PR Card is Expired. Flying to IRL, returning Jan 2020. Issues?

[IrishApplicant]

Hi,

My Irish family has bought myself and my 7 yr daughter return flights December 25th, to Ireland, as a surprise Christmas gift (my wife and our baby son are on coming also, separate flight).

I've been PR since 2010. My card expired and because I rarely need it and even more rarely travel outside Canada, I had simply forgotten.

Naturally, this is WAYYY last minute and PR renewal takes 26 days minimum.

I've left Canada at most 6 days in the last 6 years. I'm an experienced, veteran professional in Film/TV , I meet/exceed all PR criteria and have no criminal/legal issues. My wife is Canadian as are our 2 children. We are a single income family (mine).

MITIGATION ATTEMPTS:

• I've paid the renewal fee and will post the application today (Dec 22).
• I will have the fee reciept
• I will have a photocopy of the entire application
• I will have a notarised consent form from my Wife to travel with daughter
• I will have notarised letters from my Canadian relatives
• I will have letters from my Iirish Mother, father and brothers attesting to the visit
• I will have Tax Assesments from last 6+ years
• I will have proof of address (bank bill, credit card bill, pay stubs)
• I will have proof of funds (bank statement)
• I will have a print-out of my personal website (used for work)
• I will have my updated resume
• I will have photos of myself and my family (digital, on my phone & a folder of printed ones)
• I will have my OHIP card (fwiw)
• I will have my (valid) Irish passport
• I will have my (expired) PR card
• I will have my kids birth certs
• I MIGHT have our Ontario marriage certificate, depends on arrival before my flight

So.. how screwed am I when I try to return - if I take the flight to Ireland?
What else can I do to mitigate this situation?

Conor

 

[Bs65]

You need a valid PR card or a PRTD to even board a plane back to Canada from Ireland there is no alternative.. You could show all of the proof above but will make no difference to the airline checkin, no PR card or PRTD then no board.

The latter could take a week to get could be longer no way to predict. Alternatively coming back via the US border assuming you can get an ESTA to travel back via the US you can show your expired card to CBSA at the land border

You probably have your reasons but after 6 years as a PR could have helped in hindsight if you had already applied for and obtained citizenship.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/travelling-outside-canada-pr.html

 

[IrishApplicant]

Thanks for the reply!

I can not re-enter as a Irish citizen?

My return flight is direct Dublin - Toronto.

A PTRD via Dublin is possible.
I can begin work on it from here (Toronto).
I will be in IRL for 14 days, and will attempt to get an appointment as early as possible (via applying from here, before travel).

 

[IrishApplicant]

Damn, just realized this is the US--> Canada forum.

I'm Irish, so I'm not sure if that changes anything (Commonwealth makes it easier?)

 

[Copingwithlife]

Damn, just realized this is the US--> Canada forum.

I'm Irish, so I'm not sure if that changes anything (Commonwealth makes it easier?)

Being from a commonwealth country going to a commonwealth country is irrelevant, you require a PRTD if you’re going on a flight from Ireland to Canada

 

[IrishApplicant]

Thank you, grasping at straws... :/

re PRTD, an advice?

 

[zardoz]

Thanks for the reply!

I can not re-enter as a Irish citizen?

My return flight is direct Dublin - Toronto.

A PTRD via Dublin is possible.
I can begin work on it from here (Toronto).
I will be in IRL for 14 days, and will attempt to get an appointment as early as possible (via applying from here, before travel).

You can't apply before you travel. You must apply from the country you are visiting. This is why :
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-5529-applying-permanent-resident-travel-document.html

Important information:

You must send your original, valid passport. We need this to attach your Permanent Resident Travel Document.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/pr-travel-document/eligibility.html

Eligibility
You can apply for a permanent resident travel document if you:

• are a permanent resident,
• do not have a valid PR card showing your PR status,
• are outside Canada, and
• will return to Canada by airplane, boat, train or bus.

