PR Card Expired (on Jan 2016). Can I apply for Travel Document?

[iammavdev]

I am currently outside Canada in USA. I have a PR Card that expired on January 2016. I read somewhere, not sure, that I can apply for a Travel Document (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/travel.asp) to enter Canada by road. I could then apply for PR Card once I am in Canada and will have to wait for 2-3 years inside Canada to get PR Card.

Does this sound right? Can I get a Travel Document?

 

[scylla]

Do you meet the PR residency requirement as of today? If not - the travel document is going to be refused unless you have strong H&C reasons for failing to meet this obligation.

 

[iammavdev]

No I do not meet residency requirements. Thanks for the input.

 

[iammavdev]

Do you meet the PR residency requirement as of today? If not - the travel document is going to be refused unless you have strong H&C reasons for failing to meet this obligation.

Would I have to renounce my PR Card first or can I just do a fresh application?

 

[scylla]

Would I have to renounce my PR Card first or can I just do a fresh application?

If you want to file a new PR application, you have to renounce first.

 

[Rob_TO]

I am currently outside Canada in USA. I have a PR Card that expired on January 2016. I read somewhere, not sure, that I can apply for a Travel Document (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/travel.asp) to enter Canada by road. I could then apply for PR Card once I am in Canada and will have to wait for 2-3 years inside Canada to get PR Card.

Does this sound right? Can I get a Travel Document?

No this is not correct.
If you apply for a PR TD, as mentioned it will be denied and you will have your PR status revoked.
If you attempt to enter Canada by road, CBSA can determine you don't meet RO which will lead to your PR status being revoked. If you can somehow sneak into Canada without being reported by CBSA, then you will keep PR status but will need to stay inside Canada 2 straight years before you can apply to renew your PR card.

If you voluntarily renounce your PR status, then you can apply for PR again from scratch if you qualify for any of the current programs.

Note that once you renounce PR status, you'll need to enter or stay in Canada as any other visitor, student or worker with necessary visa/permit if required.

 

[Leon]

Agree with Rob_TO.

You do not actually have to apply for a PR TD (Permanent Resident Travel Document) in order to enter by land. However, if you do apply for a PR TD, they will see that you do not meet the RO (Residency Obligation) and revoke your PR status unless you have some really good H&C (Humane & Compassionate) grounds for not being able to meet the RO.

If you try to cross without a PR TD, you will have to answer questions by the immigration officers and although they must admit that you are still officially a PR and they must let you in, they can report you for not meeting the RO. If they report you, you can appeal it but without H&C grounds backing up this appeal, you will lose it eventually and lose your PR status.

If they for some reason do not report you as you enter Canada, there is a way to put your PR status back in good standing by staying in Canada for 2 years straight without leaving. At this point, you meet the RO again for the previous 5 years and can apply to renew your PR card. However, it may not be easy to stay in Canada for 2 years without a valid PR card. You may find yourself having problems getting health care and a drivers license and if you don't have a SIN, you can't work legally either. If you do have a SIN, you can work although some employers may not want to hire you without seeing your PR card.