Family Emergency

[Iamrobot85]

Hello,
I'm in Calgary but my family is in Ohio where I am a citizen.  I have permanent resident in Canada but I landed about four weeks ago and still have not received my PR card.  This morning I got a call from my aunt, my grandparents both are in the hospital and my Grandma is on life support and it looks bad.  I want to fly home but when I landed they specifically told me that I can't fly without my PR card.  But I thought since it's just the states, and I'm visa exempt, maybe I would be good?  I want to fly because it will simply take too long to drive.

Also, if I have to get a travel document, how long do they take?  Is it like a twenty minute thing like my SIN was?  Just go in, stand in line, get the document and go?  or is it a two month thing like getting my PR card will be?  If it will only take a minute or two I'll get it but I can't wait much longer to book a flight.

Thanks so much for your help, guys! 

[CharlieD10]

Is there no-one who can forward your PR card to you in the States? 

[Iamrobot85]

There would be, but I don't think I will be there long enough, if I went I doubt I would be there for more than a week or two, and if my PR card came in in that time, great, but if it didn't (and it probably wouldn't with my luck and the Canada Post strike)...

[Leon]

If you are visa exempt to Canada, you can get back in on your passport and COPR.  The airline will not refuse to let you board if you have a visa exempt passport to go to Canada.

[Iamrobot85]

Thanks!

How come they told me at the border when I crossed that if I traveled ANYWHERE by air or sea that I needed my PR card for re entry??

[Leon]

I don't know.  They usually tell visa exempt people that they can get in with their COPR and many have done that.  All kind of circumstances can come up where people may have to travel before they get the PR card.  If you were from a country that is not visa exempt, you would need a PR travel document to get back.  That would be your other option, to get a travel document at a Canadian embassy in the US.

[AlieW]

I'm not sure where you are in Canada but another option is to drive across the boarder (then fly domestic in the US) and then drive back into Canada.

IE - if you live in toronto - drive to Buffalo - do a return flight from Buffalo to Ohio - then drive back into Canada. As you mentioned they are only worried if you travel by Air or Sea (so travelling by land shouldn't be a problem)

Obviously this option would be very dependent on where in Canada you are based.

[Iamrobot85]

So my grandma passed away yesterday and I am trying to find a way back to the States.  The general consensus is that I will not need a travel document to get back to Canada, is this correct?  BTW, I am living now in Calgary and I'm going to Ohio if that makes a difference.

[rjessome]

Yes, you are fine to travel.  Take your COPR with you and advise the officer at the POE that you are a permanent resident when you re-enter Canada.

[Iamrobot85]

Thank you!  and just to be clear, the COPR is the paper that they stapled into my passport when I landed, no?

[kelKel]

My bf travelled last month before the card was recieved and had no probelms.   The COPR would be the copy of the form that says when you became a permanent resident, your address ect.