Urgent: Travelling with expired PR card via Greyhound?

[rlaw]

Hey guys!

So my mum is as we speak flying from a visa exempt country to Syracuse, NY. She was supposed to fly directly to Ottawa, ON but hadn't realized that her permanent resident card had expired. She plans on travelling to Ottawa via greyhound after landing in Syracuse. So my questions are:

Will they allow her back in? (Her card just expired a few days ago and she's well within her days required for permanent residence status)
Will Greyhound allow her on the bus? (Do they check your documents before takeoff?)
Will they keep her for a long time at the border/will she be able to get back on the bus to continue her trip to Ottawa?
If they do keep her for just a bit of time after everyone else is done how long does Greyhound actually wait?

I know this isn't a Greyhound forum but I do appreciate any help you can provide me with. I've racked up quite a bit of anxiety.

 

[Lammawitch]

Hey guys!

So my mum is as we speak flying from a visa exempt country to Syracuse, NY. She was supposed to fly directly to Ottawa, ON but hadn't realized that her permanent resident card had expired. She plans on travelling to Ottawa via greyhound after landing in Syracuse. So my questions are:

Will they allow her back in? (Her card just expired a few days ago and she's well within her days required for permanent residence status)
Yes.

Will Greyhound allow her on the bus? (Do they check your documents before takeoff?)
I don't see why not (They'll check her passport probably)

Will they keep her for a long time at the border/will she be able to get back on the bus to continue her trip to Ottawa?
Maybe. See below.

If they do keep her for just a bit of time after everyone else is done how long does Greyhound actually wait?
The bus won't wait for very long if she gets held up


I know this isn't a Greyhound forum but I do appreciate any help you can provide me with. I've racked up quite a bit of anxiety.

Good luck to your mum. It's really hard to give definitive answers, as she could sail through the border with no extra questioning (especially if she has her PR card with her, & if it's clear she meets RO), OR, she could be sent to secondary, which takes as long as it takes... .

I've come back to Canada with an expired card & spent several hours in secondary; my son came back with expired card and the CBSA agent didn't bat an eyelid & he was through in minutes.

I know that the bus won't wait long, because a young relative (not a PR, just a visitor) got held up at the border when bussing from NYC to MTL, and the bus left him there. (I ended up driving down to the border to pick him up).

 

[rlaw]

Good luck to your mum. It's really hard to give definitive answers, as she could sail through the border with no extra questioning (especially if she has her PR card with her, & if it's clear she meets RO), OR, she could be sent to secondary, which takes as long as it takes... .

I've come back to Canada with an expired card & spent several hours in secondary; my son came back with expired card and the CBSA agent didn't bat an eyelid & he was through in minutes.

I know that the bus won't wait long, because a young relative (not a PR, just a visitor) got held up at the border when bussing from NYC to MTL, and the bus left him there. (I ended up driving down to the border to pick him up).

Hi Lammawitch! Thank you so much for replying with your experience. When you had to drive to the border to pick up your relative did you have to cross the border? Or is there a pick up side available? Also would it be possible for her to take a cab into town from the border if there is no pick up side?

Thank you so much again!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Your previous post says she is travelling from Nigeria. If your mother holds a Nigerian passport, she will not be allowed to board a bus to Canada with her expired PR card. Greyhound is a commercial carrier, the same as an airline; they must follow the exact same rules when carrying passengers across the border into Canada. A non visa-exempt person must hold a TRV or valid PR card to show Greyhound that they can enter Canada.

The exemption for requiring a valid PR card only applies to those who cross the border on foot or in private car.

 

[Lammawitch]

No, I didn't have to cross the border.

However, my previous post concerned people with visa-exempt passports. If, as Canuck_in_uk says, your mum is Nigerian, none of what I said applies. See Canuck's reply.

 

[rlaw]

Your previous post says she is travelling from Nigeria. If your mother holds a Nigerian passport, she will not be allowed to board a bus to Canada with her expired PR card. Greyhound is a commercial carrier, the same as an airline; they must follow the exact same rules when carrying passengers across the border into Canada. A non visa-exempt person must hold a TRV or valid PR card to show Greyhound that they can enter Canada.

The exemption for requiring a valid PR card only applies to those who cross the border on foot or in private car.

Hi Guys! So what would the best option be to be able to get her across? She's got two huge luggages, a carry on, and a hand bag. I don't think that walking across would be a good option. I've come up with a few options that I feel should work.

Have her take a bus to Niagara falls, NY. Take a taxi across the border (not sure if taxis are considered private vehicles or if they travel across borders) to Niagara ON. And I pick her up from there.

I take a bus to somewhere in the states along with my credit card so that she can rent a vehicle one way and we both drive back together. Mind you my prc has also just expired but I do have an American Visa.

Or is it possible for her to send her luggage to ottawa or Niagara falls ON (whichever might be cheaper) with Greyhound. Have her take a bus to Niagara falls NY, walk over the border and then continue her journey?

Sorry for all the questions. If you have any better ideas I'd really appreciate it. Her plane lands in Syracuse by 11:45 PM so I'm just trying to gather as much information as possible. Thank you so much in advance.

 

[rlaw]

Your previous post says she is travelling from Nigeria. If your mother holds a Nigerian passport, she will not be allowed to board a bus to Canada with her expired PR card. Greyhound is a commercial carrier, the same as an airline; they must follow the exact same rules when carrying passengers across the border into Canada. A non visa-exempt person must hold a TRV or valid PR card to show Greyhound that they can enter Canada.

The exemption for requiring a valid PR card only applies to those who cross the border on foot or in private car.

I'm so sorry I meant to say from a NON-visa exempt country. I was very tired last night. Sorry

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Have her take a bus to Niagara falls, NY. Take a taxi across the border (not sure if taxis are considered private vehicles or if they travel across borders) to Niagara ON. And I pick her up from there.

Taxi is considered a private vehicle. This is your best option.

 

[rlaw]

Taxi is considered a private vehicle. This is your best option.

If she takes a taxi to the border and they take her to secondary and the taxi has to leave would it be possible for her to get another taxi to pick her up and take her into town?

I also just read that she could use a uhaul truck since they're not commercial... sounds silly but I've got a few friends who've rented one to travel when rental cars were to expensive. lol and at least this way she'll know for sure that she'll be able to catch a ride that can accommodate all her luggage?

Thanks for all your help guys.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Yes, it should be possible to just get another taxi.

She can use anything as long as it's not commercial.