Re-entering Canada without PR Card, only CoPR and passport - by plane

[striker87]

thank you Bloodrose, canuck_in_uk and donnanne for responding so quickly! Yes I am def an over thinker, need to stop worrying about it. Will update you guys how it goes when I am back in 2 -3 weeks.

 

[evdm]

My understanding is that eTA, like ESTA, is only for air travel and technically doesn't apply to trains, ferries or buses. The official line is that you're supposed to have a PR card or PRTD to use a commercial land or sea carrier from the USA. A visa exempt tourist would only need a passport though.

You are correct. However, you cannot claim to be a tourist if you are a PR of Canada and a commercial carrier may ask for your status in Canada to satisfy their manifest. If a PR were to say that they were a tourist for manifest purposes and this then was used at all by the CBSA, the PR would technically have misrepresented themselves. It may not have any consequences because a PR will be let into Canada once it's established they are a PR, but it may slow things down and cause a headache for the traveller, or even the bus/train/ferry company.

 

[Imbees]

Hi so just checking if anyone had a recent experience with crossing the land border from Buffalo, US to Canada with just their Passport and COPR
I landed last month and my PR card is yet to arrive. I need to travel to the US this week for 2 weeks (I have a valid US visit visa stamped on my Pakistani passport) .. so my questions are:

1. Will I be fine boarding a flight from Toronto to Boston ?
2. On return, can I take a taxi (or a bus?) from Buffalo, US and cross the border in to Canada with just my Pakistani passport and signed COPR?

This is really important - I don't want to get stuck on my way back to Canada because I have to join a new job as soon as I get back!

So anyone who has actually done this recently or knows someone (with a similar background) who has done this..would appreciate your responses to help with this please?

It is totally fine. I went to Buffalo in March 2018 by road and I was able to cross the border back into Canada with my passport and COPR, no issues at all.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

You are correct. However, you cannot claim to be a tourist if you are a PR of Canada and a commercial carrier may ask for your status in Canada to satisfy their manifest. If a PR were to say that they were a tourist for manifest purposes and this then was used at all by the CBSA, the PR would technically have misrepresented themselves. It may not have any consequences because a PR will be let into Canada once it's established they are a PR, but it may slow things down and cause a headache for the traveller, or even the bus/train/ferry company.

Tellig a commercial carrier that you are a tourist when you are a PR is not misrepresentation and is not an issue.

 

[KLRKKLRK]

Hi guys.

Yesterday I received my Confirmation of Permanent Residence and now I am waiting for the PR card.

However, I would like to go to for vacation to my country (Poland) in July. It is approximately 2 months from now.

I was told that I cannot enter Canada with COPR so that means I have to wait till I get the PR card.

Following above, I have to questions to ask:

1) From people's experience, how long does that usually take to get PR card? Is 2 months enough or should I stress about it?

2) While getting COPR I was told that I could travel with this document, but in order to re-enter Canada I would have to visit the Canadian Embassy in Poland and ask for the temporary document (for PR status holders) that would allow me to enter Canada for that one time. Is it hard to get such document? I am just worried that I might not be allowed to re-enter...

Any replies for my questions will be highly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi guys.

Yesterday I received my Confirmation of Permanent Residence and now I am waiting for the PR card.

However, I would like to go to for vacation to my country (Poland) in July. It is approximately 2 months from now.

I was told that I cannot enter Canada with COPR so that means I have to wait till I get the PR card.

Following above, I have to questions to ask:

1) From people's experience, how long does that usually take to get PR card? Is 2 months enough or should I stress about it?

2) While getting COPR I was told that I could travel with this document, but in order to re-enter Canada I would have to visit the Canadian Embassy in Poland and ask for the temporary document (for PR status holders) that would allow me to enter Canada for that one time. Is it hard to get such document? I am just worried that I might not be allowed to re-enter...

Any replies for my questions will be highly appreciated. Thanks.

Hi

To confirm, have you actually landed as a PR?

1. Check the IRCC website processing times.

2. You can't travel on a COPR. If you don't have a PR card and need to fly to Canada, you need to apply for a PRTD. The other option would be to fly to the US and enter on foot or in a private car at a land border; this does not require a PR card or PRTD.

 

[canuck78]

Hi

To confirm, have you actually landed as a PR?

1. Check the IRCC website processing times.

2. You can't travel on a COPR. If you don't have a PR card and need to fly to Canada, you need to apply for a PRTD. The other option would be to fly to the US and enter on foot or in a private car at a land border; this does not require a PR card or PRTD.

Depending on the length of the trip and where they process prtds you may have to go through the US.

 

[sharmausct]

We are family of 4 and all 4 of us have PR valid till Feb 2020. We have two kids, one is 4 years and other is 6 years.

