PR card + travel question

[Lady_Ashka]

So I just landed under the family class yesterday, and had my COPR stamped and stapled into my passport. Before landing, I already lived in Canada as a temporary worker - my work permit is, theoretically, still valid (until September 1st), and I still have an eTA to go with my passport.

Now, my husband and I want to take a holiday sometime in late June (I am pregnant, and we want to travel in the second trimester, not later preferably). The agent at the border said I'd wait about 60 days for my PR card. My questions are:

0. Do my WP and eTA automatically become cancelled/invalid after I've landed?
1. The IRCC page says the wait time for my first PR card is 45 days... so is it 60 or 45?
2. If the card does not arrive on time and we do travel, will my old work permit (which I still have) and my eTA be enough to board a return flight to Canada and to re-enter Canada (I assume at the border the officer would see I am a PR and see my COPR in my passport)?
3. If the answer to 2 is no, then how long does it take to receive a Permanent Residency Travel Document? I mean, should I apply right now, or wait until I know for sure the PR card won't arrive on time? And, if I apply for PRTD, does that going to impede/influence IRCC issuing me my PR card?

And finally, we are thinking of moving soonish to a bigger place. Once we do that, how do we notify IRCC of our address change? And does that influence/impede them issuing my PR card?

 

[Rob_TO]

0. Do my WP and eTA automatically become cancelled/invalid after I've landed?

It's not automatic. We have seen both cases on this forum. Some people have succeffully travelled on eTA or visa obtained prior to getting PR status. Another poster had their eTA cancelled shortly after becoming a PR.

You can check the status of your eTA online, to see if it's been cancelled or not. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/my_application/status.asp?s=10

1. The IRCC page says the wait time for my first PR card is 45 days... so is it 60 or 45?

Could be more or less, depending on a lot of factors. Some people get them quicker, some wait many more months.

2. If the card does not arrive on time and we do travel, will my old work permit (which I still have) and my eTA be enough to board a return flight to Canada and to re-enter Canada (I assume at the border the officer would see I am a PR and see my COPR in my passport)?

Work permit is irrelevant.

Only issue is really your eTA status. If on the date you fly home the eTA has been cancelled, then there is no way you're getting on a flight to Canada without a valid PR card or PR Travel Document.
If the eTA is still active, then you can most likely (not guaranteed) board the flight home by posing as a foreign national to the airline (do don't tell them you're a PR).

However all this is obviously risky. The only 100% sure way is to get a PR TD.

Alternatively you can route your return through the USA, and drive across Canada land border. CBSA doesn't need PR TD or PR card to confirm your PR status, just your COPR is more than enough.

3. If the answer to 2 is no, then how long does it take to receive a Permanent Residency Travel Document? I mean, should I apply right now, or wait until I know for sure the PR card won't arrive on time? And, if I apply for PRTD, does that going to impede/influence IRCC issuing me my PR card?

A PR TD can only be applied for outside of Canada to the visa office that serves the country you're visiting. If you aren't close to the visa office to do in person, then you must mail the PR TD app with your passport. You should budget a couple of weeks for the PR TD process.

And finally, we are thinking of moving soonish to a bigger place. Once we do that, how do we notify IRCC of our address change? And does that influence/impede them issuing my PR card?

If you haven't received the PR card by then, expect it may be delivered to your previous address.

 

[Lady_Ashka]

It's not automatic. We have seen both cases on this forum. Some people have succeffully travelled on eTA or visa obtained prior to getting PR status. Another poster had their eTA cancelled shortly after becoming a PR.

You can check the status of your eTA online, to see if it's been cancelled or not. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/my_application/status.asp?s=10

Could be more or less, depending on a lot of factors. Some people get them quicker, some wait many more months.

Work permit is irrelevant.

Only issue is really your eTA status. If on the date you fly home the eTA has been cancelled, then there is no way you're getting on a flight to Canada without a valid PR card or PR Travel Document.
If the eTA is still active, then you can most likely (not guaranteed) board the flight home by posing as a foreign national to the airline (do don't tell them you're a PR).

However all this is obviously risky. The only 100% sure way is to get a PR TD.

Alternatively you can route your return through the USA, and drive across Canada land border. CBSA doesn't need PR TD or PR card to confirm your PR status, just your COPR is more than enough.

