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Entering Canada through USA land border

anasish

Newbie
Aug 18, 2023
4
0
Hello,

I need to travel to Pakistan soon and I will not have my PR card by the time I leave.
I know there is an option to return to Canada through the US land border even with an expired PR card (I have a B2 visa).
I have exercised this option in the past but only when travelling to and from through the land border as I meet my residency obligation.

I will be flying with a one-way ticket to the US on my way back, I was wondering if this has caused any issues for anyone in the past?
Can the airline deny boarding if I have only a one-way into the US?

Thank you in advance
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,288
8,892
Hello,

I need to travel to Pakistan soon and I will not have my PR card by the time I leave.
I know there is an option to return to Canada through the US land border even with an expired PR card (I have a B2 visa).
I have exercised this option in the past but only when travelling to and from through the land border as I meet my residency obligation.

I will be flying with a one-way ticket to the US on my way back, I was wondering if this has caused any issues for anyone in the past?
Can the airline deny boarding if I have only a one-way into the US?

Thank you in advance
Let's separate issues: whether you can board a plane and be admitted to USA on basis of your docs - USA and airline questions.

Entering Canada based on your status as a PR (ideally with docs to show you are a PR, even if they are expired): if they can find you in the system, you will be admitted. If you are compliant withthe RO, no problem. If you are not - they might wave you through with no problems, or problems from mild warning to reporting you for non-compliance (starting process of revoking).
 
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Ponga

VIP Member
Oct 22, 2013
10,417
1,469
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Hello,

I need to travel to Pakistan soon and I will not have my PR card by the time I leave.
I know there is an option to return to Canada through the US land border even with an expired PR card (I have a B2 visa).
I have exercised this option in the past but only when travelling to and from through the land border as I meet my residency obligation.

I will be flying with a one-way ticket to the US on my way back, I was wondering if this has caused any issues for anyone in the past?
Can the airline deny boarding if I have only a one-way into the US?

Thank you in advance
That would appear to be a question for the airline and/or CBP since neither has anything to do with your PR status in Canada.
 
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Reactions: armoured

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,288
8,892
@armoured thank you for your response :)

I guess my main question was if anyone has done this in the past and what their experience was
Are you in compliance with your RO or not?

Lots and lots come to the land border without a current valid PR card and get admitted without problems. They might get called into secondary and asked questions, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. If they are in compliance with RO, the most they might get is a mild 'you know you really should travel on a valid PR card' admonition.

I have no comment on the US leg (getting into USA/travelling to USA by air).
 

dpenabill

VIP Member
Apr 2, 2010
6,435
3,183
Hello,

I need to travel to Pakistan soon and I will not have my PR card by the time I leave.
I know there is an option to return to Canada through the US land border even with an expired PR card (I have a B2 visa).
I have exercised this option in the past but only when travelling to and from through the land border as I meet my residency obligation.

I will be flying with a one-way ticket to the US on my way back, I was wondering if this has caused any issues for anyone in the past?
Can the airline deny boarding if I have only a one-way into the US?

Thank you in advance
For emphasis:

A PR who reaches the Canadian border by travel via the U.S. will be allowed entry into Canada . . . and there will be no problem as long as the PR is not inadmissible. Many, many, many have done this and continue to do this. Very common.

Whether YOU will have a problem traveling to the U.S. is a separate question. A question which has very little if anything to do with Canadian rules.
 

Besram

Hero Member
Jun 13, 2019
251
182
Hello,

I need to travel to Pakistan soon and I will not have my PR card by the time I leave.
I know there is an option to return to Canada through the US land border even with an expired PR card (I have a B2 visa).
I have exercised this option in the past but only when travelling to and from through the land border as I meet my residency obligation.

I will be flying with a one-way ticket to the US on my way back, I was wondering if this has caused any issues for anyone in the past?
Can the airline deny boarding if I have only a one-way into the US?

Thank you in advance
You may need to look up what the conditions for your B2 visa are. For visa-waiver countries requiring ESTA, you generally need an onward ticket that does not terminate anywhere in North America. The exception is if you legally reside in Canada (which can be difficult to convince an airline representative of if you do not have a valid PR card).

Again, I'm unsure what the B2 rules are and if they are similar to what I described above. If they are, you could always book a fully refundable flight out of North America and present that upon check-in. Once you have successfully arrived in Canada, you simply cancel the flight.