Sending Passport from Canada to London, UK

[ukmike]

Hi,

I am going to Canada in a few weeks with the hope that my visa will be approved in the meantime. If it is approved do I have to fly back to the UK to get the stamp placed in my passport or can I arrange it to be posted there and have it returned to me back in Canada?

Thanks for your help,
Mike

 

[RobsLuv]

Depends on whether or not you're comfortable with having your passport leave you in Canada and be posted or couriered overseas - and if it's legal for your passport to cross an international border without you. Some countries don't allow that - but I think people from the UK have done what you're suggesting successfully. Hopefully someone from there who's experienced this will be able to tell you.

 

[ukmike]

Thanks for your feedback - does anyone know if it is actually legal?

If it is would I have to cross into the US and then back into Canada to get the visa active?

Thanks for your help!

 

[canada69]

Hi...I AM in this situation.....

I booked my flights to go to the US and Canada for a holiday and they have now requested I send my passport within 60 days.

As there is little point in heading back I want to 'emigrate' without the visa and then send my passport back to UK to have it issued and then re-enter Canada via US... Is this possible?? If not I will delay my departure, sit around waiting and have to miss the holiday to the US.....

any answers really appreciated as amrunning out of time....!

thnks. P

 

[ukmike]

Hi,

You should read about the 'flagpole procedure' for once you are in Canada.

This is what I am doing although if you do it make sure you use a guaranteed delivery service and not use local mail as in my case where they have gone and lost my passport! :S

Mike

 

[jclark]

When my fiance left Canada to return to England, immigration had held his passport; it was supposed to be there at the airport (passport) for when he left the country. Immigration did not have his passport at the airport and told him he could not board the plane without it. My fiance stood in his ground and making a long story short he boarded plane without passport. I spent quite alot of time trying to track down his passport and eventually it ended up in the hands of the british embassy. When asked if they could forward it to him in England the answer was an adament "No" in fact the embassy followed procedure where the passport had to be destroyed and could not even travel in internal mail from the embassy. I would gather from our experience that it might be questionable if a passport can leave the possession of the person it is issued to by any means.

 

[ukmike]

Just had a huge phone call from my parents saying that my passport has turned up there all stamped and approved!!!! The Royal Mail tracking number still says 'come back later' so that was a total waste of time! Sooooo happy now that its sorted as my visa was going to expire in less than 2 weeks. It would have been nice to see the CIC online status change or them to email when it had arrived like they said they would but either way I'm just glad it's arrived. Just have to rely on DHL to get it to me here in Canada now (which I have used twice before with no problems) and then head to Fort Erie to do my 'landing'

Thanks guys for all your support,
Mike

 

[tme]

What a relief, congrats. Please be sure to keep us in the loop as to how everything goes on the 'flagpoing' front, hopefully we'll be in that situation in the next few months. Can I ask how long London gave you to turn in your passport to attach the visa? I've read various timings (anywhere from 30-60 days) and it sounds like it may be specific to visa offices. We're trying to plan some traveling...

thanks,
tme

 

[ukmike]

Thanks - it's a huge weight lifted!

London gave us 45 days to send the passport in otherwise it was expire and we would loose it. We had to send the passport, a single A4 page with some signatures and then 2 more passport size photos (with signatures on the backs).

Where are you planning on living when you get to Canada tme? I'm near London, Ontario so its pretty easy for me to do the landing at Fort Erie which is heading towards Niagara Falls I believe. I will keep you informed of on my progress.

Good Luck

 

[tme]

thanks for the info, we'll be in B.C.