please help - passport renewal and right of abode stress

Hello, I have a Canadian passport with a certificate of entitlement (to the right of abode). It's kind of a long story, but the short version is: * Have lived in the UK for almost (3 months short no...

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azreala
New Member

Joined: 28 Apr 2008
Posts: 3
Location: Coventry

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 2:46 am

Hello,
I have a Canadian passport with a certificate of entitlement (to the right of abode). It's kind of a long story, but the short version is:
* Have lived in the UK for almost (3 months short now) 5 years
* Passport expires in June
* Tried to renew passport in Summer while in Canada and they said it was too 'young' (too much time left on it)
* Was back home at Christmas and they told me it would not be possible to renew it given the 2 week window of time (I had to be back in the UK in beginning of January for the start of term)
* Have filled out and completed Passport Application for Canadians living abroad and took it to the Consular Office in Birmingham as listed on the government of Canada's website, where it said I could drop off my application in person. They couldn't help me and gave me a number in London
* Called London - left a message - they called back saying everything I needed was on london.gc.ca website
* Have read through the website and it seems the only way I can apply is to drop off application in person, in London? IS THIS RIGHT?
* Right of Abode renewal application - I only need the RoA until this July (basically for 6 weeks after it expires). What do I do? Can I apply for some other way to stay in the UK and work for the 6 weeks? I'm intending to leave in July to move back to Canada. I can't apply for an ancestry visa, as my dad (British citizen) adopted me after he married my mom when I was a baby. I can't use my mom (born in Birmingham) as I was born before Jan. 1983. I am terrified now that time is running out and I don't want to be here illegally because of red tape and miscommunications. It's so difficult for me to get to London during the hours listed (weekdays) as I am a full time teacher. What should I do? Has anyone else been in a similar situation?
Thank you for listening!
Az
Sorry to moan.

lynndyhop
CanuckAbroad Regular

Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Posts: 55
Location: BC

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:35 am

Hi Azreala,

Not sure if this helps, but my understanding is that once your passport expires, you have to re-apply for another Right of Abode, from scratch. If you weren't working I'd suggest seeing about remaining in the country as a visitor as that will last you for 6 months, but you wouldn't be able to work. You have been there long enough to apply for permanent residency, but the application process takes 12 weeks or so, so that is cutting things close - but then again, I'd check and see if you are allowed to remain while you have an application processing - I'm not sure about this. I would not consider myself an expert on settlement applications. For your passport, here is what I found on the Passport Canada website, referring to Canadians living abroad: http://www.ppt.gc.ca/form/pdfs/pptc040.pdf - but this may be what you were looking at to start.
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Lynndyhop.

I'm not an American! I am a Canadian. I come from a "nice", thoroughly unrealistic country.

azreala
New Member

Joined: 28 Apr 2008
Posts: 3
Location: Coventry

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:32 am

thank you
Managed to talk to a real person who told me that I don't need to reapply as I am leaving the country without trying to re-enter after it expires! Information from different sources conflicts, but I'm taking her word as she asked her manager about it at the British High Commission.
Az

black sheep
New Member

Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 6
Location: UK

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:06 am

azreala wrote:
* Have read through the website and it seems the only way I can apply is to drop off application in person, in London? IS THIS RIGHT?

Hi,

I've been to this forum before but I'm new. I'm a fellow Canadian living with my (unmarried) partner in the UK. Not long ago, I too had to renew my passport (which had expired). I got on to the london gov website you went to and got them to send me the application form, as I couldn't print off the downloadable version, which you should be able to do?

The website is not very easy to navigate but I have it saved from last time. As a new poster, I can't send the link but go to the Candian High Commission in London site and check out `Services to Canadians'.a rather vague title, imo but you will find information regarding passports

Hope I'm not repeating information you already know, just you didn't mention having found the forms online. I was able, after the stress of having to also fill out a declaration in lieu of guarantor form, to do it all by post. I got my passport back in some ridiculously quick amount of time too, so you SHOULD be able to do the same.

I'm not too sure about your sitch regarding right to abode though I sympathise. I'm getting stressed just thinking about what I must now do to apply for indefinate leave to remain. Good luck.

ps. On second thought, maybe you can find the right info along the same page.
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