The forum can be quite helpful and useful!!!...

[robrod]

Unfortunately no-one was able to help me with his or her experience with applying for a travel document at a canadian embassy abroad... Do they issue it to you the same day you apply for it?... Do they interview you for it?...
The situation: became landed over a month ago and still no PR card in the mail yet, down to my last 5 delivery days starting tomorrow... Flying to Mexico next weekend with our daughter (canadian citizen) and worrying the card might not make it at all with all the festivities going around this time of the year... I know my wife can fedex it to me if she gets it before we return in 2 weeks, but if it doesn't arrive by then either?.
Thanks for your input in advance!.

 

[Rinnerz]

Well obviously I have no experience with obtaining travel documents (in process for PR at the moment). But maybe this will help you?

From the very little I've read, you'd have to apply at a Canadian embassy or visa office within Mexico while you're there, before you're due to leave to return to Canada. Quoted from the Canadian Visa Office in Mexico City's website regarding travel documents:


"When you apply for a travel document at our office in Mexico City you must be prepared to attend an interview before the document is issued. (Accompanying family members must also be present). If you submitted your application by mail, fax or courier, you will be scheduled for an interview.

We receive applications for travel documents from Monday to Friday from 8h00 to 12h00. Please note that this schedule applies to travel document applications only."


Hopefully that helps. I'm assuming you might have to try to contact them personally to figure out how long it could take to issue the travel document. Maybe you'll eventually also get replies from others on the forums with experience. Good luck!

 

[Leon]

Some embassies do them the same day and some take longer. You would have to ask the embassy in Mexico how long it takes them.

 

[robrod]

Thx, Rinnerz... I did read yesterday prior to posting my first post about my dilemma from A to Z the info posted at Mexico City's canadian embassy website and also the form itself. It does say you get interviewed but doesn't say if the travel document is issued to you right there and then.
The biggest problem I see is the so-called "residency requirement" (730 days within the past 5 years, it reads)... I think this document was not intended for people like myself who just became residents and haven't received the PR card or for PRs with few time under their belt as landed residents (as we clearly haven't lived in Canada as PRs for not even 400 days)... Hence my posting regarding people with experience applying for such document...

Application requirements
To obtain a travel document you will need to prove your identity and your permanent resident status. You
also need to meet the residency obligation of a permanent resident. Refer to the Submitting your
application for more information on the documents you will need to submit with your application.

Thx for writing Leon... I haven't seen any postings (and I've done a through search in the forum's archives) about anybody applying for a travel document... Is anyone out there with the experience I need???.... SOS... thx.

 

[robrod]

I have a feeling the answer to the riddle is to have an extended vacation in Mexico until the PR card arrives in Canada so my wife can fedex it to me...

I think most of us who have followed the condition of not leaving Canada while having an inland application, obviously have the need to go back home the minute the process is finished and especially this time of the year... My wife went to Mexico to visit my parents with our girl on 2 ocassions and without me and it's obviously hard to think of the things I missed by staying behind... Not sure what the COPR document is for if CIC then says it's useless as a travel document...

They have my name on the computer, my passport has my name on it and it's the perfect piece of ID, why does it have to be this way?.

Yes, I'm grateful Canada has taken me as a PR. I'm grateful Canada allowed me to be with my wife for the 13.5 months that our process took, but there are things that could certainly be improved about the immigration system, no doubt about it...

Merry Xmas, everyone!.

 

[Rinnerz]

...but there are things that could certainly be improved about the immigration system, no doubt about it...

Hah, oh agreed. As for my post, I knew it didn't answer all your questions but the part regarding interviews seemed important. If I just repeated what you already knew (didn't know you'd posted this before), I apologize.

I'd still think that contacting the Canadian embassy in Mexico directly might be a good idea. You could, at the very least, find out how long it takes them to process travel documents, and maybe even get confirmation regarding the permanent residency requirement. It seems a bit much for them to expect you to have fulfilled that to even be able to obtain a travel document...

Merry Xmas, everyone!.

Back atcha!

 

[scylla]

robrod -

I think you should have a plan B in mind as well (i.e. obtaining the travel document) on the off chance your PR card doesn't arrive at all.

Hopefully you will receive the PR card soon (my husband received his 5 weeks after landing). However keep in mind that photos are sometimes rejected and in these cases the PR card can't be issued until new photos are taken.

Again, hopefully this won't happen to you but I thought I'd mention it all the same...

Hope it all works out and enjoy your trip!

 

[robrod]

Thx for your replies, gal and guys. It does mean a lot to me to hear what people can advise in my situation.

I think all should go according to Plan A (receiving the card in about a month after landing just as the timeline is posted on CIC's website). They are so efficient about the times that my hat goes off to them. The card should arrive this week and I am sure the photo specs are acceptable as Black's Photo here in Toronto are very familiar with them.

Plan B (contacting the Canadian embassy in Mexico City) is a challenge. I've been to that embassy a couple of times myself in the past and just like the one in Athens (Greece), they are not very helpful. Even phoning them or sending an email is fruitless... Plan B would be a forced extended vacation which is ok with me, but not sure how well it would go with our little girl and especially with her mommy.

Have a good nite!.

 

[Jurjen]

Does it says you need a PR card or just proof that you're a landed PR? I'm positive that you could bring some other proof that you already landed as a PR to use instead of a PR card.

 

[Leon]

If you are visa exempt, you can usually get away with your landing papers but if you are not, the question is whether the airline would let you board the plane without something saying you are approved to enter Canada and they may not accept your landing papers as proof.

 

[robrod]

Hi guys!.

Mexico is not visa-exempt.
The only documents an airline accepts regarding visitors or canadian citizens on a flight to Canada are: canadian passport, PR card, travel document or canadian visa... nothing else, no exceptions (I can testify to that as we experienced that in our return to Canada from Greece last year). If the airline fails to check these documents, they get a hefty fine, hence the strict motivation to check passenger's documents.

On a happier note: PR card arrived in the mail today. Just like CIC's website timeline reads: 27 business days when I became landed... Impressive timeline, like clockwork...

I just got my perfect xmas gift in advance!.
Merry Xmas!,
Rob.

 

[QCSunshine]

Congrats!

 

[Rinnerz]

Awesome! Glad to hear that worked itself out for you--and so quickly, too.