Hi guys,
I got my PR last week- YAY! However I have a US visa and a refugee travel document and a scheduled trip to the US next week. (My PR card is processing). Will I be able to come back using the RTD, refugee claim decision, valid wirk permit and my confirmation of PR? Please help!
Sorry to dig in old thread but it could be helpful to others.
My personal experience as following:
1- applied for Refugee Claim in land
2- 3 months later received my NOD then applied for PR
3- applied for RTD and received it
Now here is the tricky part, the RTD says clearly you need to show the CBSA officer a mean of residency proof accompanying the RTD.
so I started an online search campaign and here is what I found:
1- until 2012 there was a paper issued by CIC called "Protected Person Status Document PPSD" after receiving the NOD, and that PPSD will be recognized by CBSA officer as a proof of residency --- but after 2012 the IRB system got connected with CIC and cic killed the PPSD since they can now verify your NOD electronically.
2- between 2012 till 2015; the CBSA is still looking for proof of residency in this case a copy of the NOD along with the RTD should do the job, since the NOD information is published on CBSA system at all point of entries
If you feel not comfortable enogh you can apply for Verification of Status (VOS) which takes less than 6 months to issue and carry it as CIC recognized mean of residency.
3- 2017 as there is no official announcement but yet many friends reported that RTD alone was enough to board a flight and re-enter Canada.
Its safe to say that you can re-entrr Canada with your RTD alone, however keep a copy of your refugee claim (IMM1442B with photo) and your notice of decision NOD on all trips just in case.
**Note* replacement to lost NOD can always be issued by IRB, but replacement to lost original Refugee Claim (IMM1442B) can never be made, that CIC paper can never be reissued if lost, and you need to keep it for life just in case CIC changed any procedure 20 years from now with retro-effect, Save the original and hold a copy.
**Note* RTD can never ever ever be renewed nor replaced while outside canada, lose it (god forbid it) and you lost your way back to Canada for good. While you are outside that blue book is more important than your life.
Personally after speaking to an MP's assistant in this regard he advised that even with all these facilities I should refrain from traveling outside before receiving my PR Card or at least PR status, because during PR application process there is a background check which consists of multiple levels, one of them is revalidating authenticity of your documents and your story, while travelling outside repeatedly could raise a flag against your need for protection since you have ties to another country.
End of story; I didn't received my PR yet (but received an online letter 8 days ago stating my application is leaving CPC to Etobicoke for appointment) and I didn't leave Canada not once since I entered before applying for refugee even though I extracted the RTD for emergencies- simply its unjustified risk to travel without valid PR card.
I have a question outside the subject of this thread
What will happen in the PR appointment in Etobicoke, what is the process, when I will get my appointment, all related questions... I don't wnat to change the subject of this thread but if anyone could redirect me to the right thread for these questions. I will appreciate that
