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Has anyone flown back into Canada without having received their PR card yet?

N

natk

Star Member
Nov 7, 2014
168
38
Category........
CEC
... if you did fly back in without a PR card... did you encounter any difficulty?

What was your experience?

Thanks!
 
If you hold a visa exempt passport - then you should have no issues returning to Canada.

If you hold a non visa exempt passport - then you need either a PR card or a travel document to return. Without a PR card or travel document, you should expect your airline with refuse to allow you to board your plane for Canada.
 
scylla said:
If you hold a visa exempt passport - then you should have no issues returning to Canada.

If you hold a non visa exempt passport - then you need either a PR card or a travel document to return. Without a PR card or travel document, you should expect your airline with refuse to allow you to board your plane for Canada.
Click to expand...

I do hold a visa exempt passport.

But from my understanding, it is a risk flying BACK into Canada without a PR card even if you are visa exempt. (I can get past the airline no worries... it's coming back in that is what I'm wondering about and want to know if anyone has actually done it and what happened.)
 
No worries my friend.

When you land, you go to the VISITOR line and when you reach the Border Officer, just explain to him, that you are a PR, but your PR Card is yet to arrive via mail. Have a copy of your CoPR (just in case if the Officer asks for it)

He will review your status and once he makes all the checks, he will hit the stamp and tells you Welcome Home :)
 
natk said:
I do hold a visa exempt passport.

But from my understanding, it is a risk flying BACK into Canada without a PR card even if you are visa exempt. (I can get past the airline no worries... it's coming back in that is what I'm wondering about and want to know if anyone has actually done it and what happened.)
Click to expand...

It's not risky at all. Lots of people on this forum have done it (including my husband).
 
Remember that the law is changing in a few months.
PR card and permanent resident travel document (you can apply abroad) are the only two options after March 15, 2016.

Link:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=605&t=10
 
scylla said:
It's not risky at all. Lots of people on this forum have done it (including my husband).
Click to expand...

That's great news to hear! :) Perhaps I will just do that and hope for the best!
 
Nick666 said:
Remember that the law is changing in a few months.
PR card and permanent resident travel document (you can apply abroad) are the only two options after March 15, 2016.

Link:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=605&t=10
Click to expand...

Yeah, I saw that link as well. I'm flying out next weekend so it won't apply to me yet. Thank you though :)
 
Nick666 said:
Remember that the law is changing in a few months.
PR card and permanent resident travel document (you can apply abroad) are the only two options after March 15, 2016.

Link:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=605&t=10
Click to expand...

I don't think this is any different from the current rules… "otherwise, you may not be able to board your flight to Canada." I don't think the airlines have any idea who's a PR and who isn't.
 
Just kidding, it IS different.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=1037&t=16

US Citizens are the only exception, and can still fly without an eTA, which means they could fly without a PR card too.
 
i have a flight to Mexico next week.. i havent received my PR card but will use my current work permit and entry visa on the way back.. What im wondering about is if they can check my actual status in mexico before i board a plane??
 
katie26 said:
i have a flight to Mexico next week.. i havent received my PR card but will use my current work permit and entry visa on the way back.. What im wondering about is if they can check my actual status in mexico before i board a plane??
Click to expand...

Katie, I did the same last month on my travel to Dallas. I used my WP and the WORKER VISA ti pass the airline check. so no worries.
When the airline guy asked me about my status, I said I'm a WORKER (Even if I'm already a PR). He checked and saw the WORKER visa on my passport (even if I had an already Immigrant VISA in the passport)
once he saw that it is a valid visa (not expired) , he was OK with it.

I doubt CIC will give Airline companies access to the information of who is a PR and who is not. (I doubt they will ever do , as it is not as easy as it sounds to implement and approve from the Government of Canada)

In fact, the airlines don't care at all if you are a PR or not. All what the airlines care about, is if the person they are going to board have a valid entry documents (if any) for entering Canada. (no matter what they are) Because if they fail this check, The Boarder Officer will reject the entry and the Airline company will have to fly back this immigrant, on their own expense, from wherever they brought him/her.
 
Tonimir said:
Katie, I did the same last month on my travel to Dallas. I used my WP and the WORKER VISA ti pass the airline check. so no worries.
When the airline guy asked me about my status, I said I'm a WORKER (Even if I'm already a PR). He checked and saw the WORKER visa on my passport (even if I had an already Immigrant VISA in the passport)
once he saw that it is a valid visa (not expired) , he was OK with it.

I doubt CIC will give Airline companies access to the information of who is a PR and who is not. (I doubt they will ever do , as it is not as easy as it sounds to implement and approve from the Government of Canada)

In fact, the airlines don't care at all if you are a PR or not. All what the airlines care about, is if the person they are going to board have a valid entry documents (if any) for entering Canada. (no matter what they are) Because if they fail this check, The Boarder Officer will reject the entry and the Airline company will have to fly back this immigrant, on their own expense, from wherever they brought him/her.
Click to expand...

That's what I'm hoping. I don't have my work permit anymore, the border officer took it when I flag-poled. But I'm from a visa exempt so I don't think I will have an issue boarding a plane to Canada as I don't need a visa to be here.
 
Tonimir said:
Katie, I did the same last month on my travel to Dallas. I used my WP and the WORKER VISA ti pass the airline check. so no worries.
When the airline guy asked me about my status, I said I'm a WORKER (Even if I'm already a PR). He checked and saw the WORKER visa on my passport (even if I had an already Immigrant VISA in the passport)
once he saw that it is a valid visa (not expired) , he was OK with it.

I doubt CIC will give Airline companies access to the information of who is a PR and who is not. (I doubt they will ever do , as it is not as easy as it sounds to implement and approve from the Government of Canada)

In fact, the airlines don't care at all if you are a PR or not. All what the airlines care about, is if the person they are going to board have a valid entry documents (if any) for entering Canada. (no matter what they are) Because if they fail this check, The Boarder Officer will reject the entry and the Airline company will have to fly back this immigrant, on their own expense, from wherever they brought him/her.
Click to expand...



Thanks Toni !!! +1
I am going to check my visa and work permit to make sure its not expired.. and will have to do it and risk it ., and hope i dont get stuck in Mexico !! lol :)
 
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