US Citizen living and working in Canada, will travel back to US for vacation...

[CanadaGirl35]

Hi All!

New to the forums here, but I have a question that might have already been answered.

I am a US citizen, living and working in Canada and married to a Canadian Citizen. My husband and I travel together to the US several times a year for our holidays and book our vacations months in advance due to work schedules. Currently I hold a valid non-expired PR card, meet all RO, and have mailed in my PR card renewal application. My problem is, we have booked a vacation whereas, I leave Canada on a 5 day trip with a non-expired PR card, but returning with an expired PR card. ( misread the expire date on my PR card by 3 days). I don't believe my new card will get here in time and I don't want to have to apply for travel documents (as they could take longer to get back to me than my PR card).

Question: Could I be refused entry back into Canada?

Any input would help. Thank you so much!

 

[Rob_TO]

Question: Could I be refused entry back into Canada?

No you can't be refused entry into Canada. CBSA doesn't actually need your physical PR card, they can determine your PR status simply by your passport, and might help to also show your COPR landing document.

The only problem in this case is boarding a flight back to Canada. If you tell an airline you're a PR, they may demand to see a valid (non-expired) PR card to allow boarding. So in your case it may be better to not mention your PR status to the airline, and simply tell them you've traveling to Canada as a visitor on your visa-exempt US passport.

 

[CanadaGirl35]

Thank you for the response. I will say I have never had an airline ask me verbally about my PR status. The only thing I have ever done at the airport automated check-in terminals, is enter my country of citizenship, my country of residency, where I am staying during my stay in the US, contact info, passport scanned, seat selection, yes/no checked bags, dangerous good, etc. Now, thinking about the return flights back to Canada ( we always book roundtrip via airline website ), I don't think the automated check-in terminals were requiring to much details.

 

[CanadaGirl35]

Ok, the re-entry back into Canada ( May 14, 2015) with an expired PR card went as such: When asked by the Border Agent "What is my status in Canada?" I replied "Permanent Resident". He then asked to see my PR card and informed me that it will expire at the end of the month ( May 31, 2015). Truthfully, it expired two days prior to me coming back to Canada (May 12, 2015), but I wasn't going to point that out. I then told the agent that I had applied for a renewal and was just waiting on a response from CIC. My husband and I were waved through with a welcome home greeting. No hassle. Also, checked the CIC website on application status yesterday (May 19, 2015), and this is what was posted:

1.We received your application for a permanent resident card on March 30, 2015.

2.We started processing your application on May 11, 2015.

3.Your request for a permanent resident card was approved on May 11, 2015. Your Permanent resident card will be mailed to you or if quality assurance is required, made available for you to pick up at a CIC office.


Thanks for all your help.

 

[CanadaGirl35]

1.We received your application for a permanent resident card on March 30, 2015.
2.We started processing your application on May 11, 2015.
3.Your request for a permanent resident card was approved on May 11, 2015. Your Permanent resident card will be mailed to you or if quality assurance is required, made available for you to pick up at a CIC office.
4.Your Permanent Resident card was sent by mail on June 3, 2015.

Not bad, time-wise. Less than 30 days from processing to mailing!

Received PR card in mail June 10, 2015