US citizen, PR status in Canada, no PR card, traveling from Canada to Mexico and back

[Natasha Lacaille]

Hello,

My mother is a US citizen (with valid passport) however immigrated to Canada in 1974. Back then they didn't have PR cards and she hasn't left Canada in 20 years. We went to the US embassy in Vancouver to get her US passport and booked a trip to Mexico without realizing she needed a PR card. She said she was a PR but they didn't issue cards back then so she never received one. We applied for an original PR card in January of this year and now we are past the processing times and leaving in two and a half weeks and it doesn't appear that we will get the card in time. Is she going to have issues getting back to Canada from Mexico if she doesn't say she is a PR and just use her US passport? I am worried about her being stuck in Mexico, once she is in Canada I know we will be able to prove her PR status as she meets all requirements. We are only in mexico for 7 days which doesn't allow of us to get a travel document once there.

Thanks in advance for all advice.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hello,

My mother is a US citizen (with valid passport) however immigrated to Canada in 1974. Back then they didn't have PR cards and she hasn't left Canada in 20 years. We went to the US embassy in Vancouver to get her US passport and booked a trip to Mexico without realizing she needed a PR card. She said she was a PR but they didn't issue cards back then so she never received one. We applied for an original PR card in January of this year and now we are past the processing times and leaving in two and a half weeks and it doesn't appear that we will get the card in time. Is she going to have issues getting back to Canada from Mexico if she doesn't say she is a PR and just use her US passport? I am worried about her being stuck in Mexico, once she is in Canada I know we will be able to prove her PR status as she meets all requirements. We are only in mexico for 7 days which doesn't allow of us to get a travel document once there.

Thanks in advance for all advice.

Hi

She will not have any issues. Americans can fly to Canada on the strength of just their passport. Don't mention her PR status to the airline.

 

[ilovepepsi]

Hi Natasha - my son is in the similar situation as your mother. We live in Toronto and I have PR card already. My son just landed last month and is still waiting for his PR card. He is a US citizen. We booked a trip to Cancun in late April. The CIC website says the processing time for new PR card is 46 days, but my friends told me it usually takes longer, like 3 months or so. That makes me nervous if we can get it in time before we leave. Could you share your experience when you're back? We will carry his COPR and won't mention the PR status to the airline. I think there won't be a problem of boarding the plane with his US passport, but I am worried if we will have trouble with CBSA. Thanks so much.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi Natasha - my son is in the similar situation as your mother. We live in Toronto and I have PR card already. My son just landed last month and is still waiting for his PR card. He is a US citizen. We booked a trip to Cancun in late April. The CIC website says the processing time for new PR card is 46 days, but my friends told me it usually takes longer, like 3 months or so. That makes me nervous if we can get it in time before we leave. Could you share your experience when you're back? We will carry his COPR and won't mention the PR status to the airline. I think there won't be a problem of boarding the plane with his US passport, but I am worried if we will have trouble with CBSA. Thanks so much.

CBSA won't care. He is a PR with zero Residency Obligation issues and has the right of entry.

 

[Mthornt]

My wife and I have been PRs in Canada for about a year now, and travel regularly to the US and Mexico by air. Although we always carry them, we have not once been asked for our PR cards by an airline. Once you show the US passport they don't ask.