Operational Bulletin 205-A – December 12, 2014

Processing Applications Submitted with the United States Passport Card

Issue

This Operational Bulletin (OB) contains instructions for officers. It directs them in the manner in which they would need to process applications related to:

• Temporary resident status
• Permanent resident status or,
• Citizenship

These instructions pertain to applications submitted along with the United States (United States) passport card.

Background

The United States of America began issuing the United States passport card in 2008. They did so to assist with the implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). Individuals possessing this United States passport card can use it for entering the United States from countries such as:

• Canada
• Mexico
• The Caribbean and,
• Bermuda

It is worth noting that individuals can only use the United States passport card for entering the United States at:

• Land borders and,
• Sea ports of entry

However, they cannot use the United States passport card for entering the United States via international air travel.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada stopped issuing a counterfoil to certain applicants. This typically applied to applicants approved for permanent residence from visa exempt countries. They implemented this step with effect from December 01, 2011.

The Instructions

The Instructions for Applications for Temporary Resident Status

• The authorities typically grant United States citizens an exemption from the visa requirement for temporary resident status
• Therefore, officers do not need to affix a visa counterfoil in these cases
• However, officers might accept the United States passport card for processing purposes
• In this scenario, officers would need to use the passport card number and expiry date in the processing system
• These instructions mentioned above however, do not preclude officers from requesting United States citizens for their United States passport book
• They would typically do this if they require further information such as the individual’s travel history etc.
• They might also request for the United States passport book for confirming the identification of the individual
• Usually, officers would request for the United States passport book to finalise the determination on an application

The Instructions for Applications for Permanent Resident Status

• In the past, officers typically required a valid passport or a travel document book for processing permanent resident cases
• This was because a vast majority of the cases of successful applicants had a permanent resident visa counterfoil affixed to their passport books
• However, officers no longer require to affix a visa counterfoil in these cases
• This is because:
• The United States of America has introduced the United States passport card and.
• The authorities have eliminated the use of counterfoils for approved permanent resident applicants from visa exempt countries, such as the United States of America etc.
• Therefore, officers might accept the United States passport card for processing purposes
• In this scenario, officers would need to use the passport card number and expiry date in the processing system
• United States officials have confirmed that they subject the passport card to the same verification and entitlement procedures as the United States passport book
• These instructions mentioned above however, do not preclude officers from requesting United States citizens for their United States passport book
• They would typically do this if they require further information such as the individual’s travel history etc.
• They might also request for the United States passport book for confirming the identification of the individual
• Usually, officers would request for the United States passport book to finalise the determination on an application

The Instructions for Applications for a Permanent Resident Card (PRC) and a Travel Document (Permanent Resident Abroad)

• Certain individuals typically need to go through two processes, such as:
• The Permanent Resident Card (PRC) application process and,
• The Travel document  (Permanent residents abroad)
• Both processes review whether the applicant continues to meet:
• The requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and,
• The regulations of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)
• They also review whether the applicant continues to meet all the prescribed residence requirements too
• In this scenario, applicants would need to submit copies of the following documents:
• Their passports and,
• Their travel documents
• In particular, these applicants would need to submit all the pages of the two documents listed above
• This is an important aspect of the application process as it enables the officers to go through the applicant’s travel history
• By examining the applicant’s travel history, the officers can assess the applicant’s compliance with the prescribed residency obligations
• Applicants would however, need to note that the United States passport card does not contain any details of their travel history
• Therefore, officers would need to continue requesting the applicants for a United States passport book
• The only exception to this would be cases where the officers are completely satisfied that the applicant continues to meet the prescribed residency requirements 

The Instructions for Applications for a Grant of Citizenship

• The local offices typically conduct a few checks during the citizenship application process
• They conduct these checks to ensure that the applicant meets:
• The requirements of the Citizenship Act and,
• The regulations of the Citizenship Act
• They also review whether the applicant continues to meet all the prescribed residence requirements too
• For these reasons, applicants would need to submit all passports and travel documents to officers
• In particular, applicants would need to submit these documents if they are relevant to the four-year period that precedes their citizenship applications
• Applicants would however, need to note that the United States passport card does not contain any details of their travel history
• Therefore, officers would need to refer to the United States passport card only for identification purposes
• Officers would need to stop accepting United States passport cards submitted in support of citizenship applications
• In addition, officers would need to request United States citizens to provide their United States passport books when processing their citizenship applications

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)