Canceled and valid passports both expiring in the future

[Empirical-Scientist]

Hi folks,

Here's the situation. I have an old, invalid passport which expires in 2016. My country of origin decided to cancel those passports and substitute them with higher-quality ones. So I was issued a new passport (per EU standards) which expires in 2022. However, because the older passports were invalidated by law, they were not perforated or anything like that. I still retain the original copy. I've explained this situation in a cover letter, but wanted to hear your opinion or advice on any potential effects of having two passports that expire in the future. Note: Since I became a PR, I've used only the new passport. Any devil's advocate out there?

 

[goodman36]

Just curious, how does your current passport which is expiring in 2022 affect anything? Aren't you submitting your application in July?

 

[eileenf]

Have documentation on hand for your interview showing that every passport in the country was invalidated and replaced with the EU-compliant ones. A translated letter from your government, widely-read news stories, etc.

 

[Empirical-Scientist]

Have documentation on hand for your interview showing that every passport in the country was invalidated and replaced with the EU-compliant ones. A translated letter from your government, widely-read news stories, etc.

So I shouldn't worry about it before the test date? Is there a chance it could ring alarm bells during the preliminary review of the application (i.e. should I include some supporting docs now, or perhaps later?)...

 

[eileenf]

If you want to send something now you could. I don't think it would hurt you as long as the documentation is simple, truthful, concise and as official as possible. It should also translated by an accredited translator.

But it's up to you. There's no guarantee that anyone will look at your documentation.

Did you just recently send your applications?

 

[Empirical-Scientist]

If you want to send something now you could. I don't think it would hurt you as long as the documentation is simple, truthful, concise and as official as possible. It should also translated by an accredited translator.

But it's up to you. There's no guarantee that anyone will look at your documentation.

Did you just recently send your applications?

I intend to send my application July 20. I have written a cover letter whereby I've explained the story of my two passports (in a short paragraph), but not sure whether more documentation would hurt (ringing any bells of panic), or help...

 

[eileenf]

It's unusual to have two passports which *look* valid. So personally I would recommend sending 1 page of independent documentation to explain why. CIC officers tend to react suspiciously with any unusual situation. So it's good to simply explain and prove what you can.

Regarding documentation, if you could find something in English or French off the EU website, or an article from an internationally recognized paper or Aljazeera or something saying "Turkey (or wherever) replaces all it's passports as part of EU integration" that would explain the situation to outsiders. It might help and it won't hurt.

 

[Empirical-Scientist]

It's unusual to have two passports which *look* valid. So personally I would recommend sending 1 page of independent documentation to explain why. CIC officers tend to react suspiciously with any unusual situation. So it's good to simply explain and prove what you can.

Regarding documentation, if you could find something in English or French off the EU website, or an article from an internationally recognized paper or Aljazeera or something saying "Turkey (or wherever) replaces all it's passports as part of EU integration" that would explain the situation to outsiders. It might help and it won't hurt.

Eileen, I'll be sending you (another) private message due to privacy concerns -- I'd appreciate it if you could provide your opinion on whether the news release I've sent would suffice...

 

[goodman36]

I intend to send my application July 20. I have written a cover letter whereby I've explained the story of my two passports (in a short paragraph), but not sure whether more documentation would hurt (ringing any bells of panic), or help...

I am still puzzled as to why you feel this is needed. All of us who are PR has passport from our old country. Most have an old passport and a new one (to be in line with regulations of international travel). When a new passport is issued, the passport authority automatically invalidates the old one (even if that old one technically has not expired). CIC asks copy of Bio-graphical pages of your passports - so you could send pages from both. In addition, if you wish to send with your application all pages of previous passport so that CIC can match your absenses with the exit/entry stamps - you can do so (IT IS NOT REQUIRED AT THIS POINT).

All passport has expiration date. Why you feel the need to explain the matter of expiration dates of your passports? Aren't you making it more confusing than it need be? Just my thought.

 

[Empirical-Scientist]

I am still puzzled as to why you feel this is needed. All of us who are PR has passport from our old country. Most have an old passport and a new one (to be in line with regulations of international travel). When a new passport is issued, the passport authority automatically invalidates the old one (even if that old one technically has not expired). CIC asks copy of Bio-graphical pages of your passports - so you could send pages from both. In addition, if you wish to send with your application all pages of previous passport so that CIC can match your absenses with the exit/entry stamps - you can do so (IT IS NOT REQUIRED AT THIS POINT).

All passport has expiration date. Why you feel the need to explain the matter of expiration dates of your passports? Aren't you making it more confusing than it need be? Just my thought.

Because, my e-friend, both passports (old and new) expire in the future!

 

[goodman36]

Because, my e-friend, both passports (old and new) expire in the future!

Yes - all Passports do

From, what I understand reading your posts you will be applying next month, so assuming the worst case scenario (wishing you the best case scenario of course), you will be a Canadian Citizen much earlier then your current passport expires in 2022 (even if it expired next year - I don't see a problem).

Anyway, you gotta do what you gotta do. I think I have spent my alloted time on an issue that I find to be irrelevant altogether.

 

[Empirical-Scientist]

Anyway, you gotta do what you gotta do. I think I have spent my alloted time on an issue that I find to be irrelevant altogether.

Thanks for realizing that.

 

[Msafiri]

Hi folks,

Here's the situation. I have an old, invalid passport which expires in 2016. My country of origin decided to cancel those passports and substitute them with higher-quality ones. So I was issued a new passport (per EU standards) which expires in 2022. However, because the older passports were invalidated by law, they were not perforated or anything like that. I still retain the original copy. I've explained this situation in a cover letter, but wanted to hear your opinion or advice on any potential effects of having two passports that expire in the future. Note: Since I became a PR, I've used only the new passport. Any devil's advocate out there?

1. Did the 'substitution' process require you to send your old format passport to your embassy or back to your country's passport processing office?
2. Does your new EU format passport make reference to the old format passport?

 

[Empirical-Scientist]

1. Did the 'substitution' process require you to send your old format passport to your embassy or back to your country's passport processing office?
2. Does your new EU format passport make reference to the old format passport?

1. I had to travel back to my home country to get the new passport.
2. I did not hand in the old passport as I needed it to switch the Canadian visas and present it at the CBSA upon re-entry to Canada. They checked both passports, and stamped the new one when I came back to Toronto...

 

[Msafiri]

1. I had to travel back to my home country to get the new passport.
2. I did not hand in the old passport as I needed it to switch the Canadian visas and present it at the CBSA upon re-entry to Canada. They checked both passports, and stamped the new one when I came back to Toronto...

1. Its not clear in your response if the new passport makes any reference to the old passport such as 'passport 1234' now replaces passport '5678'

2. Is it standard practice in your country of Citizenship not to annotate cancelled passports to this effect (this is most unusual)?