Passport Expiring Soon COPR Has Been Issued/Renew Passport

[Mandeep]

I sponsored my wife and she has received her passport from Canadian High Commission after adhesive sticker was placed into her passport along with COPR in the end of March 2020. My wife’s passport is expiring in the first week of September 2020. The agents in India are suggesting her that she should renew her passport as a passport should be at least six months valid while travelling abroad. My wife and father-in-law are listening to those agents very seriously. I am suggesting her not to renew her passport at this stage because the visa and COPR has details of her present passport. Finally, I have booked an airline ticket online and emailed her. She will be flying to Canada in the first week of August 2020. The airline has 10 hours stay in Qatar. Could there be a problem due to the very close expiry of passport?

[Rajpal (Admin)]

You are on right track. Your wife does not need to renew her passport at this stage as the visa has been issued and all the details of her present passport are mentioned there and on the COPR. If she renews her passport now, she will have first of all trouble at boarding time to prove that she is the same person and proof if Canadian High Commission is aware of this change. The second major problem will occur at landing time because the officer will have different document into hands and the information in the computer (even if she will be holding previous passport as well). The further problem will be faced at Service Canada Centre for obtaining Social Insurance Number (SIN) online or in person. Furthermore, you will have hassle at Service Ontario for obtaining a Ontaio Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card. It may continue till obtaining a driver’s licence etc.

Even if you will send an email to Canadian High Commission that you have renewed your Indian passport, it will be impossible to get a new COPR quickly because you will have to submit the passport and COPR to the Canadian High Commission. The High Commission will verify the documents (Passports) and cancel the previously issued visa and COPR and re-issue a new visa and COPR.

Due to Covid-19 the processing in all the offices have slowed down drastically. Basically, you will delay your landing further un-necessarily. I will suggest, just land with your present documents and then renew you passport in Canada.