Traveling with US Passport instead of PR card?

[dedonde]

I am an American citizen and I have PR status. My PR card has expired and I have not traveled back to canada for a few years. Note that because I was partly working for the canadian gov, I think I have not lost PR status. That is, however, a difficult thing to prove to an airport customs officer.

- Can I just travel back to canada without a PR card (or with an expired card) using my US passport?
- and do I really need to renew my PR card when I am in Canada?

Thanks so much for your help.

 

[Ponga]

Your PR Card has expired, not your PR status. As a U.S. citizen you can travel on the strength of your passport, but...what happens when you arrive at the airport in Canada? Which line do you get in? Obviously, you are not a [current] resident of Canada, but you are [still] a PR of Canada. I suggest you carry your expired card and avoid using one of the kiosks. since it will require you to scan your Pr Card, NOT your U.S. passport. You'll need to see an officer, like visitors do.


Have you met the Residency Obligation of spending at least 730 days in Canada (doesn't need to be all at once) within the last 5 years? When you state that you've not been in Canada for a few years, is that literal or vague?

If you have not, you still have the right to enter Canada, but expect that CBSA may report you for non-compliance, which could lead to revocation of your PR.

If you get in without being reported, you'd need to stay in Canada for at least 730 days (or the remainder of 730 days within the current rolling 5-year period) before applying for a new card...unless you want to open up that Pandora's Box.

Now, having said that...I'm not sure how working abroad for the Canadian government could circumvent that, but...perhaps it does.

Bottom line: You still have the right to enter Canada.

 

[dedonde]

I have not lived in Canada for the past 4-5 years.