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16 July 2014

Passport Submission at Canada Visa Application Center (CVAC) Experience

Now is the start of my preparation for my Moving to Canada or shall I say Migrate to Canada.

After receiving the Visa Approval letter from the Canadian Embassy in Manila, I was instructed to submit the required documents to the High Commission of Canada in Singapore.  

It's a bit confusing at my part because the Canadian Embassy in Manila has been processing my documents and medicals, but as for the submission of passports, they handed it over to the High Commission of Canada in Singapore.

Anyway, it's their rules and I should just follow it.  I was instructed to prepare the following documents.
  • Original Passports for me and all my accompanying dependents
  • Appendix A - a tabular form that was included in the letter, which I need to indicate all our passport details and other information.
  • Photos (2) pieces passport size - this is specified in the Appendix B, which is also included in the letter.
  • Although the letter itself was not included in the list, better bring it along.  They need it.
I was given 30 days to submit the requirements or else my application will be refused.

Where I Submitted the Required Documents?
It was a perfect timing when I went to Philippines for a vacation because I was given an opportunity to get the passports of my dependents and our photos.

The letter states that I need to submit all the required documents at the Canada Visa Application Center (CVAC). So, I researched the center's location in Singapore. I got these information:


Canada Visa Application Center

20 Cecil St.
#11-02 to 05 Equity Plaza
Singapore 049705



My Experience at the Canada Visa Application Center
Lucky enough that I was given a free time and a chance to go to the Canada Visa Application Center (CVAC).

The night before that, I prepared all the required documents to avoid panic on the next day of submission.

As instructed on the letter, I did the following:
  • Organized the passports according to age (principal appicant to my youngest son).  Removed the plastic covers, left it bare.
  • Placed 2 photos inside a small envelope for each of the dependents and labeled with the details below.  I have a total of 4 envelopes.
Application Number
Name of the Photo Owner
  • Filled up the appendix A and placed the following information at the top left most part of the document.
Name of Applicant
Application Number
Return Address
Contact Number/s
  • Inserted all the documents inside a big envelope for easy handling to CVAC. 
The next day, I prepared the things as early as I can.  Took the MRT GREEN line and alighted at Raffles Place MRT Station.

I followed the way to EXIT E, which is going to the Equity Plaza building.  This is how it looks like standing outside the exit.

Way to Equity Plaza Building
I crossed the D'almeida St. heading to the brown building.  The Equity Plaza is at the next building.

Walked the isle heading to Equity Plaza
I walked pass through the isle going to the Equity Plaza building and saw this entrance.

Entrance of Equity Plaza
 At the right side of the building, there's a small entrance leading to the lobby.

Equity Plaza Building (Canada Visa Application Center) Lobby

At the lobby, the guard asked for my Identification Card (IC) for their recording.  Then he pressed the button to open the gate.

I proceeded to the 11th floor and found few people at the entrance.  The guard at the entrance instructed me to turn off the cellphone and checked my body with a metal detector.  Then he gave me a queuing number.

I went into a small room, labeled VFS Canada Visa Application Center.  There are only two counters because of the room size.

The lady called my number and asked me about my purpose.  After telling her the reason, she instructed me to produce all the documents and asked me to wait for a while.

After 5 minutes, she stamped stickers on each passports and the letter.  Then she asked me to pay for the 4 passports and also offered me if I prefer to collect personally or use the service of a courier.

They also have an SMS service where they will inform the customer about the status of the passport though text message.

For me, I'd rather collect it personally to avoid conflict of time at my house and at least the passports are secured at their premises.

I did not avail of the SMS service since I can check the status online.

Each passport costs SGD32.85.  So I paid a total of S$131.40 for the four of us.  The lady informed me that the process takes 3-5 days if no problem arises.  The whole process took around 30 minutes to finish.

This is it, I need to prepare for our airline tickets.  Follow me by checking my blog from time to time.  I will post the status of each procedures until I reach Canada.

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If you have any questions regarding this post, you can leave a comment below or email me at benalagnam@yahoo.com.

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If you want to know more about my life in Singapore, visit my blog at BenAlagnam.com

How much you need to prepare for the applications, visit EXPENSES.

Check on what are the documents you need to prepare and more info on RESOURCES


11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the sharing, very informative indeed! We are, however, bend on the decision to go to Calgary , Alberta, perhaps we will change our mind again.

I got my credentials validated by WES but the report online only showed credentials for one certificate, my diploma certificate was misplaced and the school does not do a reprint. I requested for a lost of certificate statement and attached a letter explaining why. The online report only showed credentials equivalency for my degree, will the diploma credentials ber verified in another report or the same one?

Ben Alagnam said...

For my two degrees, they wrote it together in one report.

Anonymous said...

Congrats sir. but what do you mean about the the lady asking you to pay for the 4 passports?

Ben Alagnam said...

The lady is the cashier and you need to pay $32.85 for each passport. This is for there handling fee.

Anonymous said...

I see. Thanks. Is that a standard fee or it's just you're in Singapore?

Ben Alagnam said...

This is the standard fee in Singapore CVAC.

Unknown said...

Thanks, So does it mean that aside from Processing fee and Right of Permanent Residence Fee, there's another one. Would you know what fee is this called? Shouldn't this be included in your list of expenses also? :) I'm just wondering if this is the case for other visa offices..

Hope you wont be tired answering questions.. You're a big help to our fellow FSW 2014 applicants.. :)
Thanks and Godbless..

Ben Alagnam said...

Yes, this is the fee for availing there service. I had included it, just below the tabulated expenses, under passport visa stamping.

I'm not sure if it's the standard for Philippines.

Unknown said...

Hi. The Visa officer asked me to send my passport to CVAC for stamping as my PR Application has been approved and told me if I can fly to Canada on of before of Sept. 17th I said yes. They sent me email for instructions to follow on how to send my passort to CVAC and it has heading letter URGENT. So I sent my passport to CVAC Manila and they received it yesterday. I am hoping that they'll get back to me before weekend or earlier next week as I was instructed to leave the Phils. 17th of Sept cos if not I have to do another medical test and re apply.

In your expercience is it posible that I can have my passport and visa before 17th? Thanks a lot!

Ben Alagnam said...

Hi, CVAC Singapore gave us back our passport a month after sending it to them. Maybe the URGENT heading may be useful to hasten the issuance of your passport.

By the way, the VISA expiration is mostly based on the date of your Medical.

Unknown said...

10th Sept. 2015 when I do my Medical. Hope I can have the passport and visa before 17th Sept. Thanks a lot. It is very helpful.

Ben Alagnam - MeMovingToCanada