back to Canada by car without PR card

[bluejayz]

Hello.
I live with my mother in Canada and study at university. My PR has expired but I am not qualified to renew it yet. I need another 12 months of residency in Canada. My mother has a valid PR card; and both of our citizenship applications are in process. Now I have make a relative visit to US with my mother. We will do it by car. How risky would it be to try to re-enter Canada by our car without a PR card but with my passport and COPR? I can submit supporting documents like my health card, university card, etc at the border if needed. What kind of a reason (about not having my PR card with me) should I mention to the CBSA officers so that they won't question my residency obligation? My visit to US is a MUST one; and I unfortunately have to make it. Thank you.

PS: I'm not from a visa-exempt country for Canada.

 

[rhcohen2014]

it is not necessary to use a pr card to enter canada as a visa exempt person (ie: us citizen). all you need is your passport and copr. it doesn't matter if you have your pr card or not. i doubt they will inquire, if they do, just tell them it is expired or you don't have it. they will be able to see your pr status when they scan your passport. not having your pr card isn't a big deal.

 

[bluejayz]

it is not necessary to use a pr card to enter canada as a visa exempt person (ie: us citizen). all you need is your passport and copr. it doesn't matter if you have your pr card or not. i doubt they will inquire, if they do, just tell them it is expired or you don't have it. they will be able to see your pr status when they scan your passport. not having your pr card isn't a big deal.

rhcohen2014 Thank you very much.
However I'm not from a visa-exempt country for Canada. I'll drive to US with a valid US visa in my passport. And I'm planning to drive back to Canada with my valid passport and COPR (and other documents). Can you kindly assess my situation again? Thank you.

 

[Suryak86]

Even if you are not a visa exempt country, you can still drive to the border and talk to a border agent. It is they who will decide if you will be accepted or Rejected. Also, having a COPR is fine and can be used to enter back into Canada.

 

[rhcohen2014]

rhcohen2014 Thank you very much.
However I'm not from a visa-exempt country for Canada. I'll drive to US with a valid US visa in my passport. And I'm planning to drive back to Canada with my valid passport and COPR (and other documents). Can you kindly assess my situation again? Thank you.

if you have a visa in your passport and your copr, you will be fine. for driving across the border, those are the only items needed. you do NOT need a pr card to cross the border by car.

 

[bluejayz]

if you have a visa in your passport and your copr, you will be fine. for driving across the border, those are the only items needed. you do NOT need a pr card to cross the border by car.

Thank you again rhcohen2014.
What is the "visa" you've mentioned above? Is it the IM-1 immigrant type visa I used while landing Canada?

 

[Rob_TO]

Hello.
I live with my mother in Canada and study at university. My PR has expired but I am not qualified to renew it yet. I need another 12 months of residency in Canada. My mother has a valid PR card; and both of our citizenship applications are in process. Now I have make a relative visit to US with my mother. We will do it by car. How risky would it be to try to re-enter Canada by our car without a PR card but with my passport and COPR? I can submit supporting documents like my health card, university card, etc at the border if needed. What kind of a reason (about not having my PR card with me) should I mention to the CBSA officers so that they won't question my residency obligation? My visit to US is a MUST one; and I unfortunately have to make it. Thank you.

PS: I'm not from a visa-exempt country for Canada.

As a PR you are guaranteed entry to Canada, even if you don't have PR card or it's expired when you arrive at the border. But if at the time you return to Canada you do not meet residency obligation, there is a chance that the CBSA officer you encounter will determine this and report you to CIC for not meeting RO. In that case you would need to have a hearing with CIC at a later date at which point they may decide to revoke your PR status unless you had some H&C reason to not meet RO.

 

[bluejayz]

As a PR you are guaranteed entry to Canada, even if you don't have PR card or it's expired when you arrive at the border. But if at the time you return to Canada you do not meet residency obligation, there is a chance that the CBSA officer you encounter will determine this and report you to CIC for not meeting RO. In that case you would need to have a hearing with CIC at a later date at which point they may decide to revoke your PR status unless you had some H&C reason to not meet RO.

Thank you Rob_TO.
I have a further question. How would the CBSA officer understand whether I meet RO or not? The stamps in my passport don't give a clue; furthermore I have my university and membership IDs, health card, etc with me.

 

[Rob_TO]

Thank you Rob_TO.
I have a further question. How would the CBSA officer understand whether I meet RO or not? The stamps in my passport don't give a clue; furthermore I have my university and membership IDs, health card, etc with me.

He can simply ask you questions to establish your residency. And if asked a direct question by CBSA on a material issue such as specific dates you were in or out of Canada, you better answer honestly. If they think you're lying they can also check your residence history based on entry/exit records from Canada and other countries.