IR-1/CR-1 Montreal DQ'd private message group goes public

[fjxs 133]

2 hours ago, Prairiegirl3 said:

1. I am a foreigner living in Vancouver.  I have a work permit. When my interview is scheduled,

I am planning to fly to Montreal and fly back home.  I just learned they keep your passports after

the interview, so I am wondering how I am going to fly back home without my passport. Can you guys

tell me how this is supposed to work out? As I am a foreigner, my passport is really only Government

issued photo ID I have. I have BC ID (MSP card), but it doesn't have a picture. Should I look into getting

BC picture ID before my interview?? Has any of you guys encountered this issue before?

As someone else already said, you will need ID to fly.

 

You should be able to get a Photo BC Services Card for free, if you are 19 or over and have MSP:

 https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/government-id/bc-services-card/your-card/get-a-card

 

You can also get a BCID, but that is a different card and actually has a $35 fee. So make sure you are getting the right one (Either one will work fine - but if you are eligible for the free one, of course I would recommend that!) 

 

Edited November 23, 2020 by eketros

[fjxs 133]

13 minutes ago, eketros said:

As someone else already said, you will need ID to fly.

 

You should be able to get a Photo BC Services Card for free, if you are 19 or over and have MSP:

 https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/government-id/bc-services-card/your-card/get-a-card

 

You can also get a BCID, but that is a different card and actually has a $35 fee. So make sure you are getting the right one (Either one will work fine - but if you are eligible for the free one, of course I would recommend that!) 

 

I just realized I am not sure if temporary immigrants can GET the Photo BC Services Card - I found somewhere else on the website they say that you are "eligible" for the non-photo card if you are here on a temporary immigration status, but I don't know if that means that you aren't eligible for the photo card or not. So I would try to get the free one first, but if they won't let you, then you can just get the BCID: 

https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/getting-licensed/Pages/Apply-for-an-enhanced-licence-ID-or-BCID.aspx

[Magnolian 47]

28 minutes ago, eketros said:

I just realized I am not sure if temporary immigrants can GET the Photo BC Services Card - I found somewhere else on the website they say that you are "eligible" for the non-photo card if you are here on a temporary immigration status, but I don't know if that means that you aren't eligible for the photo card or not. So I would try to get the free one first, but if they won't let you, then you can just get the BCID: 

https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/getting-licensed/Pages/Apply-for-an-enhanced-licence-ID-or-BCID.aspx

Hi, @eketros First of all, Thank you very very much for your message.

 

I will try to get the one called Photo BC Services Card. It says that if you on a work permit longer than 6 months, then you are allowed to

get this one. I also think one of my friends who is an immigrant like myself was able to get this card recently....

 

I just want to make sure I understood it correctly. Once I get the BC Services Card, I will be able to fly back home from Montreal with no

problem, right?

 

 

[fjxs 133]

12 minutes ago, Magnolian said:

Hi, @eketros First of all, Thank you very very much for your message.

 

I will try to get the one called Photo BC Services Card. It says that if you on a work permit longer than 6 months, then you are allowed to

get this one. I also think one of my friends who is an immigrant like myself was able to get this card recently....

 

I just want to make sure I understood it correctly. Once I get the BC Services Card, I will be able to fly back home from Montreal with no

problem, right?

 

 

Yes, the requirements for ID say: 

https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ntnl-scrt/cntr-trrrsm/pssngr-prtct/dcmnts-en.aspx

 

> one piece of photo identification issued by a Canadian federal, provincial or territorial government with your full name and date of birth

 

Both the Photo BC Services Card and the BCID contain photo, name, and date of birth. So either one should work as a stand-alone piece of ID to fly. 

 

I flew home from Montreal with a driver's license, and my son with a learner's permit, and both of those were accepted with no question - the other photo ID cards from BC look almost identical & have the same info and security features, so should be fine. 

