Thank you all for the inputs. Can I get any recommendations for good lawyers? I would like to discuss my situation and get some legal advice. I know this forum's owner is one, however more recomnedations would be helpful.
Entering canada with expired PR card via land border
- Thread starter deadinside
- Start date
I can't provide a recommendation based on first hand experience. My only suggestion is to make sure you speak to an actual immigration lawyer, as opposed to an immigration consultant. You should also clarify that you want a legal opinion - that would usually involve a 30-60 min paid consultation. Expect to pay in the hundreds of dollars for such a consultation. Be wary of people who offer this for free.
I just took some time off to understand the living expenses and calculate how much money I would need to save to live without a job for a year. In order to continue my current US lifestye as a single guy in Canada.
And I was absolutely blown away by how EXPENSIVE it really is to live up there! Just to give a quick rundown of my numbers -
That comes down to USD $36K = CAD $50K = INR 30Lacs per year just to have a middle class life!! INSANE!
I think I understand now why it's absolutely NUTS to move there WITHOUT a JOB!! And even with a job, I cannot imagine how high the salary would have to be in order to be able to save and invest money! Damn! I had underestimated cost of living in Canada till today. I don't know how immigrants without a job are surviving?
And I was absolutely blown away by how EXPENSIVE it really is to live up there! Just to give a quick rundown of my numbers -
| Canada Expenses | |
| Rent | CAD 2,000.00 |
| Phone | CAD 100.00 |
| Internet | CAD 100.00 |
| Gas | CAD 300.00 |
| Hydro | CAD 150.00 |
| Groceries | CAD 500.00 |
| Insurance | CAD 300.00 |
| Recreation | CAD 500.00 |
That comes down to USD $36K = CAD $50K = INR 30Lacs per year just to have a middle class life!! INSANE!
I think I understand now why it's absolutely NUTS to move there WITHOUT a JOB!! And even with a job, I cannot imagine how high the salary would have to be in order to be able to save and invest money! Damn! I had underestimated cost of living in Canada till today. I don't know how immigrants without a job are surviving?
How about move here without a job but with passive income? For gas, if one lives near the boarder, they can cross the border to fill up the tank. Same goes with groceries. For hydro, if you share with someone, your cost should be reduced.
Other than dividend paying stocks, (which, if I calculate at 5-10% annual dividend, would need anywhere from $500K - $1M invested - obviously I don't have that much), I cannot think of any other passive income source. Were you referring to something else?
Also, I am in my mid thirties and generally stopped living with roomates 5 years back. I don't think I can go back to living with roommates without significantly downgrading my lifestyle.
As far as crossing the border, I cannot do that since I won't meet RO.
But even with an expired PR Card, you are still authorized to work in Canada. Why do you think you would need to take a year off?
Just preparing for the scenario of being able to sustain myself in case I'm unable to find a job, looking at the Canadian job market which is very saturated in Tech and economy is also not that great.
I have another question with regards to the PRTD -
What happens if a PRTD is approved (due to medical reasons etc., after an appeal)? -
What happens if a PRTD is approved (due to medical reasons etc., after an appeal)? -
- Is the RO clock reset?
- Does the PR get 5 more years to comply with RO?
- Can they apply for a new PR card?
Good for you for having this calculated and gained insight. 99% of immigrants still think this is the land of free milk, honey, healthcare and no worries. Welcome to reality.
RO do not get reset.
No.
Usually PRTD will allow applicant to enter (some people get one time entry some get multiple).
They can apply for new PR card but wit H&C approved PRTD some people will get a 1 year PR card. Then they need to stay for 2 years in Canada to apply for PR card renewal.
(I saw some that got 5 years PR card but that doesn't "reset" RO. The one I read about is because PA was a minor and got removed by parents. So PRTD was granted when PA became a young adult and can return to Canada.)
Hi @deadinside - Did you complete the journey? Can you please share your experience with the overall process.
Hi all, slightly different situation here. My PR card has expired (we had to head home in 2018 after receiving PR as we found out we were having another child and wanted to have the baby back in Australia). My extended family and I are traveling to LA in a week, after which we were to fly to Vancouver to start a cruise up to Anchorige before flying back to LA direct. I can't get my eTA approved nor my eldest daughter due to the now epxired PR card (i stupidly assumed when the card expired so did my PR... my mistake) but my youngest got it no worries.
In order NOT to ruin the mega-family cruise, i was considering hiring a car and driving across the boarder into Canada with my two daughters and meet my family in Vancouver using our Australian Passports.
Any views to if this would work? Would i need to try and enter my daughter and I using the Canadian expired PR cards or could all three of us enter using just our Australian passports.
Sorry for the ramble, only realised all of this 3 hours ago after 7 days of no response to our eTA applications (as thought PR was no longer). Now paniking as we've saved for 12 months for this trip as somewhat of a final family holiday before my folks are too old to travel. Getting really worried.
Thanks
Matt
In order NOT to ruin the mega-family cruise, i was considering hiring a car and driving across the boarder into Canada with my two daughters and meet my family in Vancouver using our Australian Passports.
Any views to if this would work? Would i need to try and enter my daughter and I using the Canadian expired PR cards or could all three of us enter using just our Australian passports.
Sorry for the ramble, only realised all of this 3 hours ago after 7 days of no response to our eTA applications (as thought PR was no longer). Now paniking as we've saved for 12 months for this trip as somewhat of a final family holiday before my folks are too old to travel. Getting really worried.
Thanks
Matt
Short form, yes, it should work for all those who have expired PR cards/PR status (for those who never had PR status, no issue).
At border, you might be given a hard time, but they will let you in - they 100% will (it's basically required by law). It could go anything from them not caring when you say you're going on a cruise and leaving that way, to some additional questioning, to a warning, to them handing you a form to renounce your status and basically leaving that on your own conscience (and a note to file), to them writing up a formal report that will result in PR status being revoked (if you don't successfully appeal).
Personally I'd guess there's a fairly good chance they;d just give you a warning and/or the renunciation form and leave it at that, why would they want the paperwork? They can leave it to you to deal with before your next cruise or visit. (You'd probably have to renounce in future...)
The only wrinkles I can think of:
-if your return trip home involves travel through Canada, esp on a plane - problem.
-the cruise ship itself may require some evidence you can enter/exit Canada (eg visa or ETA) - do check. (Some cruises up the coast might call on different ports sequentially - I don't know; the coastal border is not so simple and trip may not be so linear as Canada to USA).
-It may well result in loss of PR status. Which probably isn't an issue, but conceivably could be for children, esp if minors? That's just a choice.
Some might have other points about what might come up. Personally I think checking that once you're on the ship in vancouver there will be no further actual exits with re-entry to Canada or administrative requirements that the cruise company imposes.
Depending on the timing of your trip, you can renounce your PR status voluntarily. I'm unsure how long this takes, but budget a few weeks at least. Following that, you would qualify for an ETA.
Alternatively, you can travel via the land border, but it needs to be in a private vehicle. To avoid further delays, you should tell them you are still a PR and present both your expired PR card and your passport at the border (they will likely know this anyways). Prepare to be questioned about your compliance with the residency obligation and budget for some time in secondary inspection. You will be let into the country even if you get reported and the process of revoking your PR gets started.
Having said all that, you may still face issues on the cruise ship. They are a commercial carrier, and need to make sure they can take you back into Canada following your trip to Alaska, and they may not accept your expired PR card. Something to check with them.
In my opinion, try and renounce PR if you still have enough time before your trip commences.