TRAVEL WITHOUT PR CARD

[zainy]

Hi all,

My application just changed to Decision Made. Regardless to say, I am ecstatic especially because I hadn't heard anything from the VO since I sent my passport.

I am already in Canada and need some advice on travelling before I get my PR card. Has anyone had any experience leaving Canada and coming back with just the PR stamp on the passport and not the PR card itself?

From my research, it says that you can enter Canada by road with just your PR stamp on your passport and you don't need the PR card. However, if you fly into Canada, you need a PR card.

Is it a risk to travel without the PR card? or is it common?

Thanks for all the help!


Zainy

 

[zainy]

I forgot to mention that I have a Kenyan passport (not visa exempt country) and filed for an outland application while living in Canada on a visitor visa. My visitor visa expired last year and since then I have been on a visitor status.

Hope this paints a better idea of my situation. Thanks!

 

[Ponga]

You will need to apply for a Travel Document to travel via a commercial carrier:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/travel.asp

(source)
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=064&t=10

 

[Jamesdavid3]

If you are Visa Exempt you will not have any issues flying into Canada just simply show them your CORP document.

 

[Ponga]

If you are Visa Exempt you will not have any issues flying into Canada just simply show them your CORP document.

I forgot to mention that I have a Kenyan passport (not visa exempt country) and filed for an outland application while living in Canada on a visitor visa. My visitor visa expired last year and since then I have been on a visitor status.


The OP will need a Travel Document.

 

[zainy]

Thank you all!

I forgot to mention that I have a Kenyan passport (not visa exempt country) and filed for an outland application while living in Canada on a visitor visa. My visitor visa expired last year and since then I have been on a visitor status.


The OP will need a Travel Document.

Will I need a travel document if I enter by car (from the U.S. to Canada)? From what I read, if you enter by cross the border by car, you only need your landing documents. Am I missing something?

 

[Rob_TO]

Thank you all!

Will I need a travel document if I enter by car (from the U.S. to Canada)? From what I read, if you enter by cross the border by car, you only need your landing documents. Am I missing something?

Right, travel doc is only for purpose of boarding an airplane or bus. If travelling by car you don't need a travel doc, just passport and landing docs are fine for CBSA to determine your PR status.

 

[zainy]

Right, travel doc is only for purpose of boarding an airplane or bus. If travelling by car you don't need a travel doc, just passport and landing docs are fine for CBSA to determine your PR status.

Thanks Rob_TO. Just to confirm, even if I don't have a visa exempt passport or a valid visitor visa/status in Canada, I can still enter by car with valid landing docs, correct?

Do you mind providing the source to this information? Not doubting you; I just want to be certain I have all the facts incase questioned. Hope you understand!

Thanks again!

 

[Rob_TO]

Thanks Rob_TO. Just to confirm, even if I don't have a visa exempt passport or a valid visitor visa/status in Canada, I can still enter by car with valid landing docs, correct?

Do you mind providing the source to this information? Not doubting you; I just want to be certain I have all the facts incase questioned. Hope you understand!

Thanks again!

What do you mean status in Canada? You are a PR so of course you have valid status in Canada. Your PR card is just a card, it has nothing to do with your status. Same thing a citizen is still a citizen even if they don't have a valid passport on them.

This is common knowledge for traveling by car. Countless people on this site have done it, you can search for hundreds of stories on the topic.

 

[Aquakitty]

Thanks Rob_TO. Just to confirm, even if I don't have a visa exempt passport or a valid visitor visa/status in Canada, I can still enter by car with valid landing docs, correct?

Do you mind providing the source to this information? Not doubting you; I just want to be certain I have all the facts incase questioned. Hope you understand!

Thanks again!

Take a look here it pretty much confirms this:

As of March 15, 2016, you can only return to Canada by private vehicle if you do not have a PR card. To do so you must have other documents.

So even after March 15 next year you can return to Canada w/o the card, though the link on the page does not actually specify what documents you need. It doesn't say you need a travel document though like it does about air travel.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=064&t=10


(Erased part about status.)

 

[zainy]

Ok, thank you for clarifying. I was under the assumption that I would need a valid status to re-enter Canada in the absence of a physical PR card.

I will look into getting my landing papers etc. before planning a trip.

Once again, thank you for all the help!

 

[Rob_TO]

Ok, thank you for clarifying. I was under the assumption that I would need a valid status to re-enter Canada in the absence of a physical PR card.

I will look into getting my landing papers etc. before planning a trip.

Once again, thank you for all the help!

Just to clarify, if you just got DM you are not yet a PR. You should be mailed a COPR package, and your passport should get a PR visa/counterfoil placed in it. In order to land as a PR to activate your PR status, you will need to make an appointment at a local CIC office (which can take several months), or leave/re-enter Canada at a USA land border or via an international flight.

Then once you land and become a PR, you will need to wait up to 2 months before receiving your PR card in the mail. It's during this time after landing and while waiting for your PR card, that you can travel to Canada as a PR in a car with your COPR and passport only. If you take your trip after receiving COPR but before doing your landing, then upon returning to Canada you can simply do your landing procedure to become a PR.


.

 

[Ponga]

It's good to know even those from non-visa exempt countries can apply outland without status in Canada. Lots of people worry about this.

Why do you think that the OP is out of status?

A post on August 24th, indicated that s/he was in Canada with visitor status.

 

[Aquakitty]

Why do you think that the OP is out of status?

A post on August 24th, indicated that s/he was in Canada with visitor status.

My visitor visa expired last year and since then I have been on a visitor status.

I was under the assumption that I would need a valid status to re-enter Canada in the absence of a physical PR card.

I read the post you are talking about and it seems he did renew his status, it was confusingly worded. They say they have no status in that last quote.

 

[zainy]

I just wanted to clarify some details regarding my situation for those confused.

I entered Canada and got married to my husband (sponsor) on a visitor visa which expired last year. Since then, I have been renewing my status and receiving a visitor record while I reside in Canada. I have done this twice as I only got 6 month extensions. My last one expires this month.

I initially thought that I wouldn't have valid status because of my expired visitor record because some posts on the forum mentioned you should have a visa exempt passport to enter Canada which I don't have. I believe that is a misunderstanding on my part.

As Rob_TO mentioned, my stamped passport with the PR visa determines my status so I should be good.

Just to clarify, if you just got DM you are not yet a PR. You should be mailed a COPR package, and your passport should get a PR visa/counterfoil placed in it. In order to land as a PR to activate your PR status, you will need to make an appointment at a local CIC office (which can take several months), or leave/re-enter Canada at a USA land border or via an international flight.

Am I mailed the COPR package separately by my home country's VO or should I expect it with my passport?