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Beaverdiva, you can drive in Canada on your UK licence (I think you have 90 days from landing). As a visitor you can drive on your UK licence for 6 months.

If you apply for a driving licence as soon as you land you will have to hand in your UK licence. I don't know about all provinces, but here in BC you get a paper interim licence with your COPR once you've landed, but can't get your proper photocard licence until you present your PR card, and even then it takes a few weeks to get it in the mail.

This is where I have a problem - I have a paper interim licence which is no good anywhere except here. I am coming to the UK for a few weeks in March and need to hire a car but can't unless I have a proper licence (not the interim one).
 
Taddy said:
Beaverdiva, you can drive in Canada on your UK licence (I think you have 90 days from landing). As a visitor you can drive on your UK licence for 6 months.

If you apply for a driving licence as soon as you land you will have to hand in your UK licence. I don't know about all provinces, but here in BC you get a paper interim licence with your COPR once you've landed, but can't get your proper photocard licence until you present your PR card, and even then it takes a few weeks to get it in the mail.

This is where I have a problem - I have a paper interim licence which is no good anywhere except here. I am coming to the UK for a few weeks in March and need to hire a car but can't unless I have a proper licence (not the interim one).

Thank you for that information. What about being insured to drive my husband's car?
 
What happens if LVO sends the COPR to the wrong address? I just looked at my notes again and noticed that my address under Client Details is listed as my old address in Finland - I lived at this address when applying for my study permit back in 2013. It's a student apartment so there's no way for my family to access any mail sent there. CIC does have my current Canadian mailing address correctly listed on my ECAS though.
 
A friend of mine moved to NS a few years ago and he told me that he was asked to surrender his driving licence in exchange for a Canadian one, otherwise he would have to retest.
 
sausageboyuk said:
A friend of mine moved to NS a few years ago and he told me that he was asked to surrender his driving licence in exchange for a Canadian one, otherwise he would have to retest.

Yes that's right. I don't think I could get insurance on the family car with a UK licence so I think I'd have to hire a car if i decided to visit initially.
 
Beaverdiva, I purchased and insured my own vehicle when we arrived in Canada. I arrived as a 'visitor' and used my UK licence.

I even got the no-claims discount I'd accrued during my years in the Middle East.


WRT your husband's vehicle you should be fine - jut check the policy. I'm ok to drive my husband's vehicle.


Just don't be in too much of a hurry to get your Canadian licence until you know you're there permanently. You don't want to be back in the UK with no licence because the Canadian agency has taken it off you to get an Canadian one which you may have to wait months and months for.
 
Hi all,
New member here, applied for visa Aug-14 and have only just found this forum!!!! Not received our visa or had decision on system yet. Will post details for spreadsheet in next post.

Matt
 
-Date application received in Mississauga: 11 Aug 14
-Whether you applied as Married or Common-Law Married
-Date of sponsor approval: 24 Sep 14
-Which office is processing Phase 2 of your application (will say on your sponsor approval letter/email) London
-Date the permanent residence status changed to In Process on ECAS - Not sure
-Date(s) of any other requests you've had - Medical Form extended to 6 Aug 16 on 26 Aug 15 after I sent a email.
-Whether or not the principal applicant is non-visa exempt (if non-visa exempt) provide the applicant's nationality - Not sure what this means British
-Current location of the principal applicant- Leek near Stoke on Trent
-Date of medical exam - Aug 14

It says started processing on October 9 2014
Current status is in process
 
Taddy said:
Beaverdiva, I purchased and insured my own vehicle when we arrived in Canada. I arrived as a 'visitor' and used my UK licence.

I even got the no-claims discount I'd accrued during my years in the Middle East.


WRT your husband's vehicle you should be fine - jut check the policy. I'm ok to drive my husband's vehicle.


Just don't be in too much of a hurry to get your Canadian licence until you know you're there permanently. You don't want to be back in the UK with no licence because the Canadian agency has taken it off you to get an Canadian one which you may have to wait months and months for.

Thanks Taddy, hubby's going to ask the Insurance broker to see if I can be insured if I decide to visit before we land.

Barrie Bound - welcome!
 
Spreadsheet update

I have a new line on ECAS: We started processing your application on January 14, 2016.

Thanks :)
 
Hi all,

When we first looked at the forum, noticed that people around July/Aug/Sep were getting decisions so we started to get excited. I have just noticed that they were 2015!! We applied in 2014, should we be worried?
 
Request for help regarding Permanent Residency Photo specs!

I have sent three sets of photos of myself (the Applicant) one to Mississauga, and two to Canada House in London UK, and each time they have come back as 'not meeting the requirements' and an email attachment pdf letter which has hyperlinks to the CIC website requirements.

There is no explanation of how the photos do not meet the requirements, and as far as I (and the two professional photographers) can tell, they meet the specs.

I have made sure that the pictures are 50mm by 70mm, that the face is between 31mm and 36mm, and that there have been no alterations to the images. I have included the dates, name and address of the professional studio on one of the images.

In addition, the two documents attached to the email give different information as to what you require from the photographs I have supplied. The attached letter states four images, whereas the link in the letter states two.

I know that he requirements changed in November, but I really can't see where I am going wrong.

Does anyone have any advice on how their photos might meet the specs? I have tried two different photo studios, and they were both really helpful and seemed to be spot on, but obviously there is some issue.

Any advice that can be offered would be gratefully received.

Thanks
 
Did the studios stamp the back of the photos or did you just handwrite the studio name and address?