Travel without a PR card after landing with COPR

[yuting]

Hi everyone, I'm originally from a country that is not visa exempt for Canada. I got my COPR this week and landed today. But I just learned that I cannot travel outside the country and re-enter before receiving the PR card. I had no idea that both my work visa and PR visa would become invalid after landing and I would need a travel document (PRTD) for traveling. I've booked a trip to Peru next month and have no time to apply for a PRTD or to wait for the PR card to arrive (takes about 45 days?).

I learned that you can enter Canada by a private vehicle. So I'm wondering instead of flying back to Vancouver, can I fly to Seattle and rent a car there to drive back? Or will it be a problem since I'm actually traveling to Peru, not US?

Any suggestions? Thank you for your help.

P.S., Canada Post delivered my passport and COPR to the wrong mail box. I posted notices around the neighborhood and finally got my passport back. Now I learned that I need a PRTD to re-enter Canada. Such an emotional roller coast for me these couple of days!

 

[dpenabill]

Hi everyone, I'm originally from a country that is not visa exempt for Canada. I got my COPR this week and landed today. But I just learned that I cannot travel outside the country and re-enter before receiving the PR card. I had no idea that both my work visa and PR visa would become invalid after landing and I would need a travel document (PRTD) for traveling. I've booked a trip to Peru next month and have no time to apply for a PRTD or to wait for the PR card to arrive (takes about 45 days?).

I learned that you can enter Canada by a private vehicle. So I'm wondering instead of flying back to Vancouver, can I fly to Seattle and rent a car there to drive back? Or will it be a problem since I'm actually traveling to Peru, not US?

Any suggestions? Thank you for your help.

P.S., Canada Post delivered my passport and COPR to the wrong mail box. I posted notices around the neighborhood and finally got my passport back. Now I learned that I need a PRTD to re-enter Canada. Such an emotional roller coast for me these couple of days!

You do not need a PR TD to re-enter Canada. As a landed PR you are entitled to enter Canada. All you really need to do is to establish your identity (your passport does that) and PR status (CoPR should suffice, although for most just proof of identity also adequately identifies one as a PR).

The problem, typically, is more about getting yourself to a Canadian Port-of-Entry (POE). Thus, however it is that you reach a Canadian POE, once you reach the POE as a Canadian PR you get to enter.

The PR TD is about boarding a commercial carrier destined for Canada. Carriers (mostly talking about airlines) must screen passengers for authorization to enter Canada before allowing them to board a flight to Canada. If you are not visa exempt, do not have a PR card, and do not have a PR TD, an airline will not allow you to board a flight to Canada.

On the other hand, yes, if a PR can travel to the U.S., it is ordinarily easy to then travel to a land crossing between the U.S. and Canada, and again, once at the Canadian POE the PR will be allowed to enter. (Whether this can be accomplished using a rental car is more about what is available from the rental agencies.)

For many who cannot board a flight destined for Canada without a visa or PR card or PR TD, they also cannot board a flight to the U.S.

But for those who can travel to the U.S., yes, they can travel to the U.S., and then by car to the Canadian border and upon presenting themselves to the Canadian POE will be allowed to enter Canada . . . assuming identity and status are verified.

 

[yuting]

Thanks a lot dpenabill! I do have a US Visa so it should work out. I'll just change the flight to Seattle and rent a car to drive back to Vancouver.

 

[rusticdud]

just curious , did this work out for you