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Traveling to Canada with COPR without landing

expatgoingback

Hero Member
Sep 10, 2020
211
96
App. Filed.......
02-09-2020
Does anyone know if it's possible to visit Canada with a COPR without officially landing? We have plans to travel to Canada and then head on a 10 day vacation with more family before returning to Canada. My wife and kids have COPR. I'm concerned because if they land when we first arrive in Canada they'll be considered PRs but won't have PR cards and subsequently wouldn't be able to go on the vacation and return to Canada.
 

DimT44

Hero Member
Apr 5, 2021
944
332
Does anyone know if it's possible to visit Canada with a COPR without officially landing? We have plans to travel to Canada and then head on a 10 day vacation with more family before returning to Canada. My wife and kids have COPR. I'm concerned because if they land when we first arrive in Canada they'll be considered PRs but won't have PR cards and subsequently wouldn't be able to go on the vacation and return to Canada.
I think that won’t be possible, but I’m following to see what others have to say.
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
97,181
23,035
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
Does anyone know if it's possible to visit Canada with a COPR without officially landing? We have plans to travel to Canada and then head on a 10 day vacation with more family before returning to Canada. My wife and kids have COPR. I'm concerned because if they land when we first arrive in Canada they'll be considered PRs but won't have PR cards and subsequently wouldn't be able to go on the vacation and return to Canada.
This was possbile pre-COVID (assuming those traveling had valid eTAs or TRVs). I don't know if it's possible now or if something has changed.
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
18,465
9,710
Only recent I've heard of was someone who did this at a land border - which I don't think helps you in that your concern is about entering by air, I think. (Where who knows because what's in the computers might take precedence, and then relationship to ETA or visa or etc)

So easiest for relative certainty would be to return by land (eg take flight to nearest airport in USA), but obviously not ideal. You could try CBSA but not sure they'd know enough to be certain.
 

expatgoingback

Hero Member
Sep 10, 2020
211
96
App. Filed.......
02-09-2020
Thanks @armoured and @scylla . Any idea if there would be an issue with them entering with their secondary passports when arriving the first time and then using the primary ones to land upon return from vacation?
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
97,181
23,035
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
Thanks @armoured and @scylla . Any idea if there would be an issue with them entering with their secondary passports when arriving the first time and then using the primary ones to land upon return from vacation?
Do they have eTAs or TRVs associated with their secondary passports? Not sure where they are from...
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
97,181
23,035
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

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
97,181
23,035
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

MJSPARV

Hero Member
Sep 17, 2020
418
253
You could try CBSA but not sure they'd know enough to be certain.
CBSA would almost certainly know if this is permissible or not as they'd be the ones deciding at the border if it's ok or not... OP could try calling CBSA (suggest calling a specific POE) and asking. I've had good luck with asking CBSA for clarification on a couple different things and have found they generally like to be sure that people know what's ok and what's not before arriving at a border crossing.