Have expired PR card can I leave Canada for official business going to New York?

[Henny Soriano]

Need your help please. My new work here in Canada will require me to go every quarter to New York, in fact I have a meeting next week there with our president.

My question is, can I leave Canada and come back here if my PR card is already expired? According to the immigration officer I cannot leave Canada until I complete my 730 days. What shall I do? Can my employer issue a working permit for me to travel to New York? What will be the implication if I leave Canada with expired PR. I am thinking of asking the help of CIC, will that help.

Thanks lot for the help. I will be forever grateful to your feedback. GOD bless!

 

[Alabaman]

Some questions to better understand your situation: Which immigration officer did you refer to? When does your card expire? How many more days do you have to 730 days in the last 5 years?

 

[Henny Soriano]

Hi Alabaman!

Thanks for your prompt reply. The immigration I was referring to is the one I visited in Toronto (St. Clair) 55 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 200. I went there because when I arrived last July from my home country in the Philippines, I was asked for a second screening to which the IO in the airport told me that I can be deported because I didn't complete my residency requirements & my PR card will expire on August 1, 2011. However, when I went to the CIC office, I was told by the IO there that I will not be deported and my status as immigrant will remain. But I was told that I cannot leave Canada for whatever reason even on emergency cases.

Now, with my current work here in Canada, I will be required to report to our office in Buffalo, NY every quarter. Needless to say, I have to go there next week, but my fear is, I might not be admitted here in Canada anymore. If that is the case, I have to go back to my home country. FYI, I am newly married and my husband is with me here as temporary visitor while waiting for my petition on him.

My major concern, will I be allowed to travel back from NY to Canada? How it will affect my PR status? How about the statement of IO that I cannot leave Canada till I complete my 730 days? To be honest, my total number of stay here is around 3 months only due to the business that I setup.

Thanks for the feedback. Hope you can give some pieces of advise.

 

[Alabaman]

Well, I am afraid the answer to your question has already been provided to you: "I was told that I cannot leave Canada for whatever reason even on emergency cases"

I have a friend that kept going in and out of Canada by road into the US after his PR card expired. In most cases he intentionally left his expired PR card at home. He gets challenged at the border each time but he always argues with them that he didn't need his PR card because he was in a private vehicle (and not a commercial transport). Each time, he got let back in Canada. I wouldn't take that risk though.

In my opinion, leaving Canada is too risky. I would suggest you go explain the situation to employers and see if they can work something out.

 

[Henny Soriano]

Thanks for the straightforward answer, Alabaman. I really appreciate it. One more question, I am thinking of going back to the CIC Office tomorrow and ask them if they can be of help. Since I am now working for a Canadian firm, would it not have a bearing in giving me due consideration? What do you think? Thanks a million!!!

 

[Alabaman]

You can try but I don't see anything coming out of it. Even if someone at the CIC office tells you to go, you will meet a different person at the point of entry coming back to Canada. Will you be flying or driving when you make your trips to the US?

 

[Henny Soriano]

I will be driving. Thanks a lot. You're right it's gonna be a different person who will meet me at the border. If ever I go there and I get affirmative response, then I will ask for a written document from the IO who will give me a green light. To be honest, I ran out of ways or legal strategies to be allowed to leave Canada to NY and come back again here. I wonder how can our company help me? Do you have an answer for this please? Thanks again for your precious time.

 

[Alabaman]

It's like asking a police man to give you a written document to drive without a driver's license.

The only way I believe, if you really really want to risk it, is to take your Canadian registered car and drive it across the border. If you get challenged, show them the part of the immigration law that says you don't need your PR card when you are in a private car. If they don't budge and continue giving you hassles, plea that they allow you back in and maybe soberly explain your situation to them. In a lot of cases they are lenient. To be honest I think you can get away with it. At the same time, I don't think I would attempt it if I were in your shoes... I just don't have the courage.

 

[Henny Soriano]

Thank you so much Alabaman... Have a restful night. I do appreciate your practical words of wisdom.

 

[YorkFactory]

show them the part of the immigration law that says you don't need your PR card when you are in a private car

I think that's de facto policy and not actual law. In any case, I don't think it applies to people who require a visa to visit Canada.

 

[rituk]

Hi,
My PR has also expired and I have to go to New York. Can anybody share their experiences regarding the type of questions being asked while coming back to canada in your canadian no. private vehicle. also i would like to know the documents i need to carry with me so that i can enter canada with the least problems.
thanks.