Help! Supervisa and BC Drivers Licence exchange?
 

Hi Forum,

The in-laws have arrived from the UK on the Parent/Grandparent Supervisa.

The Visa itself is basically a "letter of introduction" confirming 'approval' being granted of "an authorized period of extended stay" rather than an IMM document. It does contain both a 'File Number and UCI number' and has a validity date expiring 2017.

The Problem(S)

1. The in-laws are here for a minimum of two years while we await the unfreezing of 'Permanent Residence' avenues.
2. They have bought and insured a vehicle
3. ICBC are stating the 'Letter' is not a valid immigration document/Visa as is not in IMM format.
4. ICBC will not allow licence exchange of UK to BC due to point 3.
5. You can only drive in BC on a foreign licence for max of 6 months.

Any ideas?

My next step is to contact either CIC Canada or the High Commission in London though i am not yet sure exactly how to proceed.

Re: Help! Supervisa and BC Drivers Licence exchange?
 

ICBC need to revise their policies as clearly the supervisa and visitor record that should have been issued are legal CIC documents.

Re: Help! Supervisa and BC Drivers Licence exchange?
 

Bus pass?

Re: Help! Supervisa and BC Drivers Licence exchange?
 

Right, been busy!

Have written to ICBC head office.
Have written to Canadian High Commission in london.
Have written to Office of Superintendent of Motor Vehicles.

I will be back to update with any news, hopefully!

Re: Help! Supervisa and BC Drivers Licence exchange?
 

Isnt it 3 months on a foreign licence ??

Re: Help! Supervisa and BC Drivers Licence exchange?
 

3 Months, if you are 'Landed Immigrant Status'
6 Months, if you hold 'Visitor Status'

Re: Help! Supervisa and BC Drivers Licence exchange?
 

UPDATE:

The response from ICBC.

So, as IMM1442 is a multi-use application should we apply for

a) a Visitor Record
or
b) a Temporary Visitor Permit

I'm thinking a Visitor Record though this was not made clear. Here's the IMM1442 page link . In addition to this i note a fee may be payable for applying for IMM1442 though a fee was not required for the Super Visa processing :thumbdown:, dependent upon option chosen can take 1 month or 6 months :blink:



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Re: Help! Supervisa and BC Drivers Licence exchange?
 

UPDATE 2:

The response from Canadian High Commission, London

Quote:

---

Dear Sir/ Madam,

Please contact Service Canada regarding this information, as we cannot help within our Immigration department.

We apologize for not being of more assistance at this time.

Regards

CSU (VCM)

---

We will probably try this before going the IMM1442 route, just incase there is a simpler option:fingerscrossed:.

Re: Help! Supervisa and BC Drivers Licence exchange?
 

The IMM1442 is a generic blank document issued by CIC & CBSA. The document can be used for Visitor Records, Study Permits, Work Permits etc etc. Visitor Records are free if issued at a POE. When arriving on the super visa route they should ask for a VR to be issued at the POE when they arrive.

Re: Help! Supervisa and BC Drivers Licence exchange?
 

Hi, problem is they arrived here in November and no Visitor Record was issued at POE. Hence their predicament.

The issue with applying under the above is they did not enter Canada on any of the above 'Valid' documents. Applying under 'Verification of Status' unfortunately appears to carry a cost AND has processing time of 6 months. :eek:

Re: Help! Supervisa and BC Drivers Licence exchange?
 

Okay more news;

Today we headed to Service Canada as directed by High Commission in London unfortunately they were unable to assist but they did direct us to the 'Service BC' offices located at our local Law Courts.

Service BC also were unable to assist but the clerk had by chance been reading about Supervisa's and Driver Licensing a little earlier - Result!



The Outcome

All Supervisa visitors (at least to BC?) require form IMM1442 'Verification of Status' if not holding a form IMM1442 'Visitor Record' in order to exchange UK license to BC license via ICBC if they plan on driving in excess of 6 months.

As this was not known on arriving, and no IMM1442 'Visitor Record' provided automatically by CBSA there is a cost involved of $30 per person/application. The applications are now on route to Ottawa for 6 months of processing :frown:

Hope this helps and informs, there must be at least a few others !:blink:

Re: Help! Supervisa and BC Drivers Licence exchange?
 

Hi


Nope it doesn't. The IMM 1442 is a visitor/work/study permit issued at a Port of Entry and there is no cost when you enter Canada. Sending $30 to Ottawa for a copy of visitor record, that doesn't exist is going to be futile. Your parents were never issued a document, so there would be no record.

Go to the Border Port of Entry and explain the problem to CBSA, if they are in a good mood they should issue the Visitor record which should have been issued anyway for a stay of over 6 months.

Re: Help! Supervisa and BC Drivers Licence exchange?
 

Thanks for this info I have a parent hopefully arriving on supervisa so will ensure she requests a visitor record form . Trouble is, the super visa is so new it's going to take a while to filter through.

Re: Help! Supervisa and BC Drivers Licence exchange?
 

PMM

Re: Help! Supervisa and BC Drivers Licence exchange?
 

Hi

How are they going to verify your parent's status? They weren't issued a document. You spoke to service BC, Service Canada, which have nothing to do with Canada Immigration. Phone the call centre, 1-888-242-2100 and you should get the same response as I gave you. But it was your $30.