Enter Canada via land border using COPR

[Since1864]

Hi there,

I've heard that you can use your COPR to enter canada via US-CAN land border while waiting for your first PR card. However, I couldn't find any information on IRCC about using COPR to enter canada in private car.

Would someone be able to share the link for this?

Thanks

 

[armoured]

Yes, you can.

You can look in forum here, it's hard to find - govt does NOT advertise that travelling with anything less than current PR card works. But it does. By law, they 'shall' (legal for must) let someone in who 'satisfies' the border officer that they are a PR. In practice, they take your UCI#, national passport and other ID and look it up in a database to confirm.

 

[Ponga]

Hi there,

I've heard that you can use your COPR to enter canada via US-CAN land border while waiting for your first PR card. However, I couldn't find any information on IRCC about using COPR to enter canada in private car.

Would someone be able to share the link for this?

Thanks

This is from IRCC's ENF 23 manual:

7.8 Examining permanent residents at a POE When a permanent resident appears at a POE for examination, the officer must confirm that the person is a permanent resident. Officers must remain cognizant of the fact that the Act gives permanent residents of Canada the right to enter Canada at a port of entry once it is established that a person is a permanent resident, regardless of non-compliance with the residency obligation in A28 or the presence of other grounds of inadmissibility. Port of entry (POE) officers can refuse entry to a permanent resident only when the person has already lost the status in accordance with the provisions of A46 (such as when a final determination has been made that they have failed to comply with the residency obligations or when a removal order comes into force). In other words, once a permanent resident’s status is established, the person may enter Canada by right and the immigration examination under IRPA concludes.

 

[gear9]

Any recent experiences? I called Border Control and they mentioned it will be up to the discretion of the border agent at time of entry.

 

[armoured]

Any recent experiences? I called Border Control and they mentioned it will be up to the discretion of the border agent at time of entry.

Same quesiton in multiple threads. Answered elsehwere.

 

[nwo4lyf]

Any recent experiences? I called Border Control and they mentioned it will be up to the discretion of the border agent at time of entry.

I think that's what they're legally obligated to say, but you'll be fine. I recently went through my first landing by road, and the border official there told me I can use the passport + signed CoPR to cross the border by land anytime.

 

[armoured]

I think that's what they're legally obligated to say

I don't know about legally but it is clearly their policy to only say this on the phone (at least most of the time).

I believe this is for the obvious reason that they never, ever want to get in the argument at the border that "well on the phone they told me X." Because agents on the phone can never be sure they're being told the whole story, or that the person they're speaking with makes sense, and at any rate - it's just a phone conversation, almost always anonymous, too.

So they make sure the agents on the phone always (or at least whenever possible) say it's up to the agent at the border to decide. They are the only ones who are facing the facts of a real live case and person.

And of course, they technically can decide. They can decide the documents look fake, or the person carrying them does not appear to be the person on the documents themselves, or that there's a criminal situation, etc etc etc etc.

But see above: without an EXTREMELY good reason they do not refuse someone at border who appears to be Canadian (PR or citizen).

 

[gear9]

Any recent experiences? I called Border Control and they mentioned it will be up to the discretion of the border agent at time of entry.

Update for others searching through this thread. I was able to cross into Canada from US through land PoE with COPR & my passport.

 

[armoured]

I am gobsmacked at why this is so hard. Why can't a fucking border officer just take your ECOPR letter, look at your UCI, verify those details with your passport and... does anything more need to be said?
...
And it's useless as a tit on a bull!! Because it's NOT a travel document and there is no confidence any of us can use it to enter Canada. Instead, you need a PRTD, WHAT IS THE POINT!??!?!?!

Did you read the post immediately above?

Update for others searching through this thread. I was able to cross into Canada from US through land PoE with COPR & my passport.

There should be complete confidence you can cross with your COPR / eCOPR (caveat: assuming completed copr, i.e. after first landing), as long as you have sufficient ID (photo id, passport, etc) to confirm you-are-you.

PRTD is needed for different purpose, to board a plane.

With the border officers, this (" just take your ECOPR letter, look at your UCI, verify those details with your passport") is exactly what they do.

 

[Joe110]

Hi All,

After following through the above and related threads, for doing a soft landing to Canada from US, I got a few understandings. However, there are few queries, hoping if someone is in similar state could help -


1. I am planning to do a soft landing to Canada from New York. Has anyone done that from NY? Which border did you go via?
2. I am planning to go by bus, boarding it in NY, and getting down at the border, getting my COPR processed and then walk into Canada and stay for few days.
3. On my way back to US from Canada, is there any further border requirement to be fulfilled besides proof for US and passports?

Anyone who has been in this stance or planning to, your inputs would be very highly appreciated.

Thanks, and Best to you,
Joe

 

[armoured]

Hi All,

After following through the above and related threads, for doing a soft landing to Canada from US, I got a few understandings. However, there are few queries, hoping if someone is in similar state could help -


1. I am planning to do a soft landing to Canada from New York. Has anyone done that from NY? Which border did you go via?
2. I am planning to go by bus, boarding it in NY, and getting down at the border, getting my COPR processed and then walk into Canada and stay for few days.
3. On my way back to US from Canada, is there any further border requirement to be fulfilled besides proof for US and passports?

Anyone who has been in this stance or planning to, your inputs would be very highly appreciated.

Thanks, and Best to you,
Joe

If you have a COPR (eg with the visa or ETA), you can fly - for your first landing. The issue is that the COPR is not valid to board a plane on subsequent trips, and that's what's being discussed above.

 

[Joe110]

If you have a COPR (eg with the visa or ETA), you can fly - for your first landing. The issue is that the COPR is not valid to board a plane on subsequent trips, and that's what's being discussed above.

So, 1) if I prefer to land via flight, it would not impact my situation as I am doing a soft landing, is that correct?
2) If I prefer the flight again to come back to US from Canada, will there be any caveat in that?

 

[armoured]

So, 1) if I prefer to land via flight, it would not impact my situation as I am doing a soft landing, is that correct?
2) If I prefer the flight again to come back to US from Canada, will there be any caveat in that?

1) Yes, no issue. In some respects I think airport first landings easier, at least in that more common. (But this is just my impression, certainly you can get delays at them too).

Important caveat: I don't know your nationality and what other documents you have. You should have either a visa you were issued with the COPR, OR - if you're from a visa waiver country - an ETA. That'll be enough to board your plane.

2) Not that I'm aware of, but dependent - of course - on what the Americans will expect of you.

 

[annwlenox]

Hi there,

I've heard that you can use your COPR to enter canada via US-CAN land border while waiting for your first PR card. However, I couldn't find any information on IRCC about using COPR to enter canada in private car.

Would someone be able to share the link for this?

Thanks

Yes, it is possible to enter Canada with a COPR in a private car. However, it is important that you have the appropriate supporting documents, as well as an up-to-date copy of your COPR and/or PR Card. According to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website, they need proof of a valid passport, COPR or PR Card, valid visa (if applicable), and proof of citizenship. Additionally, the vehicle must be registered to the permanent resident. It is also recommended to have proof of means of financial support and your travel itinerary handy.

 

[Ponga]

Yes, it is possible to enter Canada with a COPR in a private car. However, it is important that you have the appropriate supporting documents, as well as an up-to-date copy of your COPR and/or PR Card. According to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website, they need proof of a valid passport, COPR or PR Card, valid visa (if applicable), and proof of citizenship. Additionally, the vehicle must be registered to the permanent resident. It is also recommended to have proof of means of financial support and your travel itinerary handy.

Never heard of this before. Do you have a source (link) for this?

Proof of funds when landing may only be for certain types of PR applicants?