TRAVELING WITH THE COPR AND IMMIGRANT VISA ON THE PASSPORT

[tmonay]

Hello everyone,
I and my family already got the COPR letter and the immigrant visa on our passports. We have a flight ticket from Istanbul Turkey to Toronto Canada. However, due to prices, we bought a flight ticket that has a 2-hour stopover in Paris France, but only changing flights at the airport, and final destination is Canada.

I have heard of some issues that people have had while transiting through France. I hold a Nigerian passport while my wife and son both hold Turkish passports. On the french website, it says that anyone who has a valid visa from countries like Canada etc can transit without having problems.

I would like to know if anyone here has transited through a country like France, with their immigrant visa and COPR without having issues at the airport.

Thank you for your feedback in advance.

 

[armoured]

Hello everyone,
I and my family already got the COPR letter and the immigrant visa on our passports. We have a flight ticket from Istanbul Turkey to Toronto Canada. However, due to prices, we bought a flight ticket that has a 2-hour stopover in Paris France, but only changing flights at the airport, and final destination is Canada.

I have heard of some issues that people have had while transiting through France. I hold a Nigerian passport while my wife and son both hold Turkish passports. On the french website, it says that anyone who has a valid visa from countries like Canada etc can transit without having problems.

I would like to know if anyone here has transited through a country like France, with their immigrant visa and COPR without having issues at the airport.

Thank you for your feedback in advance.

Transfers through French airports while remaining in the international (non-Schengen) zone are routine and generally do not require French/EU/Schengen visas. They will of course require (as on departure from IST by the way) that you have valid visas for your country of destination - Canada. There's no border/passport control within the international zone (apart from perhaps checking ID/ticket sometimes eg at security check, and upon boarding flight to Canada).

I have done this many times (although I do hold a Canadian passport, I've also done it with nationals of other countries).

Important note: if one has not checked one's baggage through to final destination, that would mean getting out and going through passport control (to clear baggage through customs). This basically does not happen if you book baggage through (absolutely routine when tickets are booked together / through one airline or airline partners).

Now warning: I said 'in general.' As far as I'm aware this is true for most nationalities, but sometimes there are more restrictive rules for some. I strongly doubt that this would be the case for either Nigerian or Turkish passport holders (for Turks I'm 98% sure, less certain for Nigerians). Best way to check is through the airline - they're the ones that would deny you boarding if tthey thought otherwise.

 

[tmonay]

Thank you so much for your response.
Logically, since we are only changing flights from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 within the Paris CDG airport, there shouldn't be any problems.

To be safe, probably i would try to get the Transit visa before traveling just in case.

Also, i have been trying to contact the airline for more clarification on my baggage transfer. I'll share my experience incase anyone has this same situation.

Thank you once again. Appreciate.