 

[scylla]

Damn, just realized this is the US--> Canada forum.

I'm Irish, so I'm not sure if that changes anything (Commonwealth makes it easier?)

As others have said, you need a PRTD to return - your passport is not sufficient and the airline will not let you board. You cannot apply for a PRTD in advance. You have to wait until you are outside of the country to apply.

 

[IrishApplicant]

Figured :/

It's hard to find processing times for the VACs, Dublin in particular. Is there an "express" or "urgent" processing available, generally?

 

[scylla]

Figured :/

It's hard to find processing times for the VACs, Dublin in particular. Is there an "express" or "urgent" processing available, generally?

There is no urgent processing stream - however you can certainly ask that they process it on an urgent basis when you submit the application. Impossible for any of us to say what that will mean in terms of processing times - especially given you'll be submitting the application at a time of year with increased vacations / absences. Best you can do is get your application in on the 27th and hope for the best.

Alternative would be to re-route your return flight through the US and re-enter Canada by land.

Make sure you keep your PR card valid in the future or get citizenship to avoid putting yourself in this kind of situation aain. Valid travel documents are very important.

 

[IrishApplicant]

Thank you.

My return flight (with my daughter) is the 8th Jan. I'm very certain my mum wont mind adjusting my date if the PRTD is not ready/delayed!

Entering by US is possible, but is a flight change, plus then travel from, say, NY to the border *uuggggghhhhh* then processing then travel to Toronto ***aiwuebfuaberukjvberbve****

Better to hold in IRL, I suspect. At least free board.

Is there some indication of average processing times for PRTDs? Weeks/Months ?

Absolutely true about travel docs. Sometimes a gift, however lovely, can spawn a host of stress..

Separate Note - re the PRTD process:
"good quality photocopies (minimum 300 dpi) from your current and previous passports for the last 5 years, including

• all pages with visas
• all pages with stamps
• all pages with your biographical data (name, date of birth, passport number), including your photo"

I don't have my previous passports, I handed them to be destroyed.

 

[scylla]

Thank you.

My return flight (with my daughter) is the 8th Jan. I'm very certain my mum wont mind adjusting my date if the PRTD is not ready/delayed!

Entering by US is possible, but is a flight change, plus then travel from, say, NY to the border *uuggggghhhhh* then processing then travel to Toronto ***aiwuebfuaberukjvberbve****

Better to hold in IRL, I suspect. At least free board.

Is there some indication of average processing times for PRTDs? Weeks/Months ?

Absolutely true about travel docs. Sometimes a gift, however lovely, can spawn a host of stress..

Separate Note - re the PRTD process:
"good quality photocopies (minimum 300 dpi) from your current and previous passports for the last 5 years, including

• all pages with visas
• all pages with stamps
• all pages with your biographical data (name, date of birth, passport number), including your photo"

I don't have my previous passports, I handed them to be destroyed.

PRTD processing times seem to be unique to locations. Some seem to take longer than others. If your application is very straight-foward, a week is doable - although again complicated by the fact that you are applying at a time when there are more vacation days and absences. Average processing times aren't posted to the best of my knowledge. We have seen a few instances here where PRTDs have taken a couple of months to process - but this is unusual. IMO plan for 2 weeks and hope for 1.

For future reference, if your country allows, always best to keep your old passports vs. having them destroyed. I've needed my old passports for three different application processes this year alone (and none of this was for Canada - I am Canadian by birth). Hopefully your current passport is several years old now and you're not missing much from the last five years by not having your old passports.

 

[IrishApplicant]

Thank you. I do appreciate all the good advice and patience.

You folks are great

 

[scylla]

Thank you. I do appreciate all the good advice and patience.

You folks are great

Good luck - hope it works out and you get home on time.

 

[IrishApplicant]

Silly question - but, the photos I submit with the PRTD application - must they be taken in Ireland? Or can I use ones I get done here in Toronto, before travelling?