Dual Nationality, does it matter which to use?

[wyho007]

Hi,

I'm a citizen applying for my partner from outland. She resides in Macau (Hong kong) and holds Portuguese citizenship. We plan to use her Portuguese passport for the PR application thinking it'll be easier, although she has never lived in Portugual before. Will her application goes through the Hong Kong office (where she resides) or Portuguese office (the passport she uses for the PR application)? I read through some websites and it says the applicant gets to choose which VO process the application but I don't see where I can make this choice on the application forms.

Does it really matter which passport will she use indeed?

Appreciate if anyone can shed some light. Thanks!

 

[truesmile]

What other passport 'or travel document' is her alternative choice?

No, you don't get to choose, the CIC will decide that for themselves.

 

[cheng9999]

Hi,

I'm a citizen applying for my partner from outland. She resides in Macau (Hong kong) and holds Portuguese citizenship. We plan to use her Portuguese passport for the PR application thinking it'll be easier, although she has never lived in Portugual before. Will her application goes through the Hong Kong office (where she resides) or Portuguese office (the passport she uses for the PR application)? I read through some websites and it says the applicant gets to choose which VO process the application but I don't see where I can make this choice on the application forms.

Does it really matter which passport will she use indeed?

Appreciate if anyone can shed some light. Thanks!

There is no basis why it'll be faster, perhaps you are thinking of the VO doing the application? HKVO is not that slow actually, although it handles a lot of cases in this region.

I would consider the following:
* was she born in Portugal or in Macau...if in Macau, then it makes even more sense to use her Macau identity
* consistency of her life...for example if she lived in Macau all her life, she should use her Macau passport and residency status.
* police report, work information, tax information, etc. are all tied to her Macau identity
* all the background checks would be more consistent as her life has been based on her Macau identity...my own opinion only...this would make things faster
* not very likely, but if it happens that her case gets sent to Europe for processing and an interview is required, think of the problems they would create

Above are just my own opinion...but I believe the more consistent your case is, the less trouble it'll be. If she has never used her Portugeuse identity, then she should not use that status to apply.

 

[wyho007]

Macau SAR passport.

 

[wyho007]

There is no basis why it'll be faster, perhaps you are thinking of the VO doing the application? HKVO is not that slow actually, although it handles a lot of cases in this region.

I would consider the following:
* was she born in Portugal or in Macau...if in Macau, then it makes even more sense to use her Macau identity
* consistency of her life...for example if she lived in Macau all her life, she should use her Macau passport and residency status.
* police report, work information, tax information, etc. are all tied to her Macau identity
* all the background checks would be more consistent as her life has been based on her Macau identity...my own opinion only...this would make things faster
* not very likely, but if it happens that her case gets sent to Europe for processing and an interview is required, think of the problems they would create

Above are just my own opinion...but I believe the more consistent your case is, the less trouble it'll be. If she has never used her Portugeuse identity, then she should not use that status to apply.

Portuguese passport is use for travelling as it's easier and more widely accepted without need for a visa. All Macau born people got Portuguese citizenships from birth before it's handed back to China in 1999.

Is the passport provided in the application not only serves as "travel document"? My partner's whole application package uses Macau as her identity but only passport uses Portugal for the PR stamp. What may be the possible delay you can see if this is so? We think it'll much easier to travel around e.g. should she be travelling to other countries using the Portuguese passport when the PR visa is attached to that passport.

 

[canadianwoman]

Any country that will allow her visa-free entry now on her Portuguese passport will also allow her to enter visa-free once she is a Canadian PR.

CIC can choose to send the application to the visa office serving the applicant's residence, or the applicant's citizenship. They used to let the applicant decide, but now they do not. Because she has spent her whole life in Macau, CIC will probably sent the application to be processed in Hong Kong. If they choose to go with the Portuguese passport, the application will have to follow the Western Europe country guideline; if they choose to go with the Macau documents, you have to follow the China guidelines.