PRTD Process In London or return via private vehicle?
#1
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Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 7
PRTD Process In London or return via private vehicle?
I applied for a PR card renewal, but it doesn't look like I'm going to receive the new card before I need to make a trip back to England. The trip is non-negotiable as it is for medical reasons to visit my sick father. I tried the option to expedite my card processing by submitting the necessary doctor's letters and travel documents, but this doesn't seem to have done a thing. No follow-up from IRCC after doing that, and still no PR card.
So, I'm going to be in England with an expired PR card, and as far as I can figure, it leaves me two options: Apply for PRTD in London or fly back to the US and cross the border in a private vehicle.
It appears as though the PRTD processing in London is only being done by mail, and there are contradictory statements about the process that has me confused. On the IRCC website, it says PRTD applications should include a copy of your passport until the real thing is requested. However, on the VFS Global site (which appears to handle UK PRTD applications) it says you should include "A valid original passport and a copy of previous passports from the last 5 years".
So, to begin with, that contradiction has me confused. Does anyone know the real answer?
Secondly, there's no clear indication of how long the PRTD application will take. Some places say up to 8 weeks(!), but I have seen mention in this forum of faster times earlier this year. If it's going to take too long, I might as well fly back to the US and then cross the border in a private vehicle.
Does anyone have any recent PRTD application experience in the UK who can share their experience of the process?
Thanks in advance
So, I'm going to be in England with an expired PR card, and as far as I can figure, it leaves me two options: Apply for PRTD in London or fly back to the US and cross the border in a private vehicle.
It appears as though the PRTD processing in London is only being done by mail, and there are contradictory statements about the process that has me confused. On the IRCC website, it says PRTD applications should include a copy of your passport until the real thing is requested. However, on the VFS Global site (which appears to handle UK PRTD applications) it says you should include "A valid original passport and a copy of previous passports from the last 5 years".
So, to begin with, that contradiction has me confused. Does anyone know the real answer?
Secondly, there's no clear indication of how long the PRTD application will take. Some places say up to 8 weeks(!), but I have seen mention in this forum of faster times earlier this year. If it's going to take too long, I might as well fly back to the US and then cross the border in a private vehicle.
Does anyone have any recent PRTD application experience in the UK who can share their experience of the process?
Thanks in advance
Last edited by whistlerdan; Sep 19th 2022 at 6:37 am.
#2
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Joined: Jan 2017
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 86
Re: PRTD Process In London or return via private vehicle?
There's a thread here from earlier this year which collates some recent PRTD experiences from London (my own included). Processing times seemed to vary between two and four weeks.
On the passport question, when I did mine (March 2022) I had to send the original passport in to VFS with the application. I seem to remember shortly afterwards there was an announcement from VFS about a change, and that you only needed to send in a copy, and that they would request the original at a later date; I can't seem to locate that announcement now, though, and all the info seems to suggest you need to send in the passport. Hopefully someone who's submitted an application more recently can shed some light on this.
My view is that if you're able to return via the US land border without too much difficulty then that's the way to go; VFS in my experience are a frustrating organisation to deal with.
On the passport question, when I did mine (March 2022) I had to send the original passport in to VFS with the application. I seem to remember shortly afterwards there was an announcement from VFS about a change, and that you only needed to send in a copy, and that they would request the original at a later date; I can't seem to locate that announcement now, though, and all the info seems to suggest you need to send in the passport. Hopefully someone who's submitted an application more recently can shed some light on this.
My view is that if you're able to return via the US land border without too much difficulty then that's the way to go; VFS in my experience are a frustrating organisation to deal with.
#3
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Joined: Sep 2022
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Re: PRTD Process In London or return via private vehicle?
#4
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Re: PRTD Process In London or return via private vehicle?
I did PRTD in London in July, had to send them my original passport, but the whole thing only took one week. Sent on a Friday, got my passport back the following Friday.