US Citizen with Canada PR card...travel back and forth

[keesio]

While we are on the subject, references to the CoPR typically refer to IMM 5292 OR IMM 5688. Mine is IMM 5292. Is the IMM 5688 the more recent version, perhaps the one implemented attendant the change eliminating a visa in the passport for those from a visa-exempt country?

yes, exactly. IMM 5292 is the older CoPR they issued at the Point of Entry when you showed them your passport with the counterfoil. They printed it on the spot (likely using the old dot matrix printer on the old continuous form printer paper sheet) and you have a carbon copy. IMM 5688 is the more recent version where they mail both copies to you in advance and you present these at the border. I believe everyone gets this format, not just people with visa-exempt passports (no 100% sure though). But the people without a visa-exempt passport will need the counterfoil (or some kind of physical visa) affixed to their passport to be able to board the place (since CoPR is not a valid travel document)

 

[keesio]

Not sure why, but neither of you, PMM and keesio, address the OP's question itself, which my observation was in regards to:

"When we first arrive in Canada, will they place a PR visa stamp on the US passport or will they just send us the PR card in the mail?"

If a visa (counterfoil) is no longer affixed in the passport of a U.S. citizen, or citizen from other visa-exempt country, I am guessing that the answer is that nonetheless the passport is stamped to show fact of landing. Is that correct? My passport has both, the visa affixed on one page (filling up that page), with a big X scratched across it, and a stamp on the next page, the visa number (same as "Doc" No. in my CoPR) handwritten adjacent to the stamp (guessing that if I am correct, that there is still such a stamp placed in the passport, then there is still the reference number same as CoPR doc number or current equivalent entered as well).

In any event, I assume the prospective PR (from visa exempt country) is still sent multiple copies of the CoPR, which is incomplete until the landing formalities are done, and then one copy of that, as completed, is returned to the landing immigrant. I also assume that until the prospective PR has actually been physically issued the CoPR, the Decision Made is provisional not final.

Yes you are correct. They still stamp your passport. My wife and I have a similar stamp in there. Only diff is that she doesn;t have the counterfoil, while I do, since I landed before 2011 and she landed after (and I have IMM5292 while she has IMM 5688)

 

[dpenabill]

Not sure it matters, but as I said my CoPR is IMM 5292, and I received multiple copies of the CoPR in the same package as my passport with the visa/counterfoil. There were at least three copies, old school carbon style copies, and the third one became the copy returned to me at the POE. It is barely legible, several smudged entries, the paper is little more than tissue thin, as flimsy a document as one might still call a document. I fully understand how some did not realize this was an important historical document to keep and failed to safe-keep it, as it has the look of something typically tossed away.

I very soon removed my CoPR from my passport, since in those days I was still traveling a fair amount (we've slowed down considerably the last couple years) and I did not want to see it get beat up any more, or torn, or lost.

Still have vivid memory of the day I landed. Wind chill was in the minus 30s slipping toward minus 40s. It was a big deal to me. Taking the oath of citizenship was a big day, but the day I landed and became, as the POE officer said, "a Canadian," that too was a big day, a good day, very cold, but a good day.

 

[vishalv]

Not sure it matters, but as I said my CoPR is IMM 5292, and I received multiple copies of the CoPR in the same package as my passport with the visa/counterfoil. There were at least three copies, old school carbon style copies, and the third one became the copy returned to me at the POE. It is barely legible, several smudged entries, the paper is little more than tissue thin, as flimsy a document as one might still call a document. I fully understand how some did not realize this was an important historical document to keep and failed to safe-keep it, as it has the look of something typically tossed away.

I very soon removed my CoPR from my passport, since in those days I was still traveling a fair amount (we've slowed down considerably the last couple years) and I did not want to see it get beat up any more, or torn, or lost.

Still have vivid memory of the day I landed. Wind chill was in the minus 30s slipping toward minus 40s. It was a big deal to me. Taking the oath of citizenship was a big day, but the day I landed and became, as the POE officer said, "a Canadian," that too was a big day, a good day, very cold, but a good day.

Hi dpenabill,

Just curious, Can you tell me your migration timeline to Canada. Like on when you landed as PR and on when you applied and received Citizenship. Just to have a general idea.

Plus which city did you choose to migrate.

Thanks

 

[keesio]

Not sure it matters, but as I said my CoPR is IMM 5292, and I received multiple copies of the CoPR in the same package as my passport with the visa/counterfoil. There were at least three copies, old school carbon style copies, and the third one became the copy returned to me at the POE. It is barely legible, several smudged entries, the paper is little more than tissue thin, as flimsy a document as one might still call a document. I fully understand how some did not realize this was an important historical document to keep and failed to safe-keep it, as it has the look of something typically tossed away.

I very soon removed my CoPR from my passport, since in those days I was still traveling a fair amount (we've slowed down considerably the last couple years) and I did not want to see it get beat up any more, or torn, or lost.

Still have vivid memory of the day I landed. Wind chill was in the minus 30s slipping toward minus 40s. It was a big deal to me. Taking the oath of citizenship was a big day, but the day I landed and became, as the POE officer said, "a Canadian," that too was a big day, a good day, very cold, but a good day.

I landed in 2009 (after living in Canada for 8 years on a work permit). They printed my IMM 5292 at landing right there. Printed from an old school dot matrix feed printer. It was 3 copies also (the printer printed on a 3 layer special paper). They kept the first two (after the needed signatures and initials) and gave me the third. Yes, it was a really flimsy, almost see-through white paper. I actually did not realize it was important either and freaked when I applied for citizenship and they were asking me for it. Fortunately I never throw anything away and had it in some folder with a collection of other random papers. Now I have it in my collection of "very important documents" since I know I'll need it to collect old age pension down the road

 

[Ponga]

I landed in 2009 (after living in Canada for 8 years on a work permit). They printed my IMM 5292 at landing right there. Printed from an old school dot matrix feed printer. It was 3 copies also (the printer printed on a 3 layer special paper). They kept the first two (after the needed signatures and initials) and gave me the third. Yes, it was a really flimsy, almost see-through white paper. I actually did not realize it was important either and freaked when I applied for citizenship and they were asking me for it. Fortunately I never throw anything away and had it in some folder with a collection of other random papers. Now I have it in my collection of "very important documents" since I know I'll need it to collect old age pension down the road

I'm still baffled that there are no identifiers showing this to be an original. Mine looks, and feels, identical to my copies, except for the yellow highlighter mark on the bottom corner from the officer.

Is that really all that was needed to discern the original from the copies?

 

[keesio]

I found a picture of what my IMM5292 looks like:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/attachments/canada-56/114324d1381966682-citizenship-application-imm-1000-5292-5688-imm5292.jpg

 

[keesio]

I'm still baffled that there are no identifiers showing this to be an original. Mine looks, and feels, identical to my copies, except for the yellow highlighter mark on the bottom corner from the officer.

Is that really all that was needed to discern the original from the copies?

What baffles me is why they give you such a hard time if you lose this document. They already have you in the system so why is keeping this document so important?