The loss of immigration documents in Canada is a very stressful experience, considering that the papers are very important to prove and legitimize your status in Canada or when submitting some applications to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. You lost or you were robbed of your documents, but fast and well-organized measures will save your reputation and allow you to avoid problems. Knowing what to do will enable you to curb the situation in a peaceful and appropriate manner avoiding unnecessary problems that may arise in terms of employment, schooling, traveling, or even in terms of renting housing.
Understanding the Importance of Immigration Documents
Work permits, study permits, visitor records and permanent resident cards are official documents to demonstrate the fact that you have the right to be in Canada. In their absence, working, studying, crossing the borders or even applying to the government services might be hard or impossible. The loss of these documents may produce delays with employers, landlords, or providers of services in case they want to be shown their status to be able to make some transactions.
Personal information is also contained in these documents and this information might be abused in the hands of the wrong individuals. There is always a possibility of identity theft, particularly where the documents include your immigrant number or any other personal information. Due to this fact, the loss should be considered as immigration problem, as well as a personal security problem. It can also be helpful to consult with a Toronto immigration lawyer so that you do not stray during the replacement process.
Reporting the Loss or Theft to the Proper Authorities
The initial thing to do once your documents have been lost is to report the event to the police especially when theft is suspected. Reporting to the police also gives you an official account, which IRCC may demand upon your application to replace documents. At least in case you just lost the papers, one of you should report the loss so that in case of any future need, there will be a record of the time when you did it and took the necessary steps to do so.
You are also required to inform IRCC within the shortest time possible through their online webform. It is also beneficial to inform the department to avoid possible abuse of your papers and to be transparent in case of future questions concerning your position. In other instances, IRCC might recommend further action based on the nature of the document missing thus it is always good to check on their instructions as you present your report.
Applying for Replacement Immigration Documents
After reporting the loss or theft, you need to request the replacements with the help of the IRCC procedure detailed in relation to your document. Work permits, study permits and visitor records have been done away with by applying within Canada as well as supporting documents which include your police report and copies of previous permits should you have them. This step can be hastened by retaining digital copies of the original documents, which will alleviate stress.
The time taken to process documents differs according to the document being processed, hence it is prudent to do so in the shortest time possible. The IRCC receipt or confirmation letter that you received during the processing period can be used to demonstrate to your employer or school that a replacement is underway during the processing period. In case you are worried about your position at this period, it is possible to hire professional lawyers to be sure you comply with all norms and do not experience any misunderstandings with the authorities.
Protecting Yourself From Future Issues
Once you have applied to have new documents, make sure you take precautionary measures against identity fraud. Keep an eye on your financial accounts and credit reports, make sure that there is no suspicious activity that may be going on with them, particularly when other personal items were lost or stolen together with your immigration documents. In case you live in communal accommodation or have a room on rent, we would like you to take some precaution and save your valuable papers in a safe deposit box in order to avoid instances of loss.
You should always store a copy of your immigration documents in a secure place in the future. When filing reports or application forms these copies are helpful as they do not substitute the original ones but they help to maintain a copy. It is also easy to act promptly in case something is lost once more as it is organized and it helps to avoid stress and wasting time in responding to the employers, schools, or the government.