Question about passport request

[MissyS]

Well, the good news is I got an email saying that the processing for my PR application has been completed, and I am to send in my passport. Yay!! The bad news is, I'm confused about how I am getting the passport back. I am living in Canada, but applied outland. I'm supposed to provide a self addressed, prepaid, flat rate 9" x 12" envelope, and make note of the tracking number. Huh? What tracking number? I can't afford to use a courier, so I've got to do this via regular mail. I'm sending in my passport using Canada Post registered mail, and I'm having relatives in the States send me some US postage stamps for the return envelope, but I'm not sure how I'm supposed to get a tracking number for my return envelope. Sorry if this is confusing How have those of you who are living in Canada dealt with this situation?

 

[RobsLuv]

Not sure what info you're given when they notify you of approval by email, but the letter I received by mail was very specific. There are a couple of different options:
1) You can deliver your passport in person to Buffalo on either Tuesdays or Thursdays, between 8 am and 11 am and they will stamp and have it ready for pick-up between 1:30-3 pm;
2) You can submit your passport by mail. If you are staying in Canada you're to send your passport to the Canadian Consulate General in Fort Erie, ONTARIO. You have to send by regular mail - passports cannot be couriered to that address. You're to supply a return envelope using Canada Post's premium National Xpresspost service. Don't send an Xpresspost - USA envelope. They say you can purchase a National Xpresspost Envelope at any Canada post retail outlet. You complete the mailing label and make note of the tracking number. This would be the tracking number on the Xpresspost envelope you purchase at Canada Post. If you'd like me to scan and email you a copy of the instructions, I'd be happy to do so. Just PM me with your email address.

The only thing I don't like about this is the fact that you cannot courier to the address in Ft Erie, but I plan to mail using a Canada Post service that will still provide tracking and delivery signature.

 

[MissyS]

Hey RobsLuv -- does this still apply to me if I've applied outland? I would love to be able to send the passport to a Canadian address, because sending it to the US, and getting it returned, is turning out to be a real headache.

 

[minna]

Yes, it still applies if you sent in your application outland. Follow the directions in the email/letter you have received.

Your PPR *should* have an address to use if you are already in Canada. We received our PPR about two weeks ago. We sent my partner's passport to the Fort Eerie, ON address provided in the PPR documents.

You should include a 32cm by 24 cm XPRESSPOST pre-paid envelope in your package, and address the envelope to yourself at your canadian address. Our instructions clearly stated not to include a smaller envelope as they will not fold your CoPR down small enough to fit in a smaller envelope.

You can track Xpresspost envelopes, but they don't require signature for delivery (I don't think there's anyone to sign at Ft Eerie and they do NOT accept couriers).

We sent my partner's passport on Dec 8th, his visa was issued on Dec 15th and we received his passport with visa and CoPR today, on Dec. 17th.

The Ft Eerie address we used was:

Canada Consulate General
Immigration Regional Program Ctr
PO BOX 660
Ft Eerie, ON
L2A 6R6

It really is not that big of a deal! Take a deep breath - the hard part of the PR process is over!! And congrats on your PPR.

 

[Rinnerz]

Question: Both the posts above, referencing instructions to send the passport to Fort Erie, relate to Buffalo. But MissyS's file was processed in LA (going by her profile info to the side there). Wouldn't she NEED to follow the instructions THEY sent her, and not the instructions for Buffalo? Or does having your file processed at the LA office still somehow mean your PR visa is issued in Buffalo?

 

[minna]

well of course, follow whatever instructions you've been given. both robsluv and I stated that outright in our reply.


you can buy prepaid courier envelopes to have your passport returned to you, if that is something that you want to do. My instructions told me specifically to use a Canada Post Xpresspost envelope -if someone else's instructions say something different, obviously that takes precedence.

Robsluv and I merely answered the questions the poster asked.

 

[rubyalabar]

you're right Rinnerz, MissyS has to send her passports to LA if it was transferred there.

