According to the Canadian Immigration Agency regulations, Canadian permanent residents who hold maple leaf cards can apply for travel documents () for Canadian permanent residents to return to Canada if they live overseas but the maple leaf card expires. Over the past few days, some Canadian immigrants have been worried about their visas because they have turned down travel documents for permanent residents. The latest data shows that in January 2016, Chinese maple leaf holders submitted 331 travel documents applications, of which 308 were approved, while the pass rate rose to 95%.

1. The rejection rate of Chinese people who applied for Canadian permanent residents' travel documents was once very high

According to statistics from the Canadian Immigration Agency, in 2014, there were 22,628 applications for travel documents for permanent residents in Canada around the world, of which 15,190 were approved, 6,777 refused, and 661 applications, second only to 69% of them. In 2012 and 2013, the application approval rates were 76% and 71% respectively.

Data show that applicants for travel documents for permanent residents in Canada mainly come from the Asia-Pacific region, while applicants with higher visa rates mainly come from China. Taking 2014 as an example, Chinese maple leaf card holders submitted 4,720 travel documents, of which 1,995 were rejected, with a pass rate of only 56%. Among them, the Beijing Visa Office rejected 1,364 people, while 478 people were rejected by Shanghai. In addition, the passing rates in Hong Kong and Taiwan, China were only 45% and 30% respectively. In the Asia-Pacific region, the passing rates of Indian and Philippine applicants are higher, at 69% and 89% respectively.

However, according to the latest data from the Canadian Federal Immigration Agency, the situation has improved significantly in 2015: Chinese maple leaf card holders have submitted 2,888 applications for travel documents, 2,542 approvals, only 303 were rejected, and another 148 were Withdrawal, 148 copies were withdrawn. With the approval rate, it rose to 89%, the highest level in recent years; the pass rates for Indian and Filipino applicants were 84% and 97% respectively during the same period.

2. Why do people with Canadian maple leaf cards reject their travel documents?

Generally speaking, if the Canadian maple leaf card expires, it means visa officials think they can still retain their permanent resident status in Canada; otherwise, they don’t think they are eligible for issuing the maple leaf card. The Canadian federal government issued a new policy in 2014, which requires stricter requirements for reissueing maple leaf cards, and applicants must attach at least one tax bill in Canada.

Among them, one of the main reasons why Canadian permanent residents travel documents are rejected is that the applicant has not lived in Canada for 2 years within 5 years and does not have enough humane and sympathy. In fact, Canadian travel visas are better suited for those expired or lost maple leaf cards but are still eligible for permanent residents in Canada. Many Chinese with maple leaf cards have businesses and families in their original residence, so they live outside Canada all year round, which can easily lead to insufficient time in Canada.

However, not all maple leaf cards expire abroad need to worry that they may not be able to return to Canada. Some Canadian immigrants in special cases, such as Canadian citizens outside Canada, or being sent abroad by Canadian companies to work abroad, are not subject to the minimum residency period, so there is no need to worry about this issue.