thai/peg said:
Husband's PR card expires May 15. We want to go to the States and have yet to submit his renewal application (no idea it would take 5 months to process!). If we are back before the 15th will there be an issue? Like could we return May 14th without problem? I know some countries do not allow you in with less than 6 months on your passport, so wondering if similar thing applies. Or can we apply for urgent processing (along with proof of purchased tickets) even though we are only going to travel for pleasure?
Thank you.
A currently valid PR card is only necessary for the purpose of boarding commercial transportation (usually an airline flight) destined for Canada. As long as the card is currently valid, it suffices for this purpose.
While it tends to go more smoothly at the Canadian POE if the returning PR has a currently valid PR card, it is not necessary to obtain entry into Canada. The validity is PR status is independent of the PR card. Thus, not only is it OK to approach the POE with a PR card about to expire, it would be OK even if the card has expired.
Thus, for example, if you are driving and returning to Canada by roadway, there should be no problems returning to Canada at all. The only issue which might typically arise at the POE, for a PR whose PR card has expired or one with a card about to expire, might be questions about compliance with the PR Residency Obligation. For a PR who has been living in Canada for years, though, this is not at all a concern.