My application was originally in Buffalo but was transferred to LA, got the PPR via email yesterday and today I sent our passports to LA consulate.

to MissyS, if you need the mailing instructions from LA just tell me and I'll PM it to you.

what I did was send the passports, photos and a copy of the letter (PPR) via Fedex. we also opened an account with Fedex and enclosed a prepaid shipping label so that LA consulate can return our stamped passports and COPR via Fedex too.

In the PPR, they said you can send your passports via Canada Post, they just recommend you to choose the one that has a tracking number so you can make sure that it reaches LA. If you do not provide a prepaid return envelope, they will send back your passports via USPS registered mail.

Edit: Don't forget to affix the barcode on the outside of the envelope (if they gave you those when you got your AOR)

 

[Rinnerz]

@ minna:

Yep, thanks for clearing that up. Of course I saw it was recommended that she follow what instructions they sent her, but I got confused when I saw detailed instructions for Buffalo being given. I just thought it'd be better to clear that up, both for myself and for anyone else who wasn't aware of the specifics yet .

I love threads like these; I find the detailed replies from members sharing their own experiences to be really helpful in getting an idea of what I may need to know whenever my time comes (hopefully!). I figured it'd be better to clear up my confusion rather than just leaving it as us, as silly as my question might have seemed at the time.

 

[MissyS]

Thanks so much, everyone, for your input. I'm just having trouble because I cannot get US postage stamps for the return envelope, and can't afford to use a courier service. That's why it would have been much more convenient to be able to send the passport to an address here in Canada, as opposed to sending it to Los Angeles. It's scary to have to send my passport away, when I'm not sure if I will get it back.

 

[djboinsk]

So even if he is in Canada we still need to send the Xpresspost envelope? Just got our PPR so want to do everything right.

 

[minna]

Thanks so much, everyone, for your input. I'm just having trouble because I cannot get US postage stamps for the return envelope, and can't afford to use a courier service. That's why it would have been much more convenient to be able to send the passport to an address here in Canada, as opposed to sending it to Los Angeles. It's scary to have to send my passport away, when I'm not sure if I will get it back.

Definitely your instructions are the final word here, but if you are just sending the passport back regular mail, do you need to send a self-addressed stamped envelope?? My instructions said that if a courier/xpresspost envelope was not provided, then the passport would be returned to the address on file via regular mail. There was nothing mentioned about needing to send postage if you wanted the passport returned through regular mail. Just a thought -- maybe you don't need to worry about it???

But again, defer to your instructions.

 

[patiently_waiting]

Hi MissyS - check around, you can get registered mail (with a tracking number) from Canada Post for about $10 and a lot of times it differs by the location of where you buy it. Totally worth it, would hate for it to get 'lost in the mail' !!

 

[sadatul]

I am being sponsored by my Canadian wife and Singapore has started processing our application from September 23rd. T

hey send me a letter on december 2nd to submitt my PR fees and to complete IMM008 Schedule-1 Question 11 as we provided time gaps in filling that Background question. In addition with that Missisauga sent a letter to my Wife in Canada asking for my PR fees on December 3rd.

Although we submitted our PR fees on November 24th and when I called CIC call center then they said Missisauga got my Receipt on december 7th and on the same day they sent a Receipt to Singapore.

And now my question is in what stage we are in now?
How long it might take to get my PPR/

Thank you

 

[MissyS]

Definitely your instructions are the final word here, but if you are just sending the passport back regular mail, do you need to send a self-addressed stamped envelope?? My instructions said that if a courier/xpresspost envelope was not provided, then the passport would be returned to the address on file via regular mail. There was nothing mentioned about needing to send postage if you wanted the passport returned through regular mail. Just a thought -- maybe you don't need to worry about it???

But again, defer to your instructions.

Yes, that's what my instructions said. They seem to be kind of contradictory. First it says to provide a self-addressed, prepaid (US postage only), flat rate 9" x 12" envelope. Then it says In absence of per-payment(here I don't know if that's supposed to read pre-payment, or not), we will return your passport(s) by certified mail for USA residents or registered mail for those residing in Canada via the US Postal Service.

I just find it hard to believe that they will return the passport via registered mail, at no extra cost.

 

[rubyalabar]

i believe the cost of sending documents to us via regular mail is factored into the application processing fee.we receive AOR, and medical requests via regular mail too.