[Magnolian 47]

15 minutes ago, eketros said:

Yes, the requirements for ID say: 

https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ntnl-scrt/cntr-trrrsm/pssngr-prtct/dcmnts-en.aspx

 

> one piece of photo identification issued by a Canadian federal, provincial or territorial government with your full name and date of birth

 

Both the Photo BC Services Card and the BCID contain photo, name, and date of birth. So either one should work as a stand-alone piece of ID to fly. 

 

I flew home from Montreal with a driver's license, and my son with a learner's permit, and both of those were accepted with no question - the other photo ID cards from BC look almost identical & have the same info and security features, so should be fine. 

Thank you so much! You are so kind and thorough. I really appreciate it.

I will find babysitter for my toddler next week so I can go get it done at local driver's license office.

Thanks again!

 

 

[SASAS 122]

2 hours ago, Magnolian said:

Hi again @SASAS I have a quick question if you don't mind.

How many times a month does the Embassy/NVC send out IL?

Once a month around 15th and 16th? Is is correct?

Yes once a month. 
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1LvnDvX95_tfWtTvsJJM49PDPPvPKal0WG2rgdZHhsz0/htmlview#

[fjxs 133]

40 minutes ago, Magnolian said:

Thank you so much! You are so kind and thorough. I really appreciate it.

I will find babysitter for my toddler next week so I can go get it done at local driver's license office.

Thanks again!

 

 

Thanks, I'm happy to be able to help! I know this process can be a lot, and have been really helped by this forum, so I'm glad to be able to pay it forward, so to speak

 

Just so you know, many of the ICBC offices are appointment only now, some have limited availability for walk-ins. You can book appointments here: 

 

https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/visit-dl-office/Pages/Book-a-knowledge-test-and-other-services.aspx

 

(And make sure to double check all the ID requirements before you go! I know that's obvious, but I've seen them be quite picky in the past, especially with people who don't have Canadian birth certificate.) 

[rafale1973 141]

5 hours ago, Prairiegirl3 said:

So his visa will expire in August 2021? Then it’s  safe to say he’s in Canada legally, so that’s good. 

 

As for the domicile part, since I haven’t gone through interview I don’t feel like I’m the most reliable person to be giving advice. There are some good discussions on this forum about what to bring to prove domicile, but honestly I haven’t looked a ton my documents or touched any of that in months so I don’t really remember specifically what is needed. All I remember  is that it seemed important that my husband be living in the US at the time of my interview. 

 

Does anyone else else have any advice on this situation?

Well he still does have domicile in the USA as it still is permanent residence is still the same one as before. He is not a permanent resident in canada, just temporary. And NVC accepted is US domicile that we submitted. 

[AnkitShah20 32]

Hi everyone...question regarding TRV.
 

My spouse a temporary resident on work permit in Canada is planning to visit me to the states for the holidays. She has a valid visitors visa for the states. She just recently received her work permit. Does she have to apply for TRV or can she travel without it. Anyone in similar situation and traveled? Would appreciate any inputs/ suggestions.

[Magnolian 47]

8 minutes ago, AnkitShah20 said:

Hi everyone...question regarding TRV.
 

My spouse a temporary resident on work permit in Canada is planning to visit me to the states for the holidays. She has a valid visitors visa for the states. She just recently received her work permit. Does she have to apply for TRV or can she travel without it. Anyone in similar situation and traveled? Would appreciate any inputs/ suggesthj

 

Hi,

See the following link. If she is coming from USA, there is exception that she can travel back to Canada without TRV.

As I always had TRV when I used to visit my husband in the US, I never had to use my permit alone. But, I remember

clearly a student visa councilor told me that I should print it out and bring it with me as most border officers never

heard of it.

 

I would highly recommend her getting TRV if possible to make sure an eventless return to Canada.

