Entering back to Canada from the U.S

[netlover]

Hello,

I'm a Canadian Permanent Resident in the U.S for work until next month, without a Canadian PR card (due to false processing times provided by the visa office).

There's a high chance my card will not arrive in time to my mailing address in Canada before it can get forwarded to me. So I'm faced with a situation where I have to enter Canada via the border using my foreign passport and confirmation of permanent residence (COPR), since the airlines here will not accept the COPR as an entry document.

My question is the following:

My foreign passport currently has the following:

- A work visa that is still valid till end of this year (my status prior to becoming PR)
- An immigrant visa stamp and sticker that is also still valid till the end of the year (received when I became a PR and sent my passport in when requested).

Tho I understand I am no longer a worker, and the immigrant visa is mainly used to enter Canada for the first time when you apply for PR from abroad (which I didn't, I applied in Canada), I was wondering is there any chance i could get away with using either of this two just to get past the airlines here in the states, and when I land in Canada I can just show my COPR and passport to prove I'm a PR.

I just thought it would be easier flying back than going through the hassle of driving through the border.

Are there any consequences in doing this, if it works?

Cheers!

Talal

 

[ttrajan]

If you have USA passport then you can enter with COPR and your passport.

 

[netlover]

Worth mentioning that my passport is not U.S, and it is a passport that normally requires a visa to enter Canada (Middle eastern).

 

[Jenzo]

Worth mentioning that my passport is not U.S, and it is a passport that normally requires a visa to enter Canada (Middle eastern).

Yea that's not going to fly, literally. The only people who can fly into Canada without the PR card are from non-visa requiring countries. It's a real bummer about the wait for these damn cards though.

 

[deweysmith]

My foreign passport currently has the following:

- A work visa that is still valid till end of this year (my status prior to becoming PR)
- An immigrant visa stamp and sticker that is also still valid till the end of the year (received when I became a PR and sent my passport in when requested).

The travel document/PR card is to satisfy requirements commercial carriers (airlines, bus companies, etc) must meet when transiting people to the border. They must verify that someone has the necessary status to enter Canada, or they must pay the cost to return that person when they cannot enter. This is the reason that I can use my NEXUS card without my passport to enter either country, but MUST show my passport at the airline counter before boarding. They need proof that I am Visa Exempt, or proof that I hold a visa to enter Canada.

That said, your valid unexpired work visa should be enough to get you on the plane to Canada and in front of a CBSA officer, where your passport and COPR are acceptable as proof of identity and proof of status.

So, yes. Your plan should work, and I have heard stories of similar plans working, but we have no way of knowing.

 

[PMM]

Hi

Yea that's not going to fly, literally. The only people who can fly into Canada without the PR card are from non-visa requiring countries. It's a real bummer about the wait for these damn cards though.

1. Fly to the closest US city to the Canadian Border where you intend to reside. Take a Taxi/Bus to the border, walk across with your passport/COPR and you will be admitted.

 

[netlover]

That said, your valid unexpired work visa should be enough to get you on the plane to Canada and in front of a CBSA officer, where your passport and COPR are acceptable as proof of identity and proof of status.

So, yes. Your plan should work, and I have heard stories of similar plans working, but we have no way of knowing.

Thanks everyone. This comment is mainly my concern and goal of this thread.

I'm well aware that i have the options of travel document and crossing through the border.

But i'm just wondering if i do this plan (show work visa/immigrant visa), will I get into any issues with the CBSA officer where they may ask how did I get it?

Worth mentioning though I still have my work visa and immigrant visa, I no longer have my work permit which I'm pretty sure the flight officials don't ask for anyway right?

Thanks in advance.