To meet 730 days RO, My wife and kids need to land until 29 May 2018 and I can land until 23 Sep 2018. I am planning to send my wife alone on or before 29 May and I will land with kids on or before 23 Sep 2018. But in this way, our kids will not meet RO.

If both parents meet RO but only kids miss RO then what are the chances of kids getting reported at the airport.?

If kids do get reported then what is the chance of winning an appeal?

If we loose appeal then can they force kids to leave Canada and to be separated from parents?

 

[canuck78]

We are family of 4 and all 4 of us have PR valid till Feb 2020. We have two kids, one is 4 years and other is 6 years.

To meet 730 days RO, My wife and kids need to land until 29 May 2018 and I can land until 23 Sep 2018. I am planning to send my wife alone on or before 29 May and I will land with kids on or before 23 Sep 2018. But in this way, our kids will not meet RO.

If both parents meet RO but only kids miss RO then what are the chances of kids getting reported at the airport.?

If kids do get reported then what is the chance of winning an appeal?

If we loose appeal then can they force kids to leave Canada and to be separated from parents?

Nobody can tell you. It takes one observant cbsa agent to notice. I would say the chances are likely lower but nobody can really tell you. If they could have arrived with the other parent and met the RO I am guessing the chances of appeal would be low. If you lose the appeal it would likely be faster to sponsor your kids again or you could apply for H&C. One step at a time. I do think it is much smarter to arrive this year versus arriving right before your PR cards expire. Your chances are much better that nobody will notice.

 

[KLRKKLRK]

Hi

To confirm, have you actually landed as a PR?

1. Check the IRCC website processing times.

2. You can't travel on a COPR. If you don't have a PR card and need to fly to Canada, you need to apply for a PRTD. The other option would be to fly to the US and enter on foot or in a private car at a land border; this does not require a PR card or PRTD.

Yes, I got my PR status while being here, in Canada.

I'm from Poland, we need to have visas to US.

I think the best option here would be to apply for PRTD when we go to Poland...

 

[KLRKKLRK]

Hi guys,

I have one question. Might be stupid but I got confused...

We just got COPR. As far as I understood the officer the PR cards will be sent to us via mail.

That's what I remember he told us.

Today I found an old document about PRs and there's sentence there that "after receiving your COPR you should see Service Canada and apply for your PR."

Now I'm really confused. I remember the officer telling us that we don't need to do anything but wait for PR cards.

Can anyone advise? I would have called CIC but it's Saturday and I'm stressed out cause we need to go abroad in 2 months and we might have problems with coming back

Any response will be highly appreciated.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi guys,

I have one question. Might be stupid but I got confused...

We just got COPR. As far as I understood the officer the PR cards will be sent to us via mail.

That's what I remember he told us.

Today I found an old document about PRs and there's sentence there that "after receiving your COPR you should see Service Canada and apply for your PR."

Now I'm really confused. I remember the officer telling us that we don't need to do anything but wait for PR cards.

Can anyone advise? I would have called CIC but it's Saturday and I'm stressed out cause we need to go abroad in 2 months and we might have problems with coming back

Any response will be highly appreciated.

Not sure what "old document" you are looking at. Service Canada has ZERO to do with immigration. You apply there for a SIN.

 

[KLRKKLRK]

Not sure what "old document" you are looking at. Service Canada has ZERO to do with immigration. You apply there for a SIN.

That is what I was thinking.

So, I'm assuming I understood the officer correctly and we are just waiting for PR cards.

 

[evdm]

That is what I was thinking.

So, I'm assuming I understood the officer correctly and we are just waiting for PR cards.

If, during your landing interview, you gave the officer an address in Canada to which the cards should be mailed, then you will receive them by mail at that address (usually) around 60 days from your landing.

If you couldn't give the officer an address in Canada, then you will have to apply on your own for PR cards which still can only be delivered or picked up in Canada.

To me, it sounds like you will receive the cards soon without having to do anything further.

 

[Darko986]

This is a message I got form IRCC on this issue:

Good day,

Thank you for contacting Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. As discussed, you will find below complementary information to our conversation:


Permanent residents outside Canada

If you are a permanent resident outside Canada and you are planning on returning to Canada:

• On a commercial carrier (plane, boat, train or bus):
  • please make sure to have a valid Permanent Resident card (PR card) in your possession,
• Aboard a private vehicle:
  • it is not necessary to have the PR card with you,
  • you can use one of the following immigration documents:
    • Record of Landing (IMM 1000), or
    • Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688).

If you are outside of Canada and do not have your PR card (or your card has expired):

• You may apply for Permanent resident travel document at a Canadian visa office before returning to Canada,
  • to ensure you are submitting a complete application, please consult the instruction guide.

If you are a new permanent resident of Canada, should you apply for a PR card?

• No, one will be sent to you automatically as part of the immigration process.