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[URGENT] Passport lost by VAC New York while applying for visitor visa

Amitesh Jha

Newbie
Sep 24, 2018
7
0

I applied online and had to send my passport at Canada VAC - New York.

I sent my packet as below:

1. Consent Form, Passport Request Form, Original Passport and a prepaid return envelope all inside a large envelope.

Today I received an email from [ ny-info@csc-cvac.com
] asking me to send original passport. When I called Canada VAC office in New York (973 518-1836), I was told that they have received the envelope but there is no passport in it. Wow! And, the envelope was still glued.

When I contacted USPS, they confirmed that packet was delivered intact without any damage. They have initiated detailed mail recovery process that takes 5 days. I will keep you all posted on this as well.

Just to give you some background on why am I confident that the passport was mishandled at VAC:
1. The total weight of my USPS packet was 7.80 oz.
2. On average a passport weighs 1.4 oz to 2 oz. I had one old and new passport attached together. Therefore, total weight of passport in packet was approx 3.6 oz (My old passport was heavily stamped).
3. Apart from passport the packet had 3 A4 size paper consent form and 1 A4 size passport request form.
Altogether 4 papers of A4 size and they should weigh 0.6 oz (4 x 0.15 oz)
4. Packet also had a small return labeled bubble mailer to carry my passport back to me. Google says it weighs 1.2 oz
5. And now the main bigger envelope itself that enclosed all the above items. It was a USPS doc sized bubble mailer. Again google says it weighs 1.8 to 2 oz.

Items | Weight in ounces(oz)
2 passports | 3.6
4 X A4 size papers | 0.6
small return envelope | 1.2
main envelope | 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total: | 7.4 oz


Point I am trying to make is that if those two passports were not in there, how come the packet was 7.8 oz heavy?

And, if the packet was not received in opened/ damaged form, where else the passport could have gone???

Does anyone know how to handle this situation? Any contact/ email I should write to? I did write to feedback@csc-cvac.com but have not heard back from them.

I am also thinking that there may be intentional wrongdoing and passports being stolen by a personal/ individual at that office and used for wrong reasons. I am saying this because i see a lot of people reporting the same incident where there passport was lost at Canada VAC.

Any help appreciated and please be careful if you are planning to send your passport to this center.
 

Amitesh Jha

Newbie
Sep 24, 2018
7
0
Was this issue resolved? I faced same exact issue on 10/12/2018.
No, no one ever got it resolved. My sincere advice would be to forget the lost passport and apply for the new one as soon as possible.

Once a supervisor from their office emailed me. Her name is Natalie Cornelio. She asked my phone number so that she can call me. I gave my number but never got a call.

Her email id is:
newyork2@csc-cvac.com

If you will write to this email, you might get response, but the response will be that they do not have your passport.
 

Amitesh Jha

Newbie
Sep 24, 2018
7
0
Was this issue resolved? I faced same exact issue on 10/12/2018.
I reported this incident to "crimetip@troopers.ny.gov". They were thankful for the information and ensured that they will keep an eye on further complaints. You might write to them as well.

Basically, I read several such complaints before starting this thread. And, I got worried if someone is mishandling passport on purpose. It is good to report these things. Passport of any country is a big document.
 

Pallavi Rao

Newbie
Oct 23, 2018
7
1
Animesh, any update on this? I just sent my passport to VAC; they got it yesterday and I have not received a tracking ID yet... now this thread has me worried!
 

Amitesh Jha

Newbie
Sep 24, 2018
7
0
Animesh, any update on this? I just sent my passport to VAC; they got it yesterday and I have not received a tracking ID yet... now this thread has me worried!
I got first communication from them 6 days after my passport was received. So, wait few more days. Also, it is not possible that they will mess up with all the passports that arrive. However, keep an eye on them.

Regarding my case: I have accepted that the passport is lost and have applied for new passport.
 

Amitesh Jha

Newbie
Sep 24, 2018
7
0
Animesh, any update on this? I just sent my passport to VAC; they got it yesterday and I have not received a tracking ID yet... now this thread has me worried!
If you do not mind, can I ask you how much your packet weight was? The receipt you got from FedEx/ USPS will have this information. Thanks!
 

iMoments

Member
Nov 30, 2018
14
1
Animesh, any update on this? I just sent my passport to VAC; they got it yesterday and I have not received a tracking ID yet... now this thread has me worried!
My situation is just like yours and I sent my passport to CVAC NY along with money order of $111 in name of TT Services Inc. on Nov 16, 2018. I did not get any tracking ID yet. Did you get your passport? If yes, how long did it take? Was it shipped in your mailbox or you had to physically sign it to receive delivery? Also, did you ever get a tracking ID?

