Traveling out of Canada between having 'landed' and receiving PR card

[emma7]

Good morning Everyone : )

I have a question: after 'landing' and before receiving PR card can one travel outside of Canada? My specific question is can one re-enter Canada without problems in that between period or should one just plan to stay in Canada and not travel outside of Canada until receiving the PR card?

Thank you so much!

 

[chakrab]

at this point you can use only private car to travel and use the COPR to enter back. it's not recommended and should be used with discretion.

 

[emma7]

Ok! So it seems that the best is to stay put and wait for the card. Thank you!

 

[Rob_TO]

at this point you can use only private car to travel and use the COPR to enter back. it's not recommended and should be used with discretion.

That's not true.

Visa-exempt people can travel by airplane just on their visa-exempt passport. When back at Canada border, the immigration officer only needs COPR + passport and can look up your PR status on their computer. Many people have done this with no problem.

If you require special visa to enter Canada, then you can arrange for a PR travel document if you don't have PR card yet and want to fly.

 

[chakrab]

here's the answer from CIC

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

 

[JRPW]

Good morning Everyone : )

I have a question: after 'landing' and before receiving PR card can one travel outside of Canada? My specific question is can one re-enter Canada without problems in that between period or should one just plan to stay in Canada and not travel outside of Canada until receiving the PR card?

Thank you so much!

As Rob mentioned above, if you travel on a visa-exempt passport, you can get away with traveling outside of Canada without your PR card. My Japanese wife and I traveled to Japan in May before my wife received her PR card. I made numerous inquiries on this forum about traveling without a PR card. All advice was accurate.

My wife didn't mentioned her PR status. The airline employee asked how long she was going to stay in Canada. We gave her an answer. The wife boarded with no difficulty.When we landed in Canada, I gave the CBSA agent the wife's passport and CoPR. He looked at them both and then stamped the wife's passport. No questions asked.

 

[emma7]

Thank you! this is all very reassuring : ) During that period, most likely is that I would be traveling by car to the US and re-entering with a visa-exempt passport.
Thank you all.

 

[Rob_TO]

here's the answer from CIC

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

"If you plan to return to Canada in a commercial vehicle — such as a plane, train, boat or bus — you must apply for a travel document at a visa office outside Canada before you return to Canada."

That is only applicable to people requiring a special travel visa. NOT for visa-exempt people. How do you think thousands of visitors travel to Canada every day with no PR card and no travel document??

 

[Rob_TO]

Thank you! this is all very reassuring : ) During that period, most likely is that I would be traveling by car to the US and re-entering with a visa-exempt passport.
Thank you all.

If you are driving then you don't need to worry.

When coming back, just tell the border officer you are a PR but are still waiting for your PR card in the mail, and show them your COPR and passport.

 

[emma7]

Yay!! thank you!

 

[avigtr]

Hi,
I drove few times to the us and back using only my COPR and it was perfectly fine.When they scan your passport they obviously see your status in Canada so no worries at all.
Regarding the exempt country advices I saw here,

Few months ago when I landed the nice agent in the landing office knowing that I am from a visa exempt country advised me to get the travel document anyway if I wont get the PR card on time.
I did get it on time and interestingly enough while coming back to Canada from Holland the security guy asked everyone to present Passport or PR cards before getting in the security check ups even though he saw my Visa exempt passport.
I don't know what would have happened if I didn't have a PR card or what is the protocol so I guess having a travel document won't hurt.

Good luck

 

[Alurra71]

Hi,
I drove few times to the us and back using only my COPR and it was perfectly fine.When they scan your passport they obviously see your status in Canada so no worries at all.
Regarding the exempt country advices I saw here,

Few months ago when I landed the nice agent in the landing office knowing that I am from a visa exempt country advised me to get the travel document anyway if I wont get the PR card on time.
I did get it on time and interestingly enough while coming back to Canada from Holland the security guy asked everyone to present Passport or PR cards before getting in the security check ups even though he saw my Visa exempt passport.
I don't know what would have happened if I didn't have a PR card or what is the protocol so I guess having a travel document won't hurt.

Good luck

Well you had a visa exempt passport so you could've just said "visitor" Water under the bridge for sure.

 

[avigtr]

Actually I don't need a visa for entering Canada so I could have said I am a Visitor I thought that the meaning of "visa exempt" means that you do no need visa to enter the country

Now just counting the days for citizenship...lots more days

 

[Alurra71]

Actually I don't need a visa for entering Canada so I could have said I am a Visitor I thought that the meaning of "visa exempt" means that you do no need visa to enter the country

Now just counting the days for citizenship...lots more days

That is EXACTLY what visa exempt means That is why you could have said you were a visitor in your vacation scenario above. I too am counting the days! But not too closely because I am busy enjoying my new life first and foremost