Study permit expiring soon and passport still under process

[Ferhad]

Hi everyone,

I have the following problem. I’m an international PhD student from Syria at University of Alberta. My study permit expires on October 19. I’m not able to apply for extension because my passport expires on the same date as well. I sent my passport to the Syrian consulate in Canada more than a month ago for renewal but I have not received it back yet. The Syrian consulate in Canada cannot issue or renew passports; they send them to the Syrian embassy in Cuba and therefore there’s no guaranteed processing time but I expect to receive it back within a couple of weeks.

If i don’t extend my permit by October 19, I’ll lose my status as a student and I have to stop going to classes and everything. Is it possible that I apply for an extension and use a scanned image of my old passport that will expire on October 19? I can send a separate letter to IRCC explaining the situation and tell them that I will send them a copy of the new passport immediately when I receive it. I’m okay with them delaying the process of my study permit extension application until I upload a scanned image of my new valid passport. I just don’t want to lose my status as a student. In this way I can benefit from the implied status which can buy me some time until my passport comes.

Also, how long does the restoration of status take in case I’m not able to extend the study permit before expiry date?

 

[scylla]

Hi everyone,

I have the following problem. I’m an international PhD student from Syria at University of Alberta. My study permit expires on October 19. I’m not able to apply for extension because my passport expires on the same date as well. I sent my passport to the Syrian consulate in Canada more than a month ago for renewal but I have not received it back yet. The Syrian consulate in Canada cannot issue or renew passports; they send them to the Syrian embassy in Cuba and therefore there’s no guaranteed processing time but I expect to receive it back within a couple of weeks.

If i don’t extend my permit by October 19, I’ll lose my status as a student and I have to stop going to classes and everything. Is it possible that I apply for an extension and use a scanned image of my old passport that will expire on October 19? I can send a separate letter to IRCC explaining the situation and tell them that I will send them a copy of the new passport immediately when I receive it. I’m okay with them delaying the process of my study permit extension application until I upload a scanned image of my new valid passport. I just don’t want to lose my status as a student. In this way I can benefit from the implied status which can buy me some time until my passport comes.

Also, how long does the restoration of status take in case I’m not able to extend the study permit before expiry date?

You can certainly try applying with a scanned copy of your old passport and a letter. I don't know if this will work - there's certainly chance IRCC will say your application is incomplete and refuse it. If your application is refused and you end up in Canada without status, make sure you stop studying and working immediately. How long it takes to restore status seems to really vary. Some are approved in a few weeks and some wait months.

 

[Ferhad]

Thanks for your reply. Key thing here is if I apply with a copy of the old passport and also provide a letter of explanation that I will upload a copy of the new passport immediately when I receive it. If they’re gonna reject my application anyway, would they reject it within few days or it will take them the regular processing time (around 50 days) to open my application and see it. Once I have an application submitted I also have the chance to phone IRCC directly and explain my situation personally that is beyond of our control this whole passport thing.

Can I call IRCC without having an application with them already submitted?