I was going through some of the VJ topics and found one that was interesting. When going through your POE to activate your visa, they actually keep your passport, then mail it to you later? I'll be going through Toronto airport, so what am I supposed to use as ID when I'm at the gate to board my plane? I have an OHIP card for me and my son, but I thought with everyone needing a passport to fly now, that I'd need my passport.

Mary

Nope, on my experience, they just stamped it, stapled the I-94 on it and returned it to me.

That would present a problem since you are required to have your passport to board. But, you will have already gone through ticketing and security by the time you reach the immigration people, so it's probably not a problem.

No, they dont keep ur passport! They will stamp it, and hand it back to you!

Hell no! I wouldn't let them keep my passport even if they did want to!

All they'll do is stamp it, staple your I-94 in, and maybe make a few jokes. It gets returned

Nope nope, never had to leave my passport at the POE either.

Heck NO!

NO!! I would have had some serious rage issues if they had wanted to keep my passport.

PfcsBaby,

Perhaps you're confusing some things - After the interview (and assuming you're approved) the Consulate/Embassy will (in most cases) keep your passport, then mail it to you (along with the infamous Do Not Open Envelope) - you get your passport and the 'sealed' envelope a short time later - your passport now contains your new Visa stamp.

No POE will take your passport away from you - they will however take the 'sealed' envelope.

They didn't keep Claudeth's

Ok this is the link of the topic I found on here, which is why I asked this question: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=74331

Thanks for all the help. Now I'm not so paranoid lol.

Mary

ya, they meant they keep it at the consulate and them mail it back to you before you can do the POE thing