A PR TD can only be applied for outside of Canada to the visa office that serves the country you're visiting. If you aren't close to the visa office to do in person, then you must mail the PR TD app with your passport. You should budget a couple of weeks for the PR TD process.

If you haven't received the PR card by then, expect it may be delivered to your previous address.

Thanks Rob!

Ok, so from what I'm seeing it looks stressful and complicated. I would probably then try for a PRTD by mailing my passport to Warsaw (although it always feels bad to part with my passport, I have to say...) and then ask them to mail it back to Canada (am I understanding this correctly?) and then come back from our travels using that PRTD. But this does not seem to be tempting (as it looks stressful).

The thing is, booking a flight to Europe in only a few weeks advance will make it super expensive (so if we wait until the PR card arrives and then book our flights, for, say, 2 weeks later, we might pay a fortune), so I guess the decision will be whether to simply change our plans and travel around Canada (at which point, I assume, no PR card or eTA is necessary to travel?) or to wait until the PR card arrives and then book international travel (or to risk it with the PRTD). Sigh.

And I guess it's not worth risking moving, then, until the PR card arrives (in case there is a problem!)

 

[Rob_TO]

Thanks Rob!

Ok, so from what I'm seeing it looks stressful and complicated. I would probably then try for a PRTD by mailing my passport to Warsaw (although it always feels bad to part with my passport, I have to say...) and then ask them to mail it back to Canada (am I understanding this correctly?) and then come back from our travels using that PRTD. But this does not seem to be tempting (as it looks stressful).

No, the PR TD must be applied for only while outside of Canada. So you would not mail the PR TD app/passport until you actually arrive at your destination.

Problem here is if your PR TD app is delayed and they have your passport, it can impact your travel home.

The thing is, booking a flight to Europe in only a few weeks advance will make it super expensive (so if we wait until the PR card arrives and then book our flights, for, say, 2 weeks later, we might pay a fortune), so I guess the decision will be whether to simply change our plans and travel around Canada (at which point, I assume, no PR card or eTA is necessary to travel?)

Right, no PR card or PR TD required for domestic travel within Canada. You don't even need a passport for this, just some valid picture ID.

 

[Lady_Ashka]

No, the PR TD must be applied for only while outside of Canada. So you would not mail the PR TD app/passport until you actually arrive at your destination.

Problem here is if your PR TD app is delayed and they have your passport, it can impact your travel home.

Right, no PR card or PR TD required for domestic travel within Canada. You don't even need a passport for this, just some valid picture ID.

Thanks for the clarification, Rob! So it seems that travelling internationally before the PR card arrives is risky and not worth the risk which is a bummer because I was hoping to see my family one more time before I give birth and will be forced to stop travelling for at least a year or two. I guess they'll have to come and visit instead!

Thanks again

 

[Rob_TO]

Thanks for the clarification, Rob! So it seems that travelling internationally before the PR card arrives is risky and not worth the risk which is a bummer because I was hoping to see my family one more time before I give birth and will be forced to stop travelling for at least a year or two. I guess they'll have to come and visit instead!

Thanks again

As long as you're traveling for a sufficient amount of time (like at least a few weeks) to apply for and receive the PR Travel Document, there shouldn't be much risk involved. When applying for the PR TD you can submit copies of your return flight and request urgent processing. Others have reported getting their PR TD and passport mailed back all in less than 1 week. Of course this varies a bit by visa office, but in cases like yours where there is zero question surrounding residency obligation, there shouldn't be reason for any extended delay.

 

[Lady_Ashka]

As long as you're traveling for a sufficient amount of time (like at least a few weeks) to apply for and receive the PR Travel Document, there shouldn't be much risk involved. When applying for the PR TD you can submit copies of your return flight and request urgent processing. Others have reported getting their PR TD and passport mailed back all in less than 1 week. Of course this varies a bit by visa office, but in cases like yours where there is zero question surrounding residency obligation, there shouldn't be reason for any extended delay.

Oh, ok - that sounds reasonable! My visa office is in Warsaw, and I would actually by travelling to Poland if we do decide to go international (to see my family), though probably not for longer than two weeks, and that's probably cutting it close :/ But, will take all that into consideration (and at any rate, maybe the PR card will arrive in May, who knows ) - thanks!