u.s. citizen, without pr card, and questions about travel document

[seren8]

Hello,
My husband is a u.s. citizen and I am Canadian, sponsoring my husband to move back to Canada. We both are currently living in the states. My husband will be landing in Feb, 2012, but most likely we will be returning to u.s. to finish things up and also give him some time to look for a job in Canada.
We are a bit confused about the travel document and would like to know if other U.S. citizen who have landed and who were in similar situation as us, where they have returned to the states immediately after landing in Canada, whether they have gotten the travel document or not.

Since we will be landing in two months time, we have decided to have my husband's PR card sent to my relatives in Canada. Once they have received it, they will forward it to us.  The travel document takes about 60 days to process (this is the suggested time frame that the Canadian Embassy in NY recommends), so, essentially it is the same amount of time it takes to get the PR card. My main concern is that, if my husband has to go to a job interview during those 60 days, can he go as an U.S. citizen, since from my understanding, there is an agreement between the U.S. and Canada to travel "freely". The email response that the Canadian Embassy is vague about this point, and it seems that they suggests to have the travel document ready.

Has anyone who is a U.S. citizen travel to Canada after they have landed without the PR card and without the travel document? If so, what is your experience like?
Also, if you are a U.S. citizen and has applied for travel document after you have landed, how long did it take you to receive the travel document?
Also, if we have the landing papers now, but not the PR card, can we apply for the travel document now before we land?
Does anyone know if the travel document is a one-time entry or a multiple entry/ exit with an expiration date? (The email from the Canadian Embassy didn't response to this question at all.)


Thank you so much for everyone's input and suggestions. Happy Holidays!

Seren8

 

[scylla]

I honestly wouldn't bother with a travel document.

My husband is American. He traveled by both car and air between Canada and the US between the time he landed and the time he got his PR card. No one ever cared that he didn't have his PR card yet. Airlines just wanted to see his US passport. As for Canadian immigration - he told them he was a newly landed immigrant and was just waiting for his PR card and they didn't seem fussed at all. I (the Canadian) was not traveling with him during any of these trips.

And for the record, since obtaining his PR card over a year ago - my husband has yet to be asked to show it while traveling (and he travels a great deal).

[seren8]

I honestly wouldn't bother with a travel document.

My husband is American. He traveled by both car and air between Canada and the US between the time he landed and the time he got his PR card. No one ever cared that he didn't have his PR card yet. Airlines just wanted to see his US passport. As for Canadian immigration - he told them he was a newly landed immigrant and was just waiting for his PR card and they didn't seem fussed at all. I (the Canadian) was not traveling with him during any of these trips.

And for the record, since obtaining his PR card over a year ago - my husband has yet to be asked to show it while traveling (and he travels a great deal).

Great! Thank you so much for sharing you and your husband's experience. Much appreciated.