Beijing office requesting passport before a decision has been made...?

[thaihubbie]

I'm starting a new thread here. The Canadian Embassy Beijing has requested my husband's passport before a decision has been made. Check following from email sent to me:
We are committed to processing applications for permanent residence in Canada in the immigrant category in which you have applied within six (6) months for routine cases.
Be advised that your application is processing normally and is in queue for assessment. The processing of your application may be delayed if we do not have all of the documents that are required, including your passport(s). If you have not already submitted your passport(s) please do so as soon as possible. This request does not constitute a decision on your application. If required, we will contact you regarding any additional requirements related to your application.
I have heard of this happening before but it seems highly bizarre to me that we would send his passport and it could take several months to decide to grant him PR or not but he will not be able to travel anywhere...what if there was an emergency? Is Beijing the only office that works like this? I'm not complaining, just checking I'm following things properly.

 

[CharlieD10]

It is procedure for some visa offices to request the passport before decision, New Delhi is one that comes to mind immediately. It could be that Beijing is another such office.

 

[kelKel]

As well as Manila.

 

[clubcanada]

this is the standard process for spousal visas being processed in Beijing. Under normal circumstances and assuming a typical case your application will be processed within 1-3 months. So make sure not to delay the process (pay the fees and send in the requested documents through EMS ASAP).

 

[toby]

this is the standard process for spousal visas being processed in Beijing. Under normal circumstances and assuming a typical case your application will be processed within 1-3 months. So make sure not to delay the process (pay the fees and send in the requested documents through EMS ASAP).

On a practical note, if speed is important, I'd use DHL instead of EMS. I recently sent some documents to Europe by EMS, and it took more than a week. DHL is always speedy, even if a tad expensive.

 

[jiyamano]

Tokyo Visa office do same

 

[the luckiest guy]

I know! I'm in the same boat. We are applying for my wife to get her PR and they asked for it right away.

 

[clubcanada]

On a practical note, if speed is important, I'd use DHL instead of EMS. I recently sent some documents to Europe by EMS, and it took more than a week. DHL is always speedy, even if a tad expensive.

this might be right when sending stuff over from China to Europe. But what documents would you send from abroad to the Beijing Embassy? Within China I guess it's still EMS if I'm not mistaken...

 

[sanyrog]

New Delhi is very famous for this. 1st thing they ask for,as soon as they start processing ur file, is the ppt. They just make sure we dont even see each other, anywhere overseas. lol. just kidding.

 

[thaihubbie]

Thank you Forum for confirming that it is standard procedure to ask for the passport by some processing offices before a decision is made. If that is the case and the processing office is holding onto an applicant's passport for several months, what happens if the applicant needs their passport for travel purposes, in case of emergency, to use as ID etc, etc?

 

[MarkGuy]

Thank you Forum for confirming that it is standard procedure to ask for the passport by some processing offices before a decision is made. If that is the case and the processing office is holding onto an applicant's passport for several months, what happens if the applicant needs their passport for travel purposes, in case of emergency, to use as ID etc, etc?

I'd also like to know the answer to this question.

What if you are called for an interview and they have your passport (and you are in Canada)?
Do you politely ask for it back ASAP? Do you apply for another passport stating yours is being held by a Canadian Embassy?

 

[thaihubbie]

Yes, exactly. We are in Mongolia. My husband is Thai. They are asking for us to send his passport to the Canadian Embassy in Beijing and will have it for an indefinite length of time. If they ask for an interview, they will need to send us his passport back to Mongolia in order for him to get a Chinese Visa to travel to China. What's the sense?

 

[thaihubbie]

Hi,
I'm trying to keep my thread active because I really want an answer if anyone out there can enlighten me. What happens if the Canadian Embassy in Beijing retains my husband's passport for -up to six months-according to the time line for processing outlined on the web while they are determining his PR? What happens if there is an emergency or if we need to travel to Beijing for an interview?
Anyone?

 

[sanyrog]

Hi,
I'm trying to keep my thread active because I really want an answer if anyone out there can enlighten me. What happens if the Canadian Embassy in Beijing retains my husband's passport for -up to six months-according to the time line for processing outlined on the web while they are determining his PR? What happens if there is an emergency or if we need to travel to Beijing for an interview?
Anyone?

If thats the case, u might need to send them an email or fax and ask them what needs to be done. They should provide u a soln. They might return back the ppt for u, if thats emergency. Or if its for interview, they might go for an alternative,say telephonic interview.. Mistake is 4m there side,so they shud take responsibility.

 

[thaihubbie]

I don't think this request is a mistake because other people are saying that this is standard procedure in Tokyo, New Delhi and Manila. I am just wondering how someone can be without a passport for up to six months? and Why they need the passport if a decision has not been made yet?