Using a flight layover to enter country?

[brit1996]

I have posted my story before on my PR expiring while outside of the country, my initial plan was to enter via the US border coming into Vancouver from Seattle with a British passport, however it occurred to me there may be a better method that may prove more simple but, i need to know if it will work. If i book a flight from London U.K to Seattle that has a layover in Vancouver can i just leave the airport without the Canadian border knowing I am a PR with an expired card? So i would just leave going through the non-Canadian citizen route at the airport.

 

[Rob_TO]

If i book a flight from London U.K to Seattle that has a layover in Vancouver can i just leave the airport without the Canadian border knowing I am a PR with an expired card? So i would just leave going through the non-Canadian citizen route at the airport.

How do you figure that's any different from entering Canada on a direct flight? When you leave the layover area you'll need to pass through CBSA/immigration the same as if it was a direct flight to Canada, and there's a chance you'll be found as a PR and in violation of the RO. Chance of being discovered for not meeting RO would be the same if you drive across the border. Whether driving or flying, it all depends on what CBSA officer you happen to talk to.

 

[nope]

I have posted my story before on my PR expiring while outside of the country, my initial plan was to enter via the US border coming into Vancouver from Seattle with a British passport, however it occurred to me there may be a better method that may prove more simple but, i need to know if it will work. If i book a flight from London U.K to Seattle that has a layover in Vancouver can i just leave the airport without the Canadian border knowing I am a PR with an expired card? So i would just leave going through the non-Canadian citizen route at the airport.

Or, you could go play golf on the golf course in Vermont that crosses the border, and then while you are on the Canadian side you could pretend to have heat stroke, and get yourself taken to the clinic in Perth-Andover, New Brunswick. After they treat you, you could wander out into Canada, free to live the life of a PR.

 

[shekhawatmx]

How do you figure that's any different from entering Canada on a direct flight? When you leave the layover area you'll need to pass through CBSA/immigration the same as if it was a direct flight to Canada, and there's a chance you'll be found as a PR and in violation of the RO. Chance of being discovered for not meeting RO would be the same if you drive across the border. Whether driving or flying, it all depends on what CBSA officer you happen to talk to.

True otherwise everyone would have opted this method to avoid CBSA.
i suggest you use land border to enter and make sure carry your original landing papers.

 

[Bs65]

True otherwise everyone would have opted this method to avoid CBSA.
i suggest you use land border to enter and make sure carry your original landing papers.

And if the OP flies in post September 29 as a UK passport holder they would need an ETA even to transit Vancouver to Seattle.

But of course given they will show as PR in the system they cannot get an ETA but would either need a travel document or renounce PR to get an ETA which is not the objective. Getting a travel document without proof of residence ties etc would be a challenge so best option seems direct to Seattle then land border and although still as PR in the system OP will likely be allowed into Canada, keep fingers crossed no flags raised on RO given gets complicated thereafter once identified. The other route transit Vancouver to Seattle means passing through Canada immigration twice, doubling the odds on RO being flagged.

So the initial plan as others have said will not fly, although if it had succeeded many people on this forum would be looking to the OP on a consultancy basis how to leave transit area going through the non-Canadian citizen route at the airport and into Canada without immigration clearance.

 

[scylla]

How do you figure that's any different from entering Canada on a direct flight? When you leave the layover area you'll need to pass through CBSA/immigration the same as if it was a direct flight to Canada, and there's a chance you'll be found as a PR and in violation of the RO. Chance of being discovered for not meeting RO would be the same if you drive across the border. Whether driving or flying, it all depends on what CBSA officer you happen to talk to.

Agreed it's no different. If anything - it's actually more work and more money.

 

[brit1996]

How do you figure that's any different from entering Canada on a direct flight? When you leave the layover area you'll need to pass through CBSA/immigration the same as if it was a direct flight to Canada, and there's a chance you'll be found as a PR and in violation of the RO. Chance of being discovered for not meeting RO would be the same if you drive across the border. Whether driving or flying, it all depends on what CBSA officer you happen to talk to.

I am not in violation of my RO, the only complication is my PR card is in the processed of being renewed while I am outside of the country, it was not my choice to do this my parents sent the application.

 

[Rob_TO]

I am not in violation of my RO, the only complication is my PR card is in the processed of being renewed while I am outside of the country, it was not my choice to do this my parents sent the application.

You were given advice last month to withdraw that renewal app since you stated back then you did not meet the RO, and are not even currently in Canada. Now you are saying you are not in violation of the RO, So have you spent 2 of the past 5 years in Canada or not?

This has no impact to how you try to enter Canada. Any way you choose, you need to pass through CBSA.

 

[Tri-Cities]

@Brit1996
How can you not be in violation of your RO, you wrote in another thread:

My PR card expired in October,2015 and I did not fulfill the 730 days requirement of staying in Canada;...

Just curious - still wish you luck though.