Awaiting PR Card - landed 30 Oct - Travelling in 3 weeks on honeymoon

[ashyboots]

Hi guys,
Totally stressed and not sure what to do. I landed 30 Oct (flagpolled thru Niagara) and am awaiting my PR card. So that is 63 days now. I am travelling to Thailand on my honeymoon on 18th Jan. I have just heard stories of PRs not getting back through on the new rules. Is there anything I can do?
Thanks in advance!

 

[ashyboots]

Also, after the flag poling - did I need to do an additional step of applying for PR card or is it automatic?

 

[Rob_TO]

At the flagpole landing, the CBSA officer should have taken the 1 copy of COPR with your photos on it and used that to apply automatically for your PR card. That being said, I'm not surprised if card processing is taking longer than usual over the holidays.

You don't have many options (assuming you do NOT hold a US passport) if your PR card doesn't come in time. Basically:
1. Delay travel until card arrives.
2. Travel without card, and apply for PR Travel Doc from local visa office that serves Thailand. Note this will involve mailing your passport, so you would be without passport until PR TD is approved and sent back to you.
3. Travel without card, but re-route your returning flight to a US city close to border. Then you can walk/drive into Canada via a land border. For this you don't need PR card or PR TD. Just your passport and COPR will suffice.

 

[ashyboots]

Thanks for your reply, yes they did take the form/photo - phew! Total mess because our trip is non refundable and was super expensive, very stupid on my part. We are only in each place in Thailand for 2 days! May have to do the re-routing thing as best backup option.