How do I know if I'm still a PR?

[RocketCity]

So I became a Canadian PR in 2015. I got my American PR/GC in 2017. I visited Canada as a tourist on 2018. I crossed the border at Niagara Falls and presented my Canadian PR since it hadn't yet expired. The CBSA officer asked if I knew about my residency obligations. I said, yes, but I also said I had no intention to maintain my Canada PR. He waved me on through without reporting me. Or at least none that I know of. He was actually pretty friendly. Fast forward to 2023. I crossed into Canada as a tourist through the Blaine, WA crossing on the way Vancouver. I had expected to be reported, but I wasn't. Was it perhaps because I presented my US Green Card (as my Canadian PR card was no longer valid)? I visited Canada again as a tourist in this year. I crossed the Eastport, ID crossing on the way to Alberta. Again, I presented my US Green Card and no mention of the PR residency obligations. Now, I'm curious. Did I actually lose my Canadian PR in 2018? The CBSA officer has to give me documents if I were reported, correct? I'm somewhat confused on my status.

 

[armoured]

Did I actually lose my Canadian PR in 2018? The CBSA officer has to give me documents if I were reported, correct? I'm somewhat confused on my status.

Chances are 99% that you did not lose it then, basically because the CBSA officer didn't want to do the paperwork.

And since then, either others haven't noticed, or it hasn't linked to your file correctly, or they also haven't bothered. (In theory the green card SHOULD have thrown a match just by name and DOB - but also possible there's a glitch in the matrix).

Note that you probably would have the issue come up if you tried to get a clearance to board a plane, i.e. you'd be denied an ETA.

If you never try to fly here, at some point a border officer might actually fill out the report, or hand you a renunciation form to complete in front of them.

Or they'd just continue as is and just assume it's not much bothering anyone and they have other border-type duties to do that they think are way cooler than catching stray PRs who have no intention of doing anything in canada except buying more expensive petrol.

 

[RocketCity]

Chances are 99% that you did not lose it then, basically because the CBSA officer didn't want to do the paperwork.

And since then, either others haven't noticed, or it hasn't linked to your file correctly, or they also haven't bothered. (In theory the green card SHOULD have thrown a match just by name and DOB - but also possible there's a glitch in the matrix).

Note that you probably would have the issue come up if you tried to get a clearance to board a plane, i.e. you'd be denied an ETA.

If you never try to fly here, at some point a border officer might actually fill out the report, or hand you a renunciation form to complete in front of them.

Or they'd just continue as is and just assume it's not much bothering anyone and they have other border-type duties to do that they think are way cooler than catching stray PRs who have no intention of doing anything in canada except buying more expensive petrol.

Actually, I don't think GC holders even require an ETA anymore:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/facts.html

Travellers who are exempt from the eTA requirement.

• U.S. citizens are exempt from the eTA requirement and must carry proper identification such as a valid U.S. passport.
• Lawful permanent residents of the United States who hold valid status in the U.S. are exempt from the eTA requirement.
  • They must carry official proof of status (or an equivalent status document) and a valid passport from their country of nationality (or an equivalent travel document).
  • See the complete list of documents for lawful permanent residents of the U.S.

Complete list of acceptable status documents for lawful permanent residents of the U.S.
See the complete list of eTA exceptions.

 

[armoured]

Actually, I don't think GC holders even require an ETA anymore:

Right, I'd forgotten about that.

I honestly do not know whether the system by which CBSA provides 'no board' instructions to airlines (based on docs and hits against databases) would catch your situation.

 

[Saunders115]

I hope you have got it sorted. I am in a similar position, as my family went to St John’s when I was 1 years old in 1975. We returned back to the UK in 1981. I applied for a eTA and was denied. The reason being I may or may not have PR status. I want to go back on holiday and show my family where I used to live but I don’t now what to do. I have tried asking immigration but they said they can’t help!! Can anyone shed some light on what to do. Thanks in advance.

 

[scylla]

I hope you have got it sorted. I am in a similar position, as my family went to St John’s when I was 1 years old in 1975. We returned back to the UK in 1981. I applied for a eTA and was denied. The reason being I may or may not have PR status. I want to go back on holiday and show my family where I used to live but I don’t now what to do. I have tried asking immigration but they said they can’t help!! Can anyone shed some light on what to do. Thanks in advance.

Submit an application to formally renounce your PR status. Once that is processed, apply for an eTA.

 

[Saunders115]

Submit an application to formally renounce your PR status. Once that is processed, apply for an eTA.

Thank you so much for the fast response, have a great day

 

[steaky]

Thank you so much for the fast response, have a great day

Hope you still have your IMM 1000.

 

[RocketCity]

I went to Vancouver this Thanksgiving (American) break. I was let through without incident again. The only warning I received was that if I wanted to go to Whistler, I'd need snow tires (I do have them).

 

[Copingwithlife]

I went to Vancouver this Thanksgiving (American) break. I was let through without incident again. The only warning I received was that if I wanted to go to Whistler, I'd need snow tires (I do have them).

And ?

Did you renounce your PR ?

 

[YVR123]

I went to Vancouver this Thanksgiving (American) break. I was let through without incident again. The only warning I received was that if I wanted to go to Whistler, I'd need snow tires (I do have them).

It's likely that CBSA didn't even check if he's a PR because he's a green card holder...

 

[Qbcstlr]

I am in a similar situation. Did you fly to Vancouver or travelled by road? I have a US passport. Will there be an issue if I fly up there to attend a business conference for 5 days and come back?

 

[armoured]

I am in a similar situation. Did you fly to Vancouver or travelled by road? I have a US passport. Will there be an issue if I fly up there to attend a business conference for 5 days and come back?

Those PR holders with US passports (unlike those with other passports) can board a flight without a problem, and once at the port of entry, a PR can't be denied entry.

They might ask questions about your PR status and even write you up for non-compliance, but you'll be let into the country for your conference.

It's also quite possible they'll just give you a warning and/or tell you that you should renounce or deal with yhour PR status, but no guarantees.

 

[Qbcstlr]

Those PR holders with US passports (unlike those with other passports) can board a flight without a problem, and once at the port of entry, a PR can't be denied entry.

They might ask questions about your PR status and even write you up for non-compliance, but you'll be let into the country for your conference.

It's also quite possible they'll just give you a warning and/or tell you that you should renounce or deal with yhour PR status, but no guarantees.

Thank you for your response. I need to fly into Toronto. I know in Toronto airport they have eGates there which US passport holders can use. Any idea if the questions in the kiosk can detect past Canadian PR status even if that was granted when I was citizen of a different country? So my US citizenship/passport was never linked to my Canadian PR. The PR card expired back in 2018.

 

[armoured]

Thank you for your response. I need to fly into Toronto. I know in Toronto airport they have eGates there which US passport holders can use. Any idea if the questions in the kiosk can detect past Canadian PR status even if that was granted when I was citizen of a different country? So my US citizenship/passport was never linked to my Canadian PR. The PR card expired back in 2018.

It can detect your PR status, in the sense of matching your data to the profile of you-as-PR; I do not know if it will. As far as anyone knows the main matching criteria is just name/DOB. (Whether a match means you get pulled in to secondary - also don't know, I'd guess not 100%)

I will say this - if you're asked if you're a PR, in writing or verbally, I'd suggest tell the truth. It may not be a formal violation of law to not disclose when asked, but they can make things more difficult if they choose to - and lying tends to annoy them. IMO.

It's also possible they'll just let you through with no questions of substance.