Can I travel to canada on Visitor Visa, if I have failed to met my RO as a Permanent Resident?

[thisworks]

Experts, could someone help me with my situation?

I have a Visitor Visa that is valid until August 2025.
I am also a PR, landed in July 2018, but did not move to Canada, and so I am pretty sure my PR has expired.
I have lost my PR card while moving homes ( I know, I know, don't judge me! )
I have a US EAD/AP card

Now, I have a job interview in Canada, where they might hire me as a US-based consultant. For this I need to travel to Canada

• Can I travel to Canada from US using my Visitor Visa and/or expired COPR?

Thank you!

 

[scylla]

Experts, could someone help me with my situation?

I have a Visitor Visa that is valid until August 2025.
I am also a PR, landed in July 2018, but did not move to Canada, and so I am pretty sure my PR has expired.
I have lost my PR card while moving homes ( I know, I know, don't judge me! )
I have a US EAD/AP card

Now, I have a job interview in Canada, where they might hire me as a US-based consultant. For this I need to travel to Canada

• Can I travel to Canada from US using my Visitor Visa and/or expired COPR?

Thank you!

Your visitor visa was canceled in the system years ago once you became a PR. You cannot use that to travel. It's no longer valid.

You cannot use the COPR to fly to Canada.

You can enter Canada through a land border from the US using your COPR and a private vehicle. Be aware that it's possible CBSA could report you for failing to meet the residency requirement and move to officially revoke your PR status. However you'll certainly be allowed to enter.

 

[thisworks]

Your visitor visa was canceled in the system years ago once you became a PR. You cannot use that to travel. It's no longer valid.

Thanks for the quick reply Scylla, and thanks for the information. What do you suggest I should do to fly via an international flight? I am on the East coast and I have to go to Vancouver.

 

[thisworks]

Your visitor visa was canceled in the system years ago once you became a PR. You cannot use that to travel. It's no longer valid.

What if I show up for my flight using my Visitor Visa (there are no canceled markings on it)?

• How would the airline know it is not active?
• If I do get to Vancouver using this method, can I renounce my PR at POE and then enter using this visitor visa?

Thanks,

 

[scylla]

What if I show up for my flight using my Visitor Visa (there are no canceled markings on it)?

• How would the airline know it is not active?
• If I do get to Vancouver using this method, can I renounce my PR at POE and then enter using this visitor visa?

Thanks,
Varun

They look at their computers - not at what's in your passport. The TRV would have been canceled a long time ago and this will show in their systems. You won't be able to board the plane based on that TRV. So you won't get as far as Vancouver. You'll be stopped from boarding in the US.

You would need to renounce your PR status and then apply for a new TRV if you want to travel on a TRV. You would need to do this well in advance of flying.

 

[scylla]

Thanks for the quick reply Scylla, and thanks for the information. What do you suggest I should do to fly via an international flight? I am on the East coast and I have to go to Vancouver.

Fly to Seattle and then drive to Vancouver.

 

[thisworks]

Fly to Seattle and then drive to Vancouver.

Scylla, many many thanks for this great suggestion. Do you feel strongly that this is almost certain to work?

 

[scylla]

Scylla, many many thanks for this great suggestion. Do you feel strongly that this is almost certain to work?

A land border crossing? Yes, definitely. They will certainly let you in. They might start the process to officially revoke your PR status, however they will definitely let you in.

 

[thisworks]

Many thanks, Scylla!

 

[thisworks]

A land border crossing? Yes, definitely. They will certainly let you in. They might start the process to officially revoke your PR status, however they will definitely let you in.

An update here - I flew to Seattle and then drove to Vancouver. I was allowed into the country. Thanks, @scylla for your helpful suggestion.

 

[YVR123]

An update here - I flew to Seattle and then drove to Vancouver. I was allowed into the country. Thanks, @scylla for your helpful suggestion.

Did you get reported? Do you still plan to leave Canada and not trying to keep your PR?

 

[Copingwithlife]

An update here - I flew to Seattle and then drove to Vancouver. I was allowed into the country. Thanks, @scylla for your helpful suggestion.

Just shows once again how inept border services really are
No surprise there

 

[thisworks]

Did you get reported? Do you still plan to leave Canada and not trying to keep your PR?

I am not sure if I was reported or not. I am working at a Canadian business in US now, so my residency obligation may actually have been met.

 

[thisworks]

Just shows once again how inept border services really are
No surprise there

Why are they inept? Am I not a Canadian PR until I renounce it or until it is taken away? Do I not have a landing record to prove that I am a PR? What law did they not follow?

I feel you are just jealous and envious.... that too of a stranger on the internet. Get a life dude.

 

[scylla]

I am not sure if I was reported or not. I am working at a Canadian business in US now, so my residency obligation may actually have been met.

You would know if you were reported. So if you're not sure, then you can assume you weren't reported.

Note that in order to count time spent working outside of Canada for a Canadian business towards RO, you must first be hired for a role in Canada and work in that job for a while before being transferred to a temporary role with their operations outside of Canada. If you were hired directly into the role outside of Canada, this unfortunately won't count.