Hi Guys,

The OH and mines passport is due to expire next year and we are due to enter Canada in about a month with our workpermits.

A couple of questions will we only be given a workpermit until the end of our passports? If so I guess it makes sense to renew them before we travel??

Or is the lengh of the work permit not releated to when the passport expires and we will just need to send passports off to the embassy in Ottawa when we need to renew?

Cheers,

P

Renew them now, it will be a lot less hassle, both from a permit length and an ease of renewel point of view.

I was issued a 3yr WP with a passport that only had a couple of years remaining on it.

Renewing my passport took less than 10 days turn around from Ottawa.

I'm sure it's cheaper to renew your passport from the UK. Also, any time remaining on your current passport (up to 11 months) will be added to your new passport.

I would anticipate future hassle surrounding biometrics and increasingly finickity picture standards. Cost is also a factor if you have the choice.

Last thing you need is to find you have to fly somewhere in a hurry and have your PP expired. Its enough of a nightmare doing it as a canadian citizen, without being stuck trying to rush one through the consulate in Ottawa as a Brit.

its actually up to 9 months...

http://www.ips.gov.uk/passport/apply-renewing-when.asp

WP will be not be beyond expiry date of your passport.

Get your passports renewed in the UK if you can, as it is cheaper. It is also easier to find people who have known you for 2 years and can sign the back of your new photos.


However, if you do send them to Ottawa when you are here they are efficient at turning them around and sending it out. However, after that, you need to get a new WP, which can take a couple of months, and a renewal of a SIN number at your local Service Canada office. It's all hassle you don't need.

That's not true.

Thanks R I C H can you elaborate?

Cheers,

P

I know when we came in last year I was given a 3 year work permit and my wife received a 3 year spousal permit. However my children only got about 2 years 3 months study permits because that was the length remaining on their passports. That was absolutely the explanation given by the immigration officer.

It is all irrelevant for us now as we have received passport requests so will get PR status long before the end of the temporary permits.

I seem to recall my lawyers telling me to get a new passport as my WP would only be valid for the duration...but that was years ago.

Could be it depends on the nature of the work permit too? RICH came on a strange business class based one as I recall? The point made about problems finding guarantors when a newcomer seemed to make sense to me...presuming you need a guarantor for a renewal?

My previous post (#3) explained it really, but to elaborate:

Arrived in Canada in Aug '05 with a passport due to expire early Jan '08
Was issued a 3yr WP in late Nov '05 (therefore over 10mths longer than my passport expiry date).
In Jan '08 I applied to Ottawa for a new passport, which was issued within 10 days.

To follow up on iaink's point about my WP, it's just a standard issue 3yr WP, which ties me to a specific job/employer (the business just happens to be my own). My wife has an open WP that was issued at the same time, so I don't think there's anything strange or unusual about it.

Thanks for the advice guys have just booked an appointment with the IPS to get my passport renewed the same day. Just to be safe!

Cheers,

Paul