Expired PR Card and travelling to the US

[Hopeful One]

Husband's PR card just expired in March 2015...he thought it was in 2016. He is flying back home to the US for a week for a family reunion tomorrow. Will this be a problem for him returning back to Canada? Should he still show his expired PR card or not bothering to mention it at all?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

He should not mention anything to the airline about being a PR and just travel as if he is a visitor on the strength of his US passport. He can then present himself as a PR to CBSA when entering Canada and explain about the PR card.

 

[Hopeful One]

He just cancelled his holiday back home He wasn't going to risk 6 years of making a life here in Canada for a family reunion. Posted a renewal PR card application today and hope for the best.

 

[Rob_TO]

He just cancelled his holiday back home He wasn't going to risk 6 years of making a life here in Canada for a family reunion. Posted a renewal PR card application today and hope for the best.

What exactly did he think was at risk? There is zero risk here of losing his PR status or being denied re-entry to Canada. When entering Canada CBSA doesn't care if you have your PR card on you or not, as long as you meet the residency obligations.

The only hassle is getting on the plane, but with a US passport is usually very easy. Worst case he would need to buy a refundable return ticket on the spot and then cancel it afterwards.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

He just cancelled his holiday back home He wasn't going to risk 6 years of making a life here in Canada for a family reunion. Posted a renewal PR card application today and hope for the best.

As said above, there was zero risk....

 

[Hopeful One]

CIC was closed when he found out the card was expired and couldn't call anyone to verify due to Easter holidays and he was leaving on Saturday. When he got ahold of CIC on Tuesday He was told by CIC that he would have to drive over the Canada/US border using a personal vehicle and would not be allowed to fly into Canada with an expired PR card.

Maybe there was zero risk, but we didn't want to take that chance or hassle.

 

[Rob_TO]

CIC was closed when he found out the card was expired and couldn't call anyone to verify due to Easter holidays and he was leaving on Saturday. When he got ahold of CIC on Tuesday He was told by CIC that he would have to drive over the Canada/US border using a personal vehicle and would not be allowed to fly into Canada with an expired PR card.

Maybe there was zero risk, but we didn't want to take that chance or hassle.

Unfortunately he got bad info from CIC. Countless people have flown back to Canada with an expired PR card, simply by telling the airline you are travelling on your visa-exempt passport and not mentioning your PR status. My wife did this as well while we were traveling and she didn't have her PR card on her. It's actually quite simple.