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decentgurl

Full Member
Nov 1, 2013
34
1
I recently received my PR Card and will soon renew my passport. Is it ok that my passport's lastname is different from the PR card's? My passport will bear my married lastname while the PR is still my maiden's name. or should i get a new PR card bearing my married last name? if so, how can i do it? thanks in advance.
 
If you need to use your PR card and passport at the same time, just have a copy of your marriage certificate with you.
 
Your PR card is presented to Canada when you are returning from overseas. Canada does not need to see your Passport.

Your Passport is presented whenever you are anywhere else in the world. Those countries do not need to see your PR card.
 
Matt the Aussie said:
Your PR card is presented to Canada when you are returning from overseas. Canada does not need to see your Passport.

Really? When you enter Canada with your PR card, they don't ask you for your passport!? First time I heard something like that :o
 
ZingyDNA said:
Really? When you enter Canada with your PR card, they don't ask you for your passport!? First time I heard something like that :o

What they ask you for and what they need are two different things. They are only supposed to consider your PR card. I wouldn't recommend refusing to show your passport if asked...
 
Matt the Aussie said:
Your PR card is presented to Canada when you are returning from overseas. Canada does not need to see your Passport.

Your Passport is presented whenever you are anywhere else in the world. Those countries do not need to see your PR card.

My husband's experience has been the exact opposite. And he often travels multiple times a month. You always have to show your passport when entering Canada. You must carry your PR card but he's never actually been asked to show his PR card by Canadian immigration in the four years since he got PR. All they've wanted is his passport.
 
scylla said:
My husband's experience has been the exact opposite. And he often travels multiple times a month. You always have to show your passport when entering Canada. You must carry your PR card but he's never actually been asked to show his PR card by Canadian immigration in the four years since he got PR. All they've wanted is his passport.

Is your husband American, or from any visa exempt countries?
 
scylla said:
My husband's experience has been the exact opposite. And he often travels multiple times a month. You always have to show your passport when entering Canada. You must carry your PR card but he's never actually been asked to show his PR card by Canadian immigration in the four years since he got PR. All they've wanted is his passport.

That's crazy. I don't doubt your husband's experience, but why even give us card then?
 
ZingyDNA said:
Is your husband American, or from any visa exempt countries?

My husband is American.

I think it's entirely possible that someone from a non-visa exempt country would be asked to show their PR card. BUT they would also have to show their passport.
 
Matt the Aussie said:
That's crazy. I don't doubt your husband's experience, but why even give us card then?

You have to carry your PR card in case you need to prove your permanent residency status. But the PR card doesn't replace a passport. A passport is still your primary travel document.
 
Hi,
When did u submit application for PR card?
It's almost 2 months I applied for PR card and still awaiting... trying to figure out how long exactly it takes for PR card to arrive.
Thank You.
 
Matt the Aussie said:
That's crazy. I don't doubt your husband's experience, but why even give us card then?

You need a PR card to prove to commercial carriers (airlines, etc) that you are a Canadian resident. CBSA doesn't really need it because they can just swipe your passport and see in their system that your are indeed a PR. If you have a visa-exempt passport, then a PR card is not so essential.

So really you need the PR card to get on the airplane/bus/etc to Canada.

The PR card is also helpful if you want to used the automated kiosk at some of the airports for Canadian citizens and PR holders. Otherwise you have to talk to an agent.

My wife and I have NEXUS so my wife (who is a PR) doesn't even carry her PR card anymore but simply carries her NEXUS card instead.