BenJGUK

I am due to start a university teaching job in Vancouver on 1 January 2010, and have received a positive LMO. I am leaving the UK on 12 December for Seattle (to meet up with my wife and kids, who are going ahead of me and staying with relatives) and was then planning to drive over the border on 14 December. My question is: should I apply for a TWP in London (as my employer advises) and hope it comes before I leave the UK, or should I just take the offer letter, LMO etc to the border with me on 14 December? My TWP application should be straightforward, but I am worried that because I won't be able to send my application to London until next week (due to delays in getting police certificates for me and my wife), the TWP won't get processed in time. Any advice? Does anyone know whether I can simply go to the border and apply if my application in London is still being processed? If the TWP hasn't arrived from London by the time I have to leave, can I ask them to cancel it and then simply apply at the border? I am sorry to have so many questions, but given people are reporting 6-8 week waits in London for TWPs, I am really worried about timing... Any help MUCH appreciated!!

AmyDavid

Hi CALM DOWN..lol

London doesn't "process" your TWP. It merely looks through your paperwork and sends you a letter saying it has checked it and your okay to go.

I would just take all your paperwork and do it at the POE and you don't need a police certificate for a TWP.

BenJGUK

Thanks for the reply! My employer is pretty clear about wanting me to apply before POE. Should I just apply and if the letter doesn't come before I leave, then just apply for the TWP at the POE? Will it matter if my application is still being processed in London when I turn up at the border? Also, I'm a bit confused about the police certificate. This form seems pretty clear you need one to apply for a TWP from London:

http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca...wchecklist.pdf

Why would you need to produce on here in London but not at POE?

AmyDavid

When we came over to Canada in 2007 we had a TWP application in at London when we applied for POE in Canada. It made no difference - it just meant we spent $300 for the TWP in the end rather than $150!

I am not sure why they ask for it but I cannot think of one person who has done POE that has had to show their Police Cert - unless perhaps you have a job where this is needed?

mountainxtc

I get a new TWP every year. I used to apply to London for the authorization letter but it's completely pointless. Just get it at POE, I have done it at both YVR (long lines sometimes) and at Peace Arch (zero lines). Easy. You have to wait at immigration to get the piece of paper in your passport even with the letter so getting the letter from London doesn't save you any time overall. Don't panic, it's easy. I have never had to get a police check, London or POE, it's not a requirement.

chanceUK

do it POE definitely. I was working in canada at a university (2007-2008) and didnt realise you could do it at POE. London took months to send me the paperwork. In fact it arrived only 2 days before my job was to start.

With the current postal strikes and London visa office general delays, POE will be the safer bet. I wasnt asked for a police check but take everything you might think you need.

Manek

We were asked for Police clearance by London office in processing TWP in June 2009 but I think thats not case with POE visa

BenJGUK

Thanks to everyone for the helpful replies - it is great to informed answers so quickly. I have now written to my employer asking whether they really want me to apply for the letter from London, and will hope that they say just try at POE... If they say no, then given the processing times and strikes I'll probably end up doing it there anyway - and lose a few hundred bucks as a result!

kateodonnell

Im a bit late to add to the thread, but ... I would definatly go for POE if you can, we submitted our TWP application by Hand to London on the 18th Sept and still have not received a file number or anything back from them, when i chased on email they told me to wait until 6 weeks after submiossion before even asking what is happening!!! If you dont need a medical (Which unfortunatly my hubby does) - got for POE!! Good luck