Beneficiary's passport almost expired - complicated case

[kkg325 6]

Hey guys, we are (thankfully) on NVC stage now. We filled out DS-261 and paid AOS fee. We are now preparing our AOS and IV packages. We have a dilemma though. The beneficiary's passport expires in June 2015. It is pretty complicated for her to renew her passport because she is not currently living in her home country. For the IV package, can we send the copy of the passport that will expire in June 2015, and then just worry about renewing it before the interview? Will we get a checklist for a passport that will expire in 2 months? Thanks for your help.

[NikLR 13,227]

Can she renew the passport outside of her home country like a consulate or embassy in the country she is living in?

[kkg325 6]

It's complicated because she has a pending asylum case in her current country of residence (Canada). In order to get her passport and renew it, she would have to withdraw her asylum case. If she withdraws her asylum case, she will be sent back to her home country where it is not safe for her.

[NikLR 13,227]

Hrm... I'm not sure.

[mallafri76 1,012]

That does sound complicated. I would suggest calling NVC and checking. I know in the DS-260 she will fill out at NVC, she need to fill out the passport number she will be entering the US with.

[kkg325 6]

We haven't filled out DS-260 yet. I'm looking at a copy of it here: http://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/DS-260%20Exemplar.pdf

on page 8 of that PDF, it asks you to "Enter the information on the travel document you will be using when you travel to the US.Your travel document should be a valid, unexpired passport or other valid, unexpired documentation that is sufficient to establish your identity and nationality. If you do not have a passport, contact the NVC."

Anybody know what would be considered "other valid, unexpired documentation that is suffcient to establish your identitiy and nationality"?

[kkg325 6]

FYI everyone (in case anybody on the forums has a similar problem), I just called NVC, and they said to go ahead and send the IV package and fill out DS-260 with the beneficiary's current passport. They said that if they require the renewed passport, they will request it "down the line." Good to know. Thanks y'all for your input.

[Lemonslice 4,847]

In certain specific cases, Passport Canada can issue travel documents to non-Canadian citizens. This might be a useful document to request while she is in Canada.

See:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=610&t=11

and

http://www.ppt.gc.ca/pptc/documents.aspx?lang=eng

Edited April 29, 2015 by Boston~Montreal

[kkg325 6]

Boston~Montreal - thanks for the info. But unfortunately, in order to get a refugee travel document, your case must have already been heard and accepted by the Canadian refugee board. Her case has been backlogged for 2 and a half years. She still has not even received a hearing date, and the government has given no timeline as to when her case will be heard.

[Lemonslice 4,847]

I was not sure where she was in the process... I have seen documents issued before a decision was made by the Refugee board, with the Verification of Status only If she has time, I suggest visiting a Passport Canada office with all the documents she has, form 190 filled http://www.ppt.gc.ca/form/pdfs/pptc190.pdf ;even if it is not necessary to complete her immigration to the USA, it might facilitate her travels. Good luck with everything.

[kkg325 6]

Hi everyone, I am updating this thread just in case anyone else has a similar situation. Once my partner's passport expired, she just applied for a new one with the Embassy of her home country. Usually, they require the old passport before they can renew it. When she sent the passport renewal application, she just included a letter explainig the situation, and they were able to issue a new passport without having the old one. She received her new passport yesterday, and did not have to withdraw her asylum case! Therefore, she is safe to stay in Canada until the interview. I will call NVC to inform them of the new passport number.

[Lemonslice 4,847]

That is good news.