Passport returned to PO Box

[Peanut butter and jelly]

Will CPC Ottawa return the passport and the COPR to a PO Box address in Canada or do they only mail passports to residential addresses??

 

[zardoz]

Will CPC Ottawa return the passport and the COPR to a PO Box address in Canada or do they only mail passports to residential addresses??

I believe that, as the COPR, at the very least, needs to be signed for, you should assume not.

 

[1887CAN]

Will CPC Ottawa return the passport and the COPR to a PO Box address in Canada or do they only mail passports to residential addresses??

I can’t see any government using a PO Box as a correspondence address, it’s just too anonymous and informal. I’d say only a proper residential address would suffice, and likely one that you can prove is your residence.

You can use a PO Box for pretty much anything else, give to an employer to use, shipping, etc, as they’re far less formal. But, for immigration purposes, I’d be amazed if that’s allowed.

 

[Peanut butter and jelly]

I believe that, as the COPR, at the very least, needs to be signed for, you should assume not.

I can’t see any government using a PO Box as a correspondence address, it’s just too anonymous and informal. I’d say only a proper residential address would suffice, and likely one that you can prove is your residence.

You can use a PO Box for pretty much anything else, give to an employer to use, shipping, etc, as they’re far less formal. But, for immigration purposes, I’d be amazed if that’s allowed.

Thank you for your replies. So what should I do if my partner and I are currently living in a staff accommodation building and we’re only provided with a P.O. Box?? Should I write my room number on the envelope??

 

[zardoz]

Thank you for your replies. So what should I do if my partner and I are currently living in a staff accommodation building and we’re only provided with a P.O. Box?? Should I write my room number on the envelope??

The building *must* have a legal postal address, as courier companies don't use P.O. Box addresses.

 

[1887CAN]

Thank you for your replies. So what should I do if my partner and I are currently living in a staff accommodation building and we’re only provided with a P.O. Box?? Should I write my room number on the envelope??

That’s a tough question to answer, so I’d call Canada Post and ask them. IRCC uses a PO box for inland and outland applicants to send the packages to, but they provide their full address for use by couriers. There always a full address behind every PO Box.

Canada Post could possibly provide you with the full address for your location. Also, give the IRCC call centre a call and ask for their opinion. We’re only speculating here, and although it seems unlikely IRCC would use a PO Box, we could be completely wrong! They may actually be OK with using one. It’s not your fault you only have a PO Box to use, so maybe with proof you live at that location it could be accepted too.