

I didn’t know that I could submit my passport within Canada. Aren’t VACs the only place where you can submit your passport? And VACs exist only outside of Canada?

 

[dotslash227]

Thank you for your answer!
When you say “write to CIC”, you mean using the web form (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/contacts/web-form.asp)?

I didn’t know that I could submit my passport within Canada. Aren’t VACs the only place where you can submit your passport? And VACs exist only outside of Canada?

Yes, I mean the webform when I say write to IRCC.

Inland applicantd are allowed to receive their COPR's within Canada, as they are already legally in India.

Visa's are needed by outland applicants because they need a visa to be able to board a commercial carrier, but, since you would already be in Canada legally, you don't need a visa to enter, because you are already in there. Once you get a COPR, you won't need a visa again, as long as keep your status as PR active.

 

[sof_8822]

Yes, I mean the webform when I say write to IRCC.

Inland applicantd are allowed to receive their COPR's within Canada, as they are already legally in India.

Visa's are needed by outland applicants because they need a visa to be able to board a commercial carrier, but, since you would already be in Canada legally, you don't need a visa to enter, because you are already in there. Once you get a COPR, you won't need a visa again, as long as keep your status as PR active.

Thanks again dotslash227

When you said "India", you meant "Canada", right?

So, in this case, if I understand correctly what you told me, once I get the COPR within Canada, I could directly request a PR card, without the need of a Permanent Resident Visa? And I could use the PR card from then on to enter the country, without ever having to get a PR Visa? (Even though my country of origin requires a Visa to enter Canada).

Thanks!

 

[dotslash227]

Thanks again dotslash227

When you said "India", you meant "Canada", right?

So, in this case, if I understand correctly what you told me, once I get the COPR within Canada, I could directly request a PR card, without the need of a Permanent Resident Visa? And I could use the PR card from then on to enter the country, without ever having to get a PR Visa? (Even though my country of origin requires a Visa to enter Canada).

Thanks!

Yes, I meant Canada. Sorry for the typo.

There are offices within Canada where once inland people can do their landing formalities and most probably you will be asked to do the same. However, you will need to inform the change the address to IRCC once you get your PPR and await their directions.

Once you have the COPR and completed the landing formalities, you will need to provide them with an address (Canadian) where they will mail you your PR card, the PR card can take few weeks to a month or so to receive. You can use the PR card to enter Canada again, without getting any kind oif visa.

Once you are a PR, irrespective whether your country requires a visa or not, you are allowed to live, work, invest, open business, buy property, obtain healthcare and will be protected by the Canadian charter of rights in Canada as long as your maintain your PR status. Practically, you are a citizen but not officially a citizen, you won't have voting rights.

 

[amv11112222]

Hi!
I am from and live in Dominican Republic. I reapplied for a visitor visa for my daughter and today I received the passport request letter and the application appears as approved, thanks God. The intention is to go to Toronto, ON, Canada for 3 days during our stay in New York. Our flight will be to NY from 12/25 and will return on 01/05. If I deliver the passport in the VFS Global Center in Santo Domingo and they send it to Mexico, I know that it will take about 3 weeks to be returned (as per my previous experience when my visa was approved 8 months ago). Obviously, my daughter requires her passport to travel from here to the US on 12/25. So, the time is very tight to deliver the passport under the regular mode and wait 3 weeks the passport to be returned.


I sent an email to candrc@vfshelpline.com (this email was in the VFS in DR website) asking if I can submit the passport in a different country of residence (in this case, in US, in the NY VFS Office), considering that I will fly on 12/25 with my daughter and if I can get the passport with the counterfoil stamped in 2-3 days, but the email was returned. Do you have another email to contact them? Or do you guys think this could be possible? Your help please. Thank you! ​