 

https://www.cic.gc.ca/english///helpcentre/questions-answers-by-topic.asp?top=22

 

[Magnolian 47]

2 hours ago, eketros said:

Thanks, I'm happy to be able to help! I know this process can be a lot, and have been really helped by this forum, so I'm glad to be able to pay it forward, so to speak

 

Just so you know, many of the ICBC offices are appointment only now, some have limited availability for walk-ins. You can book appointments here: 

 

https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/visit-dl-office/Pages/Book-a-knowledge-test-and-other-services.aspx

 

(And make sure to double check all the ID requirements before you go! I know that's obvious, but I've seen them be quite picky in the past, especially with people who don't have Canadian birth certificate.) 

Thank you. You are so kind. I have made an appointment next week.

Do you think if it would be ok if I bring my toddler with me. I am having a hard

time to find a babysitter these days due to the new health restrictions. It seems

like a very short visit, so I thought I might bring him with me equipped with bottles and

ipad to keep him quite.

 

 

[Prairiegirl3 67]

2 hours ago, rafale1973 said:

Well he still does have domicile in the USA as it still is permanent residence is still the same one as before. He is not a permanent resident in canada, just temporary. And NVC accepted is US domicile that we submitted. 

Yes, upon a review of the travel.state.gov website, I believe you are correct. So as long as you have the adequate evidence for his stay in Canada being temporary (ie. study permits, etc.) you should be okay I think! I'd be bringing those with me to the interview if I were you. 

 

Can a sponsor maintain U.S. domicile while living abroad temporarily?

Many U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents reside outside the United States on a temporary basis. "Temporary" may cover an extended period of residence abroad. The sponsor living abroad must establish the following in order to be considered domiciled in the United States:

• He/she departed the United States for a limited and not indefinite period of time,
• He/she intended to maintain a domicile in the United States, and
• He/she has evidence of continued ties to the United States.

Examples of proof that a sponsor’s trip abroad is temporary and that he or she has maintained a domicile in the United States may include:

• A voting record in the United States
• Records of paying U.S. state or local taxes
• Having property in the United States
• Maintaining bank or investment accounts in the United States
• Having a permanent mailing address in the United States
• Other proof such as evidence that the sponsor is a student studying abroad or that a foreign government has authorized a temporary stay

[EzraC 0]

On 11/18/2020 at 7:58 PM, Pippin2020 said:

Im one of the new interview letters that DQed in January before covid. Interview is Dec 2. 
Police Certificate will be a year old Dec 11 so it will be good for the interview. 
My question is if I have to get a new one if I intend to move after new years? Does it have to be unexpired the same way the medical examination does?

Thanks for any insight in advance, this forum is amazing.

Hello, im just completing my checklist before my interview on December 11th, but im just wondering, for my husband’s birth certificate(petitioner) does it need to be original or photocopy is fine? 

[fjxs 133]

1 hour ago, EzraC said:

Hello, im just completing my checklist before my interview on December 11th, but im just wondering, for my husband’s birth certificate(petitioner) does it need to be original or photocopy is fine? 

I wasn't asked for petitioner's birth certificate (Nov 9 interview), and I don't think I've seen anyone else asked for it either. 

 

Someone else asked the same question a few pages back, and @Hawk Riders said in the whole time they've been participating in the forum, they've never seen anyone need it: 

 

On 11/21/2020 at 3:52 PM, Dbrennan said:

Do I need to bring my husband (petitioners) birth certificate to the interview? Like the actual copy, not a photo copy?

 

14 hours ago, Hawk Riders said:

Nope.

In all the time we have been participating in this forum, nope...

 

 

[fjxs 133]

2 hours ago, Magnolian said:

Thank you. You are so kind. I have made an appointment next week.

Do you think if it would be ok if I bring my toddler with me. I am having a hard

time to find a babysitter these days due to the new health restrictions. It seems

like a very short visit, so I thought I might bring him with me equipped with bottles and

ipad to keep him quite.

 

 

I would try to call ICBC and ask their policy. You are right, it shouldn't be a long visit. Last I went there (months ago, right after the re-opened after the COVID closure), they were having everyone wait outside and you only went in when it was actually your turn. They also were only letting in the person who had the appointment, but they might make an exception for minor children.