I’m thinking to make a trip to NY next week if I don’t hear anything from them
 

iMoments

Member
Nov 30, 2018
14
1
I got first communication from them 6 days after my passport was received. So, wait few more days. Also, it is not possible that they will mess up with all the passports that arrive. However, keep an eye on them.

Regarding my case: I have accepted that the passport is lost and have applied for new passport.
Thank you for this information, Amitesh.
 

Pallavi Rao

Newbie
Oct 23, 2018
7
1
My situation is just like yours and I sent my passport to CVAC NY along with money order of $111 in name of TT Services Inc. on Nov 16, 2018. I did not get any tracking ID yet. Did you get your passport? If yes, how long did it take? Was it shipped in your mailbox or you had to physically sign it to receive delivery? Also, did you ever get a tracking ID?

I’m thinking to make a trip to NY next week if I don’t hear anything from them
Hi there, I only got my tracking ID about 10 days after my package was received (i.e. not posted but from day of delivery to them). They stamped and resent it within 3-4 days. I tracked it via US Post (I had a priority mail tracking ID) and it was delivered and signed for by my building manager.

What you should be aware of is that VAC New York seems to have closed on November 1? See here: http://csc.public.s3.amazonaws.com/CIC/US/Transition_Communication_Handouts-Annex_C_and_D_NewYork_Nov2_en.pdf

Did your letter from Immigration tell you the LA and New York VACs were open? Because online they are pretty clear they have shut down since November 1st and are taking no applications. Your mail containing the documents should be returned to you in this case (the flyer states that it will be), so I would contact US Post or whatever service you used to track your documents asap. I suspect you will have to re-send your documents to the Immigration department directly in Ottawa, so I would contact immigration to confirm if this is the case.
 

Pallavi Rao

Newbie
Oct 23, 2018
7
1
If you do not mind, can I ask you how much your packet weight was? The receipt you got from FedEx/ USPS will have this information. Thanks!
Amitesh, I didn't see your second post, sorry. Was there any update on this? Did you receive a new passport or did they track your passport down?
 

iMoments

Member
Nov 30, 2018
14
1
Hi there, I only got my tracking ID about 10 days after my package was received (i.e. not posted but from day of delivery to them). They stamped and resent it within 3-4 days. I tracked it via US Post (I had a priority mail tracking ID) and it was delivered and signed for by my building manager.

What you should be aware of is that VAC New York seems to have closed on November 1? See here: http://csc.public.s3.amazonaws.com/CIC/US/Transition_Communication_Handouts-Annex_C_and_D_NewYork_Nov2_en.pdf

Did your letter from Immigration tell you the LA and New York VACs were open? Because online they are pretty clear they have shut down since November 1st and are taking no applications. Your mail containing the documents should be returned to you in this case (the flyer states that it will be), so I would contact US Post or whatever service you used to track your documents asap. I suspect you will have to re-send your documents to the Immigration department directly in Ottawa, so I would contact immigration to confirm if this is the case.

Thank you so much for the detailed response. Following was the email sent by my immigration attorney to me on November 15, 2018 before I prepared the passport package -

“Hello Bhushan,

Please note that your passport has been requested in order to finalize the application. You have 30 days to submit your passport from the request date on the letter.

If you are still residing in the US, New York has just changed the passport submission instructions as of November 2, 2018.

1. The Passport package should be mailed to new address:

Canada Visa Application Centre
145 WEST 45th street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10036

2. Passport package should contain the following documents:

a. Original Passport

b. Passport request letter(attached)

c. New consent form for TT Services/VFSGLobal

d. Money order for $111.89 payable to ‘TT Visa Services Inc’

Package Transmission (per applicant)
$19.90

Courier Service (return) (price per package)
$91.99

Total $111.89(USD)

e. Return address and contact information(attached)



We highly suggest that you contact the number below if you have any questions or visit the link:https://www.vfsglobal.ca/Canada/USA/how_to_apply.html#temporary_documents

Their help line is +18882964511.


