Traveling between Canada and US before being issued PR Card?

[Rain_In_Vancouver]

This is my first post, however I've been reading these forums for a year and am almost ready to land in Canada.

In a nutshell, if you are a US citizen AND a newly landed Canadian permanent resident, do you need to physically have the PR card to travel back and forth between the US and Canada by airplane?

Logistically, I will need to make 2 or 3 airplane trips between the US and Canada in the month after landing to settle matters and move my stuff into Canada. Since it takes 2 months after landing to receive a PR card, I will be without one at this time. Is this air travel permissible, or will I need to figure out other means of travel for those two months?

Anyone with experience in this matter or have any tips to share?

Thanks!

 

[SpottedDick]

Anyone with experience in this matter or have any tips to share?

As long as you have your US passport stamped with Canadian PR status, you can present it to CBSA to show your status in Canada. When you get the PR card, this is the only document required by CBSA unless they decide to ask for the passport in order to see, for example, your previous trips or anything else.
Carry both just in case.

 

[Rain_In_Vancouver]

As long as you have your US passport stamped with Canadian PR status, you can present it to CBSA to show your status in Canada. When you get the PR card, this is the only document required by CBSA unless they decide to ask for the passport in order to see, for example, your previous trips or anything else.
Carry both just in case.

This is where I'm concerned. When I received my PPR email, it explicitly stated NOT to send my physical passport but rather a photocopy of it. I'm wondering if I will need to fly to Seattle and then rent a car to Vancouver to cross by land with COPR papers?

 

[SpottedDick]

This is where I'm concerned. When I received my PPR email, it explicitly stated NOT to send my physical passport but rather a photocopy of it. I'm wondering if I will need to fly to Seattle and then rent a car to Vancouver to cross by land with COPR papers?

The airline will put you on the plane based on your US passport. They don't care if you are PR or not, US passport is enough for them. CBSA (border control) in Vancouver airport will probably send you to the immigration office at the airport in order to confirm you are waiting for the PR card. Should be fine, don't worry much.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

This is where I'm concerned. When I received my PPR email, it explicitly stated NOT to send my physical passport but rather a photocopy of it. I'm wondering if I will need to fly to Seattle and then rent a car to Vancouver to cross by land with COPR papers?

As a US citizen, you are visa-exempt, so you do not send your passport for visa stamping.

You can fly on the strength of your US passport. You need to present yourself to the airline as a visitor. If you tell them you are a PR, they can refuse to board you without a PR card or PRTD.