Crossing US-Canada Border without PR card

[TorontoKid7]

Hi All

I am a Canadian PR ( PR card expired in August 2024, didnt pay attention to renew immediately) for whom the PR renewal is in process. Incidentally, I had to travel to my birth country for an emergency ( surgery of a parent) and now I have to return to Canada without a valid PR card. Since I have a valid US visa, I am considering to travel via the buffalo land border with a rental car. Few questions for this plan.

1. Is it ok to rent a car from buffalo to enter Canada without a PR card or PRTD? I have health card, employment ID and lots of other documents to prove residency. Will the rental car be considered as a private vehicle? Is this a reliable way to return to Canada?
2. Other than my non Canadian passport, what should I share as my primary document for residency in the absence of the valid PR card?
3. Which route ( peace bridge or rainbow bridge etc), I should take if the scrutiny varies with different POE?
4. Should I anticipate any questions why I didnt apply for a PRTD for return? ( time delay is the only reason here since I have my fulltime employment)

Please help.

 

[armoured]

All my comments here on basis that you applied for PR card renewal without being out of compliance with the residency obligation, remain in compliance, and that you reside/work in Canada (full-time).

1. I believe so but it may be difficult to get a one-way rental. Or more expensive. If you cross by some other means you could get the rental in Canada.
2. Best is the expired PR card + copies of your PR card renewal application.
3. Doubt it matters.
4. Yes, they will probably ask, and you can just tell them the truth.

Overall you will probably be taken into secondary for additional questions, but if all as stated above, it should not be too much trouble. I'd show them the expired PR card first and state that you applied to renew your PR card already.

 

[steaky]

Hi All

I am a Canadian PR ( PR card expired in August 2024, didnt pay attention to renew immediately) for whom the PR renewal is in process. Incidentally, I had to travel to my birth country for an emergency ( surgery of a parent) and now I have to return to Canada without a valid PR card. Since I have a valid US visa, I am considering to travel via the buffalo land border with a rental car. Few questions for this plan.

1. Is it ok to rent a car from buffalo to enter Canada without a PR card or PRTD? I have health card, employment ID and lots of other documents to prove residency. Will the rental car be considered as a private vehicle? Is this a reliable way to return to Canada?
2. Other than my non Canadian passport, what should I share as my primary document for residency in the absence of the valid PR card?
3. Which route ( peace bridge or rainbow bridge etc), I should take if the scrutiny varies with different POE?
4. Should I anticipate any questions why I didnt apply for a PRTD for return? ( time delay is the only reason here since I have my fulltime employment)

Please help.

You could also take a taxi and walk across the rainbow bridge to the Canadian side.

 

[Sricand]

I can answer 1 based on recent experience. Yes, you can cross the land border using a one-way rental from Buffalo. Enterprise worked for me. Although the website was a bit unreliable at times- it showed no vehicles available many times I checked.. and one fine day, it showed vehicles for one-way rental (Enterprise US website worked and all prices were in USD).
I agree with Steaky here.. if you have minimal luggage, taking Lyft or Uber or other taxis from Buffalo Airport to Rainbow bridge might work as well..
Good luck!

 

[armoured]

I can answer 1 based on recent experience. Yes, you can cross the land border using a one-way rental from Buffalo. Enterprise worked for me. Although the website was a bit unreliable at times- it showed no vehicles available many times I checked.. and one fine day, it showed vehicles for one-way rental (Enterprise US website worked and all prices were in USD).

Was it much more expensive than just a regular rental / noticeably more expensive?

I used to see one-way rentals as quite expensive (and those were within Canada), but that may have changed or depend on company. Doesn't mean it doesn't make sense compared to alternatives, just curious.

 

[Sricand]

Was it much more expensive than just a regular rental / noticeably more expensive?

I used to see one-way rentals as quite expensive (and those were within Canada), but that may have changed or depend on company. Doesn't mean it doesn't make sense compared to alternatives, just curious.

Yes, definitely cross-border one way rentals are much more expensive..To put some numbers here, a 1 day rental for me costed 300 USD (including comprehensive insurance+toll charges). When I checked some taxi companies who ply between Buffalo to Toronto/GTA area (one-way), they charged around 330 CAD with waiting time charges like 30 CAD for 1 hr. Although the taxi is slightly cheaper, I took the rental car option as I did not know how long I need to wait at the CBSA office.

 

[armoured]

Yes, definitely cross-border one way rentals are much more expensive..To put some numbers here, a 1 day rental for me costed 300 USD (including comprehensive insurance+toll charges). When I checked some taxi companies who ply between Buffalo to Toronto/GTA area (one-way), they charged around 330 CAD with waiting time charges like 30 CAD for 1 hr. Although the taxi is slightly cheaper, I took the rental car option as I did not know how long I need to wait at the CBSA office.

That's not an outrageous price, given the cost of taxi and the uncertainty - but definitely a premium over regular car rental. Convenience has a price.

Obviously for those who want to 'do it yourself', the walk-across at the Falls and then whatever option from there to Toronto or wherever (there are shuttles for example) could save some money, but yep - less convenient.

 

[TorontoKid7]

Thanks to members who responded here specifically to @armoured. I crossed the buffalo -Ontario border last week through the rainbow bridge. Sharing the experience so that others can refer to it afterwards if needed. I checked with car rental @ buffalo airport and Enterprise and Alamo were ready for an one way rental to Toronto. $200 USD base rate per day + insurance. Price does come down to $190 per day if rented for 7 days or more. So I went for taxi outside the airport. They have a rate chart there and lots of taxis available. I mentioned a Niagara hotel in the Ontario side as my destination and also shared my situation that I am a PR but carrying expired PR card. One way charge is $95. Taxi driver confirmed that if I was denied entry and I wanna return to buffalo airport, it would cost me $95 X2 =$190.

As per @armoured 's suggestion, I carried a copy of my PR card renewal. So in the border, I handed over my expired PR card and the copy of my application for the PR card. I was told to come to the secondary for additional verifications. They took my passport, expired PR card, copy of the PR card renewal and advised to wait. So I waited there fully prepared to answer any additional questions. After 10 mins, one officer came out and asked how long I was out of the country and what all I was bringing to the country from the outside. I responded. And then he returned my documents and said "welcome back".

The taxi driver waited for me outside and once I was out, he dropped me off at the hotel. We didnt negotiate for any waiting charge beforehand so I tipped him well. Later, one of my friends picked me up from the hotel and dropped me home.