Qorax please, you have been referred as the best who can answer this.

[MZZ]

Hi
I apoligize if I am repeating the same question, but I really need a confirmed answer to my query.
I am an iraqi citizen holding a PR card (since June 2010), my Iraqi passport will be replaced by a Saudi passport (I will be granted the Saudi nationality because my mother is Saudi), Saudi authorities will withdraw my Iraqi passport, ie I will not be able to present the Iraqi passport anymore when I next enter Canada.
Will I be able to enter Canada with my new Saudi passport although it is still mentioned that i am iraqi in my PR card?
What do I have to do, shall I write to immigration before I next enter Canada, notifying them of my new nationalty/passport status?
I may have an option of entering Canada for a last time holding my Iraqi passport where I can visit the immigration office there and notify them of my case.
Please let me know what the best solution would be.
Many thanks.

 

[steaky]

PMM is another person who can answer. You can also try to contact the local Canadian consulate for info.

 

[Leon]

Contact the Canadian embassy where you are now and ask them what you should do.

In any case you should make copies of all the pages of your old passport before you give it up in case you need them later.

 

[MZZ]

unfortuantely the local canadian consulate does not answer phone calls, they are very conservative when it comes to phone calls.

 

[qorax]

Hi
I apoligize if I am repeating the same question, but I really need a confirmed answer to my query.
I am an iraqi citizen holding a PR card (since June 2010), my Iraqi passport will be replaced by a Saudi passport (I will be granted the Saudi nationality because my mother is Saudi), Saudi authorities will withdraw my Iraqi passport, ie I will not be able to present the Iraqi passport anymore when I next enter Canada.
Will I be able to enter Canada with my new Saudi passport although it is still mentioned that i am iraqi in my PR card?
What do I have to do, shall I write to immigration before I next enter Canada, notifying them of my new nationalty/passport status?
I may have an option of entering Canada for a last time holding my Iraqi passport where I can visit the immigration office there and notify them of my case.
Please let me know what the best solution would be.
Many thanks.

While entering a BSO would like to check your 'identity' & your 'current status in Canada' -- if u r carrying your PR card, both of which could be established. However, with the present security situation - they would also like to see that u r carrying a 'valid' passport... since u r carrying one - the 'new' Saudi passport - u should be fine.

Remember: The story of our previous passport/nationality ends with having the 'landed immigrant status' - so is the story of the 'single-entry' PR visa, which was stamped in the earlier passport [your Iraqi one]. So, as long as u have 'a passport' from 'a legitimate country', u r good. It'd have been another matter if u were carrying a passport of a 'failed state', eg. Somalia -- whose passports r no longer 'recognized' by most nations - Canada included.

Nonetheless, as Leon suggested, it'd be wise to have a copy of the Iraqi passport on u, alongwith the pages where the previous PR visa was pasted AND the one where the Canadian entry was stamped [while 'landing']... just in case there were queries.

I'd further advise u to get a 'stamp' from the Saudi Immigration & Naturalization Dept., on a page of this/their new passport stating, "The holder of this passport had previously travelled on an Iraqi passport, which contained Canadian Visa". - this would mitigate any ambiguities in the future.

Furthermore, if u could also have these copies [the Iraqi passport's] notarized, it'd do u good... not to mention that if this notarization was done in Canada - that much the better!

Now comes two headaches that u further might be facing:
1. While embarking from an overseas port - the airline staff would like to see your Canadian visa[?]... given that they'd not be sure [sometimes] about the PR cards - especially while a third party airport contractor is involved [eg. DNATA of Dubai] - in the absence of Air Canada or BA or KLM etc. staff [who r aware of the procedures]. This might be a small hiccup... but can be overcome by showing the above copies & thru their telecall to their 'more aware' higher-ups [they'd do it themselves]!
2. While applying for your Citizenship [Canadian], u'd be required to elaborate/demonstrate your 1095 days... that might require u to Xcheck your entry/exit stamps... for which u might need copies of your old Iraqi passport [thus the need of making those copies]. Besides, the Citizenship Officer [before the Citizenship Judge] might raise red-flags for non submission of the 'correct' passport [for which that 'stamp' of the Saudi Immigration & Naturalization Dept. might become quite handy].

Notwithstanding the above, for your this trip, to Canada, u should be fine with your PR card & the KSA passport.

That's my opinion...
Qorax

 

[MZZ]

thanks Qorax for the elaborative answer. thanks leon & steaky.

i will make copies of all the pages of the iraqi passport, try to get it notorized by the canadian embassy in riyadh, or do it in canada if i could.

i doubt that the saudi immigration will write such a note on their passport! i believe this is undoable.