Could you please confirm the address you had mailed your package to was different than the address mentioned by my attorney?

Today is the 8th business day (excluded Thanksgiving holidays) since November 16th and I am left in dark about what’s going on with my passport and I’m very anxious as I have impending India trip in last week of December.
 

Pallavi Rao

Newbie
Oct 23, 2018
7
1
Thank you so much for the detailed response. Following was the email sent by my immigration attorney to me on November 15, 2018 before I prepared the passport package -

“Hello Bhushan,

Please note that your passport has been requested in order to finalize the application. You have 30 days to submit your passport from the request date on the letter.

If you are still residing in the US, New York has just changed the passport submission instructions as of November 2, 2018.

1. The Passport package should be mailed to new address:

Canada Visa Application Centre
145 WEST 45th street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10036


2. Passport package should contain the following documents:

a. Original Passport

b. Passport request letter(attached)

c. New consent form for TT Services/VFSGLobal

d. Money order for $111.89 payable to ‘TT Visa Services Inc’

Package Transmission (per applicant)
$19.90

Courier Service (return) (price per package)
$91.99

Total $111.89(USD)

e. Return address and contact information(attached)



We highly suggest that you contact the number below if you have any questions or visit the link:https://www.vfsglobal.ca/Canada/USA/how_to_apply.html#temporary_documents

Their help line is +18882964511.


Could you please confirm the address you had mailed your package to was different than the address mentioned by my attorney?

Today is the 8th business day (excluded Thanksgiving holidays) since November 16th and I am left in dark about what’s going on with my passport and I’m very anxious as I have impending India trip in last week of December.
Okay, my address was definitely different, and so were my fees (I only paid about US$ 35.00, can't believe it's increased to over $100!!). It was not handled by VFS, so this makes a lot of sense -- I think you're on the right track.

I suspect the Thanksgiving holidays have delayed processing. I would wait 7 working days from the time they receive it to contact them and ask them for a tracking ID. Also ask them for a general timeline -- they cannot guarantee it, but they should give you a rough idea if it takes 4 weeks or more. I don't think it will, but I also dont know if VFS has some new strategy in place. Stay cool, but do communicate with them if you dont hear back. Good luck!
 
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iMoments

Member
Nov 30, 2018
14
1
Okay, my address was definitely different, and so were my fees (I only paid about US$ 35.00, can't believe it's increased to over $100!!). It was not handled by VFS, so this makes a lot of sense -- I think you're on the right track.

I suspect the Thanksgiving holidays have delayed processing. I would wait 7 working days from the time they receive it to contact them and ask them for a tracking ID. Also ask them for a general timeline -- they cannot guarantee it, but they should give you a rough idea if it takes 4 weeks or more. I don't think it will, but I also dont know if VFS has some new strategy in place. Stay cool, but do communicate with them if you dont hear back. Good luck!
Thanks again! Just a last question - Did you get tracking ID on your personal email or did you come to know about it from your attorney?

I’m asking because the documents I sent along with my passport to finalize my application contained only my name and address - nowhere did it contain my email.

Although, prior to that, when the attorney submitted my application (all documents minus passport), one of the forms IMM1295E - APPLICATION FOR WORK PERMIT MADE OUTSIDE OF CANADA did contain Email field which had email of my attorney.

Can’t thank you enough for your help!
 

Pallavi Rao

Newbie
Oct 23, 2018
7
1
Thanks again! Just a last question - Did you get tracking ID on your personal email or did you come to know about it from your attorney?

I’m asking because the documents I sent along with my passport to finalize my application contained only my name and address - nowhere did it contain my email.

Although, prior to that, when the attorney submitted my application (all documents minus passport), one of the forms IMM1295E - APPLICATION FOR WORK PERMIT MADE OUTSIDE OF CANADA did contain Email field which had email of my attorney.

Can’t thank you enough for your help!
I got the tracking ID via email from the VAC -- there was a consent form required which asked me for my email, but also my online visa application was electronic and happened via email.

I should clarify I applied for a multiple-entry visitor visa online to visit family, not a work visa. So I'm not sure if you applied by paper what the system is.

Did the consent form have a section about getting "help" with your application? I think you may have needed to mention your lawyer and their contact details there. In any case, when you phone them, mention that your email wasn't requested but that you would like to receive emails. And you can give it to them there alongside hopefully getting the tracking ID.