INLAND APPLICATIONS 2012

[db80]

If you are entering by land, then showing your COPR and passport is fine. If traveling by travelling by air, then present yourself as a visitor to the airline and use just your passport. Show your COPR and passport at the border.

The issue only arises when travelling by air, since the airlines are looking for your visitor status or your PR status, but they are only trained to recognize PR cards. So telling them that you are a PR but not having a PR card can cause problems. As a US citizen, you can enter as a visitor, so the airline will let you board on the strength of your passport. Then you can show your COPR to the border guard when you arrive, and they can easily verify your PR status. Just explain that your PR card has not yet arrived.

What about COPR + non-exempt passport but with visitor visa + re-enter via land from US to Canada? I am not sure whether the visitor visa that is valid before one gets PR visa + COPR will remain valid afterwards as well. Or, when they stamp PR visa on the passport they will cancel the current visitor's visa?

 

[MilesAway]

What about COPR + non-exempt passport but with visitor visa + re-enter via land from US to Canada? I am not sure whether the visitor visa that is valid before one gets PR visa + COPR will remain valid afterwards as well. Or, when they stamp PR visa on the passport they will cancel the current visitor's visa?

When you land as a PR, all previous visas are cancelled.

 

[bjohnson921]

> When you land as a PR, all previous visas are cancelled.

This is true. Same happened with my OWP, as I was told the day I got my COPR by the CIC agent at my landing.

As for leaving and re-entering Canada, any valid passport and your PR card is sufficient. Your PR card negates the need for a visa regardless what passport you hold. If you're like me and you have your COPR but not your PR card yet, you may not be able to re-enter Canada regardless if you are holding a passport from a visa-exempt country or one that normally requires one. I have a US passport, but if I flew outside Canada and returned without having the PR card yet, I could be denied entry even though a visa is not required for US citizens (because I would honestly say my residence is inside Canada and am obviously not just a visitor).

I did, however, drive to Watertown, NY and crossed back in with my US passport and COPR and had no problem with re-entry by land, but I wouldn't advise it for holders of passports from other nations, and there is always a risk that a different CBSA agent would decide to take issue, so it's not something I plan to do again until I get my card.

 

[db80]

> When you land as a PR, all previous visas are cancelled.

This is true. Same happened with my OWP, as I was told the day I got my COPR by the CIC agent at my landing.

As for leaving and re-entering Canada, any valid passport and your PR card is sufficient. Your PR card negates the need for a visa regardless what passport you hold. If you're like me and you have your COPR but not your PR card yet, you may not be able to re-enter Canada regardless if you are holding a passport from a visa-exempt country or one that normally requires one. I have a US passport, but if I flew outside Canada and returned without having the PR card yet, I could be denied entry even though a visa is not required for US citizens (because I would honestly say my residence is inside Canada and am obviously not just a visitor).

I did, however, drive to Watertown, NY and crossed back in with my US passport and COPR and had no problem with re-entry by land, but I wouldn't advise it for holders of passports from other nations, and there is always a risk that a different CBSA agent would decide to take issue, so it's not something I plan to do again until I get my card.

Thanks!

 

[daniellebb]

Hi! I have a question. Can I apply for a US Non-immigrant visa while waiting for our PR?

 

[screech339]

Hi! I have a question. Can I apply for a US Non-immigrant visa while waiting for our PR?

Yes you can. However depending on what country you are from, you may not get a full 10 year US visa. For example, my wife would only get 1 year US visa if she applied while waiting for PR. She now has a 10 year visa because she has PR.

 

[daniellebb]

Yes you can. However depending on what country you are from, you may not get a full 10 year US visa. For example, my wife would only get 1 year US visa if she applied while waiting for PR. She now has a 10 year visa because she has PR.

Thank you! Yeah I'll just wait for my PR then. I'm from the Philippines so it's not that easy to get a US visa here.

 

[daniellebb]

Our medicals have been received since June 2016 & we're still waiting for the next step which I believe is the Passport Request Letter. It's been more than 3 months but still no word from them. We tried to contact them via IRCC webform last week because our application is waaayyy passed normal processing times but didn't received a reply. We also linked our paper based application online. At first, it said something like the application Open & In Process but changed after a few days to Closed & Approved. Ahh it's taking too long!

 

[colet]

Our medicals have been received since June 2016 & we're still waiting for the next step which I believe is the Passport Request Letter. It's been more than 3 months but still no word from them. We tried to contact them via IRCC webform last week because our application is waaayyy passed normal processing times but didn't received a reply. We also linked our paper based application online. At first, it said something like the application Open & In Process but changed after a few days to Closed & Approved. Ahh it's taking too long!

a

hi what is the status of your application now? thank you?

 

[daniellebb]

My dad called the IRCC and they said it's up to the visa office here when they will issue our visa. Hopefully we'll get it by this month!

 

[bjohnson921]

I received my PR card in the mail. I'm finally done!

 

[browning911]

Congrats BJohnson! Awesome news.

 

[daniellebb]

2012 Applicant here! Just got my immigrant visa yayyy Canada see you next week :-*

 

[imonec]

Hi Guys, I'm resurrecting this thread just ever so slightly to give a quick update, almost 6 years later.

"Guys! thank you so much to each and everyone who's commented, asked questions and the many, many answers people have thought through and shared.
I first came to Canada as a visitor in July 2008, and finally moved here on a work permit in September 2010, I applied for PR in September 2012 and got PR in April 2014.
Then Harper did his thing and Trudeau reversed it and I finally applied for citizenship, in January 2018.
Well I finally applied for my passport this morning after I became a Canadian Citizen this past Tuesday.
Thanks to all the encouragement, all the support and all the hard work the group admins do to keep the tracking spreadsheets updated.
To those still waiting, I wish you all the best and hope your process goes smoothly.
I'll probably not visit here much more.
Cheers all."

Just wanted to also recognize the group I was in back when I applied for PR.
Cheers and hope you all made it through the process
Imo