Will entering without PR card (but visa exempt) affect PR status?

[IrisSphere]

Hi Everyone,

Hope someone can offer their thoughts on below.

My husband has an Italian passport and is a landed PR as of November2015 but still without his PR card.. He bought a ticket to visit his family for a week leaving Feb 15 returning Feb 23. Because he is from visa-exempt country, and travelling before March 15 we thought he'd be mostly safe to re-enter (and have read numerous cases of others doing so), but started wondering - Can this in any way affect his PR status?

CIC refused to answer this specific question, citing the whole Travel document requirement, etc.. but i know they will never offer an alternative that is not written in black and white. If questioned, he knows to only show his Italian passport to the airline (Air Canada), and when arriving to the border telling the agent he is a PR with his Confirmation and everything. We assume he will then be able to enter Canada as a PR, not a visitor, without affecting his status. Does this make sense?

We thought he'd have the card by now, when he landed the wait time was 56 days
Look forward to your thoughts!

 

[Rob_TO]

Hi Everyone,

Hope someone can offer their thoughts on below.

My husband has an Italian passport and is a landed PR as of November2015 but still without his PR card.. He bought a ticket to visit his family for a week leaving Feb 15 returning Feb 23. Because he is from visa-exempt country, and travelling before March 15 we thought he'd be mostly safe to re-enter (and have read numerous cases of others doing so), but started wondering - Can this in any way affect his PR status?

CIC refused to answer this specific question, citing the whole Travel document requirement, etc.. but i know they will never offer an alternative that is not written in black and white. If questioned, he knows to only show his Italian passport to the airline (Air Canada), and when arriving to the border telling the agent he is a PR with his Confirmation and everything. We assume he will then be able to enter Canada as a PR, not a visitor, without affecting his status. Does this make sense?

We thought he'd have the card by now, when he landed the wait time was 56 days
Look forward to your thoughts!

Yes once back in Canada with CBSA you are fine. They don't need PR card to determine his PR status, and don't need a Travel Doc.

The only possible potential problem would be with the airline. While some don't care, others are picky about people traveling to Canada on a visa-exempt passport with no return or onward ticket from Canada.

 

[Aquakitty]

Are you sure the PR card was only 56 days when he landed? That seems off to me, it's been going up and up, when my spouse landed last July it was something like 90 days.

Regardless, like Rob_TO said the only way to know is to contact your flight carrier and ask what the requirements are to travel as a visitor, make sure they don't require a return ticket. But, he will be fine with the CBSA.

I think everyone who plans to fly after landing should get an ETA before they get their PR status, just in case.

 

[IrisSphere]

Yes once back in Canada with CBSA you are fine. They don't need PR card to determine his PR status, and don't need a Travel Doc.

The only possible potential problem would be with the airline. While some don't care, others are picky about people traveling to Canada on a visa-exempt passport with no return or onward ticket from Canada.

That's great - thanks for the quick reply! I was hoping you'd chime in as I believe you went through something similar? He never had an issue with Air Canada before (like when he arrived to technically live here while waiting for his PR), but suppose we can always buy a refundable return ticket for a few months from now just in case. Appreciate your help!

 

[IrisSphere]

Are you sure the PR card was only 56 days when he landed? That seems off to me, it's been going up and up, when my spouse landed last July it was something like 90 days.

Regardless, like Rob_TO said the only way to know is to contact your flight carrier and ask what the requirements are to travel as a visitor, make sure they don't require a return ticket. But, he will be fine with the CBSA.

I think everyone who plans to fly after landing should get an ETA before they get their PR status, just in case.

Well, it's been a few months but I believe that was the date (we were thinking of travelling for New Years so i was curious on that). In any case, the number of days now is 105 so the agent said it doesn't matter what it was when he landed, they only honour the current time frame.

In terms of specific requirements from Air Canada, they only see to mention those with non-visa exempt passports", so I assume we should be fine:
"Only Canadian permanent residents from non visa-waiver countriesLink opens in new window travelling outside Canada are required to carry a valid Canadian permanent resident (PR) card or a valid visa, in addition to a valid passport, to return to Canada. The IMM1000 Record of Landing is no longer acceptable. Without a valid Canadian PR Card or valid visa, these passengers are not permitted to board the aircraft, and will need to contact the nearest Canadian embassy or consulate to obtain a limited use travel document to re-enter Canada. For more information, please visit the Citizenship and Immigration CanadaLink opens in new window website."

Just curious, how would the ETA help? He was told he'd officially need to apply for a travel document from the Lima office while he is away.. (unless im confusing the documents, and it means something else)?

 

[Aquakitty]

Just curious, how would the ETA help? He was told he'd officially need to apply for a travel document from the Lima office while he is away.. (unless im confusing the documents, and it means something else)?

It wouldn't help in this particular situation. After March 15th there will be a lot of people who can't fly for several months unless they already have an ETA. For instance, if something delays his PR card and he needs to fly after that date, he is SOL.

 

[Rob_TO]

I think everyone who plans to fly after landing should get an ETA before they get their PR status, just in case.

Will not help, as any eTA would be cancelled as soon as they land as a PR.

 

[Rob_TO]

That's great - thanks for the quick reply! I was hoping you'd chime in as I believe you went through something similar? He never had an issue with Air Canada before (like when he arrived to technically live here while waiting for his PR), but suppose we can always buy a refundable return ticket for a few months from now just in case. Appreciate your help!

My wife and countless others have flown as a PR, on a visa-exempt passport only while not carrying the PR card. Vast majority do not have any problems. However some do, specifically around not having a return ticket in hand. Airlines may or may not be checking this more closely as we get closer to the March 15 date for when eTA becomes mandatory.

Also you can't always go by what a random customer service rep of the airline says on the phone. It really depends on the specific airport and crew you have doing your check-in, as to how lenient or strict they will try to be. Having a return ticket in hand would definitely make things a lot less risky, or if you don't have one at least being prepared to buy a fully refundable ticket on the spot if they insist on it.

 

[IrisSphere]

Update

My husband entered Canada with relatively few problems - they did question him on why he left, etc but eventually let him go through (they took him to a separate room for questioning). However, we are now facing another issue as his PR card has been delayed (they requested new photos because the specs changed), so now potentially will need to apply to a PR travel document if the replacement does not arrive in time. Crossing fingers!