Strange Situation: Got the PR Approval but don't know how to proceed further

P

Pappillon

Registered Users (C)
I had applied for Canadian PR last year from the US and completed all the formalities including paying the landing fees. As my H1B limit reached I returned to India.

Now I received a letter from the consulate stating that my application has been approved and they have asked me to send the passports for stamping.

My Dilemma is

1. I was told that one should not post the passports out of the country of current residence ?

1a. Even if that is allowed and Canadian Consulates stamps the passports, I was told that one has to enter Canada crossing the border through the city that I had originally elected in the application, otherwise they will not allow to enter from someother city. Is that true ?

2. If I should not mail the passports to US then should I approach the consulate in Delhi for stamping ?

I am confused about the future course of action

Has anyone encounted such a situation before ?

Thanks for all your help
 
1. I was told that one should not post the passports out of the country of current residence ?

You can mail your passport to USA by taking permission from the Ministry of External Affairs. They will give you a letter authorizing you to send your passport to USA. Show this letter to any courier company like DHL or FedEx and they will send it to US.

But the main problem is that after stamping the visa the Canadian embassy in US will only send the passport to an address in US or Canada. Therefore you will have to provide them with a return address in US or Canada(friend/relative) and make arrangements to get the passport back from US or Canada to India.

2. Even if that is allowed and Canadian Consulates stamps the passports, I was told that one has to enter Canada crossing the border through the city that I had originally elected in the application, otherwise they will not allow to enter from someother city. Is that true ?

Not true. You can enter anywhere in Canada except the province of Quebec.

2. If I should not mail the passports to US then should I approach the consulate in Delhi for stamping ?

The Canadian consulate in New Delhi can not issue your PR visa.
 
One more clarification

Kenny04, Thanks a lot for the clarifications.

One more question related to clarification 1, what is the procedure to get the permission from MEA. Should I go to New Delhi to get it done ?

Thanks once again for your advice.
 
Update on getting the MEA Permission

Kenny04,
I called up the local passport office and asked them if they will give such permission. They flatly refused to give any such permission stating that the passport booklet itself states that it should not be sent out of any country by post.

Question: Do you know of any cases like mine where the passports were allowed to be sent out of country ?

Thanks
 
Hey Buddy,

Local passport offices don't understand our permutations combinations and their denial is not end of the world.

You can Fedex it to Bufallo from India and give them your friend's or relative's address as return address in US and further ask them to Fedex it back to you.
The only issue i see here is that if Immigration officials want you here in Bufalo for stamping (They have recently started calling people to Bufallo for stamping) in that case you need Visa to US.
Make all the photo copies before sending it. Make sure you have Fedex tracking numbers and make sure that your friend/relative is fully aware.

I know it may sound very risky but if you loose your passports then you have photocopies to get new ones and chances for loosing them during transit are very very rare unless situation like movie Cast Away arises
:)
 
Hi Pappillon,

A person on another forum posted that he had taken permission from the MEA to send his passport to USA. Did you try to get in touch with the MEA?

The problem that a lot of people have faced in the past is that FedEx or DHL refuse to send the passport out of the country.
 
Hi,
Let me give you my honest opinion on this.
- I assume you might've worked in IT / Engg in US and would've developed lots of friends living in U.S.

- You can also find lots of people (Known to some extent, friends friend..etc..,) travelling to US, give them your Passports, tell them to mail it to your good friend as soon as they reach US.

- Your friend(s) should collect the Passport and send it to Buffalo with his address as a return address from Canadian consulate.

- It should return within few days with a Visa.

- Your Friend will receive your Passport and all of you should hunt for some one returning to India.

- Hand over the Passport to that person.

- Collect it in India.

- You just need to adjust to the tension of living without Passport for a while.

- Its very difficult to get the letter from MEA, you know how the Govt offices work in India, how they will answer you as if they are GOD.

- Fedex, DHL will refuse to carry your passports if you declare them.

Tips:
- Suggest the Traveller to keep your Passports (envelope) in Hand luggage.
- Put your passports + other Docs in one big envelop so that the Traveller doesn't mistake it to his passport and end in chaos.
- Though it is not required, still prepare letters that you are authorizing this specific traveller to carry your passports.
- Similarly prepare letter with empty traveller name and sign it, give it to your friend, so that he could fill the name of the person who is going to carry your Passport from US to India.

Wish you Good Luck.
 
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