Has anyone applied for travel documents in London? How long does it take ? in case our PR card won't arrive on time!! many thanks

Do you have your COPR form that you landed with? If so, the consensus is that you need not worry about having actual PR cards when returning to Canada.

Not done it yet, but OH flies to the UK next week, his PR card is the only one not to have arrived..... Having looked at the website and downloaded the form my understanding was that you could go to the CHC in London and walk away with one. I must check what documents you need!

Office Hours:
Comments: Open to the public from 08:00 to 11:00 to apply for temporary resident visas (visitors) and travel documents (permanent residents meeting residency requirements).

A lot of people say you only need the COPR, but apparently the airline can get picky especially if you are on the return ticket (which my OH will be).

Hi

We fly one way to Canada on 18 July and won't have PR cards in our possession. Mine is at a friend's in Canada and my husband's has not arrived yet, they want a new photo so we'll sort it out when we arrive.

I have emailed Canadian Affairs regarding a travel document and they said contact the airline. I've emailed Thomas Cook three times and still not had a response. We've already landed at Christmas and have our COPR in our oassports so I'm just going to show those. Consenus on this forum seems to indicated that it would be a waste of money getting a travel document - lets see whether we have any agro from the airline in a few weeks.

Poppit

Assuming you have booked return tickets (often cheaper than single), you shouldn't have any worries.

From what i can gather, it's the airline that can be a little picky about travelling with PR cards, not the Canadian immigration officers.


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The official line (at CHC) is that you MUST have a valid travel document. You can download the forms in advance, (good idea cos you need some photos to apply). Then you turn up at the office early 7.30 or earlier is a good idea as a line soon forms, and the process takes a good couple of hours.

You line up for security, then you line up to tell the desk what you want and are given a number. Then you wait til your number comes up for you to talk to an immigration officer, then you wait again for your paperwork.

Only the person/s applying may enter the building, so don't turn up with an entourage!

When I re-entered recently without a permit after a vacation in UK, (cos I missed the office hours at CHC and then didn't have time to go back another day) I was allowed in, but it is at the discretion of the Officer on duty. I wasn't challenged by the airline as it was the return leg of my journey, if that makes a difference.

My son also did the same thing last month (he'd lost his wallet and not replaced his PR card that was in it). He had to go through immigration on arrival and do some fast talking before they let him in ..... added a bit of time (and anxiety for his Canadian g/f who was travelling with him!)

Only because its simpler to train call center operators and write the website in such a way that one answer fits all, so the readily available information is based on what has to be done for the worst case scenario.

Id be curious to know how many travel documents the CHC issues to UK passport holders compared to those from non visa waiver countries. As has been pointed out, its really only needed for the sake of the airlines, not the immigration officers, who after all have access to all the info they need to make a call on your right to enter canada, but it can, as your son found out, add to the hassle / stress level.

My position on the necessity of travel documents for UK passport holders hasnt changed, I think it a waste of time and money unless you have a one way ticket and the airline advises you need it. For the sake of immigration you absolutely dont.

Thank you so much to everyone replied. I wait another week and if didn't hear about our PR cards will apply for travel docs. You guys are great. Thanks

When i came out to BC on a one way tix both me and my partner were asked for PR/Citizenship cards, no mention of a travel document was asked for... Just be carefull....But then again on the day we checked everyone who checked in was asked to weight there hand luggage and could not even be a kilo over in anything for main luggage and hand....I personally would not go with Canadian affair if i was taking alot of luggage as they have seemed to become alot more strict from when they started out.

MR79

Have you tried calling them?

For my OH we have booked return tickets, but, he is traveling to England from Canada, so his return is back to Canada. If Canadian Affair chose not to allow him onto the flight he would have to book another flight, and lose his seat and the money......

And then perhaps sue Canadian Affair if they are making a demand not supported by Canadian immigration law? (a return ticket is not a legal requirement to travel to Canada so unless they mandate it in their conditions of carriage they may be on shaky legal ground).

Unclear why so few people choose Air Canada.

Cost

Lack of Alternatives. AC is the only carrier that flies directly from YYT to LHR. Even when they didn't, it was cheaper to fly AC via Halifax or Toronto rather than an internal AC/WJ/Porter flight then Canadian Affair et al to UK.

Just to add my comments on this.........my daughter flew to the UK before her PR card was received so did the trip to the London CIC office to get the travel document. The process was all very simple (provided you have filled in all the forms already and have your payment ready!). However, she did have a long wait at the office - all in all it took around 4 hours, so take a snack!

It is the airlines that can refuse you boarding if you dont have a valid PR card (or the travel document) - the only reason for this is because if you are refused entry to Canada, the airline carries the financial burdon of flying you back. Canadian immigration wouldnt typically refuse entry as they have more than one way of checking whether you are resident or not.

I have never had to actually produce my card to an airline - I recall Zoom (R.I.P!) asking me one time "are you resident in Canada? Do you have a PR card?" - but they didnt ask to see it.

I guess renewals is more of an issue now - my wife applied applied for her renewal back in March and the wait time is approx 5/6 months, it used to be 3.

Cant wait till the citizenship thing is done, I cant be arsed with all this PR card thing anymore.

Thank you for all informative replies. As long as it takes no more than a day I am happy and can wait another 2-3 weeks.

Many thanks again