+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445

Travel Visa vs. COPR vs. PR Card to Re-enter Canada

labataille16

Full Member
Apr 30, 2020
23
20
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
4162
AOR Received.
02-03-2020
Hi folks,
I got my COPR and I did a soft landing in Jul 2022, then return back to the US after staying there only several days.
Now my PR card is being mailed to my relative's address (the portal said that it could take up to 6 weeks, crossing my fingers).

My question is, I currently also possess a valid visitor visa in my passport. Can I use it to re-enter Canada by boarding a flight? Not sure if the officer will be able to tell if I am at the same time PR in the system and is using a visitor visa to enter the country? I plan to fly into Canada to get the PR card as I am afraid it may not be safe sending the card via courier...
I have asked the officer during soft landing about whether my visitor visa is still valid, she checked and said yes, it is not invalidated when I become PR.

I know that I can travel via land border with my COPR using my own car. In that case, what will happen if I drive out of Canada back to the US (assuming I have valid visa for re-entry to the US)?

Thank you.
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
95,902
22,149
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-05-2010
AOR Received.
19-08-2010
File Transfer...
28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-10-2010
LANDED..........
05-10-2010
Hi folks,
I got my COPR and I did a soft landing in Jul 2022, then return back to the US after staying there only several days.
Now my PR card is being mailed to my relative's address (the portal said that it could take up to 6 weeks, crossing my fingers).

My question is, I currently also possess a valid visitor visa in my passport. Can I use it to re-enter Canada by boarding a flight? Not sure if the officer will be able to tell if I am at the same time PR in the system and is using a visitor visa to enter the country? I plan to fly into Canada to get the PR card as I am afraid it may not be safe sending the card via courier...
I have asked the officer during soft landing about whether my visitor visa is still valid, she checked and said yes, it is not invalidated when I become PR.

I know that I can travel via land border with my COPR using my own car. In that case, what will happen if I drive out of Canada back to the US (assuming I have valid visa for re-entry to the US)?

Thank you.
The visitor visa has almost certainly been canceled by now and you won't be able to use it to board a flight. The airline will see this when you attempt to board. The issue is not the visa officer when you arrive in Canada but the airline and the fact they will most likely refuse boarding. The information the officer gave you during soft landing was incorrect. TRVs are generally canceled after a person becomes a PR. You can certainly try to board a flight using your old TRV. However given it's been over six months since you became a PR, chances are very high it won't work. If you want to fly, I would strongly recommend that you get your PR card courried to you outside of Canada.

Yes, you can re-enter Canada through a land border using a private vehicle and only your COPR (no PR card).
 

Islander216

Champion Member
Nov 27, 2019
2,110
1,338
Tell them to mail your PR card to you.

Not only will the visitor visa be cancelled on their system, they will see your immigrant visa in your passport and ask you for the PR card, you won't be able to board a flight without it.
 

labataille16

Full Member
Apr 30, 2020
23
20
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
4162
AOR Received.
02-03-2020
Thanks all, I will probably have my relative go there and pick it up for me.
Yes I am aware of the courier, but you know, just worry about it being intercepted at custom or being lost somewhere…I saw some posts where people can get it via FedEx too, but just worry from my end