Has anyone had the experince of travelling with a CORP?

[Rita27]

I know it is not a travel document.. but I have been waiting for my PR Card for more than 2 months and the waiting time keeps on going up.. I have a flight in less than a week and then another flight on the 25.. Was hoping someone had the experience of coming back to Canada with a CORP only.. please advice :'( :-[

 

[screech339]

If you are from a visa exempt country, you could get away with flying using a COPR when boarding back to Canada.

However if you are from a non-visa exempt country, the airlines will prevent you from boarding the plane back to Canada without a PR card or a PR travel document. PR cards are the only verifiable way for airline to confirm that you are a legal PR of Canada.

Airlines that allowed undocumented passengers to Canada can be heavily fined for allowing it to happen. So they are covering their butts on their end.

If you don't have a PR card by the time you leave, you would require to apply for a PR travel document to be able to board the plane to re-enter Canada.

Screech339

 

[screech339]

If you are flying to US, then you could fly back to Canada with a COPR with a twist. You could have to land in an US airport close to the Canadian border and then drive across the border. COPR are allowed to be used to Canada without PR card so long as you are crossing by land only in your own car or rental.

 

[Rita27]

Thank you Screech, your advise is as always, very helpful!
I am not traveling to the US, I'm going to central America. However, I am from a visa exempt country.
Should I still apply for a travel document ?

Thank you again !!

 

[screech339]

Thank you Screech, your advise is as always, very helpful!
I am not traveling to the US, I'm going to central America. However, I am from a visa exempt country.
Should I still apply for a travel document ?

Thank you again !!

Yes you will be required to apply for a PR travel document in the country you are visiting before flying back to Canada. The trick is getting the travel document in time before your scheduled trip back.

 

[Rita27]

I will only be there for 3 days, and they don't have a Canadian embassy in the country where I am going to.
what should I do ? :'(
Should I apply from here? or it isn't necessary if i am from a visa exempt country ?

 

[screech339]

I will only be there for 3 days, and they don't have a Canadian embassy in the country where I am going to.
what should I do ? :'(
Should I apply from here? or it isn't necessary if i am from a visa exempt country ?

Sorry for the confusion. I misread your post. You are from a visa exempt country so you should be fine traveling back to Canada with just your passport. Just make sure you have your COPR with you and don't lose it for heaven's sake. Ha ha.

My apology.

 

[screech339]

You may get delayed a bit at the CIC line up due to verification of your PR status before letting you in.

Screech339

 

[Rob_TO]

You have to be very careful when boarding the flight back to Canada. Since you don't have PR card, if you tell them you are a PR but don't have the card on you then they may simply deny you boarding. The airline employees are often trained only to accept PR card and nothing else, so may not even know what a COPR is.

So you should tell them you are travelling to Canada as a visitor, under your visa-exempt passport. Don't even mention PR status to avoid confusion.

This is what my wife did when we traveled to Mexico after she got PR but didn't have PR card yet.

Once back at the Canada airport, the Canadian immigration officer can just use COPR+passport to confirm your PR status.

 

[Rob_TO]

You may get delayed a bit at the CIC line up due to verification of your PR status before letting you in.

Screech339

When my wife did this there was zero delay. The immigration guy just checked her COPR and matched up landing date to her passport stamp... and that was it. Maybe 30 extra seconds! Of course I guess it depends on who you get.

 

[Rita27]

Thank you both!!! I feel much better now.
I was hoping I will never have to deal with CIC-related stress again.
I will be traveling with my husband, who is a Canadian citizen.
So when coming back, I should say I am coming to Canada as a visitor (should I mention to what purpose?), and when arriving in Canada, I should show my CORP and passport, right??

I will keep the CORP safe, like dear life !!!

 

[SenoritaBella]

If you are travelling with the actual copy that was given to you when you landed, I would recommend making a few copies and keeping them in a safe place. Yes, guard it with your life (lol) because you need it when you apply for citizenship and to collect your pension.

Thank you both!!! I feel much better now.
I was hoping I will never have to deal with CIC-related stress again.
I will be traveling with my husband, who is a Canadian citizen.
So when coming back, I should say I am coming to Canada as a visitor (should I mention to what purpose?), and when arriving in Canada, I should show my CORP and passport, right??

I will keep the CORP safe, like dear life !!!

 

[screech339]

Thank you both!!! I feel much better now.
I was hoping I will never have to deal with CIC-related stress again.
I will be traveling with my husband, who is a Canadian citizen.
So when coming back, I should say I am coming to Canada as a visitor (should I mention to what purpose?), and when arriving in Canada, I should show my CORP and passport, right??

I will keep the CORP safe, like dear life !!!

Don't mention anything about PR status until you land in Canada. This way the airline will allow you back on the plane as a visitor to Canada. Once you land in Canada, you only then tell the canada border that you are a PR.

Screech339