Client Portal
+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445
  • Forums
  • Settlement in Canada
  • Settlement Issues

Travelling before getting PR Card

shortymac

shortymac

Full Member
Feb 22, 2012
37
0
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa - CPP
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
Jan 7th, 2013
Nomination.....
Stephanie McNamara
AOR Received.
Feb 13th, 2013
Med's Done....
Nov 20th, 2012
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
July 5th, 2013
VISA ISSUED...
Aug 28th, 2013
LANDED..........
August 29th, 2013
Hi all,

I just landed a few weeks ago and I am planning on getting a job that would require a lot of travel. I know I can't travel commercially (via plane, etc) until I get my PR card. However I assume I can still travel by car to the US and then fly out of Buffalo correct?

I'm a US citizen.
 
S

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
95,847
22,112
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
You can travel by airplane. My husband (also American) did this several times before receiving his PR card.
 
shortymac

shortymac

Full Member
Feb 22, 2012
37
0
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa - CPP
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
Jan 7th, 2013
Nomination.....
Stephanie McNamara
AOR Received.
Feb 13th, 2013
Med's Done....
Nov 20th, 2012
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
July 5th, 2013
VISA ISSUED...
Aug 28th, 2013
LANDED..........
August 29th, 2013
scylla said:
You can travel by airplane. My husband (also American) did this several times before receiving his PR card.
Click to expand...
Really? Because when I landed the immigration worker stated that I couldn't use this to travel on a plane. Then I did some research and it seems like I can't travel commercially.

The wording makes it seem that returning is what they are concerned with, not leaving.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=605&t=10
 
steaky

steaky

VIP Member
Nov 11, 2008
14,773
1,750
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
shortymac said:
Really? Because when I landed the immigration worker stated that I couldn't use this to travel on a plane. Then I did some research and it seems like I can't travel commercially.

The wording makes it seem that returning is what they are concerned with, not leaving.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=605&t=10
Click to expand...
But you can use your US passport to travel commercially.
 
shortymac

shortymac

Full Member
Feb 22, 2012
37
0
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa - CPP
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
Jan 7th, 2013
Nomination.....
Stephanie McNamara
AOR Received.
Feb 13th, 2013
Med's Done....
Nov 20th, 2012
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
July 5th, 2013
VISA ISSUED...
Aug 28th, 2013
LANDED..........
August 29th, 2013
steaky said:
But you can use your US passport to travel commercially.
Click to expand...
It seems I can leave just fine, but returning back to Canada and saying I'm a PR without the card could be problematic.
 
steaky

steaky

VIP Member
Nov 11, 2008
14,773
1,750
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
shortymac said:
It seems I can leave just fine, but returning back to Canada and saying I'm a PR without the card could be problematic.
Click to expand...
It would be fine, especially you are a new PR.
 
S

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
95,847
22,112
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
shortymac said:
It seems I can leave just fine, but returning back to Canada and saying I'm a PR without the card could be problematic.
Click to expand...
Wasn't a problem for my husband. He traveled in and out of Canada on his US passport a few times before getting his PR card. He told Canadian immigration that he was newly landed and was waiting for his PR card to arrive. They seemed to have no problem with that. And no - I wasn't with him on any of these trips.
 
M

Msafiri

Champion Member
Nov 18, 2012
2,667
104
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
shortymac said:
It seems I can leave just fine, but returning back to Canada and saying I'm a PR without the card could be problematic.
Click to expand...
PR Card is required for commercial carrier travel...the airline/greyhound etc don't care if you are a PR or not they just want to make sure you will be admitted into Canada. If you don't they get fined and pay for your travel back home. As a USC carrier takes the view you are a tourist and will get admission since you don't need a visa to travel to Canada you can just show up at the border and deal with immigration. Now if you had a non visa exempt nationality e.g. Mexico you would need a PR Card as proof of your status. Most carriers though expect all non Citizen/PR Card holding travellers (visa and non visa exempt) to have a return ticket - that way if you get bounced at the border you already paid to go back home.
 
C

ct_wind

Newbie
Sep 6, 2013
5
0
Hi all,

Similar to shortymac, I may leave Canada before getting PR Card. Could I have my friend Fedex it to me and use it to go back Canada later ? CIC only mentions on their website that they will not send the PR card outside Canada. It doesn't say the PR Card could not be sent out later by relatives or friends. I'm afraid customs officer could verify leaving date on my passport and put me in trouble. Is there anyone experience the same issue ?
 
S

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
95,847
22,112
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
ct_wind said:
Hi all,

Similar to shortymac, I may leave Canada before getting PR Card. Could I have my friend Fedex it to me and use it to go back Canada later ? CIC only mentions on their website that they will not send the PR card outside Canada. It doesn't say the PR Card could not be sent out later by relatives or friends. I'm afraid customs officer could verify leaving date on my passport and put me in trouble. Is there anyone experience the same issue ?
Click to expand...
Yes - your friend can Fedex the card to you. Lots of people do this. No issues.
 
M

MrSputnik

Star Member
Aug 27, 2013
130
1
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Since I might run into the same issue once given PR I asked a local VAC in Germany. They told me that my passport will be enough to enter Canada again. Remember that Germany is a visa exempt country though. Not sure if this will work for non visa exempt passport holders. My guess would be that it is only true for visa exempt passport holders.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.