Re-entering Canada without PR Card, only CoPR and passport - by plane

[Ca_551]

Thank you for your prompt reply. You can tell we are very nervous about this and there is a lot of money involved if she is denied.

Is there anyone in here that this has actually happened to and they were ok boarding travelling on a US-Passport back to Canada?

I travelled with just my COPR and US passport last month. I landed December 19th 2018 and flew to the states the same day.i came home to Canada January 10th. And the flight was fine. The CBSA officers were really nice. All he told me is he “hopes I get my pr card soon so I don’t have to be hasseled as much” and that was it. I worried for nothing. You’re fine. The only thing I noticed was when I was checking in online.. at first it asked for a return ticket/date. And I didn’t have one. So I said I didn’t have one. And it flagged my boarding pass to show proof that I can stay. So instead I re-checked into my flight and picked a random day that I would “return” and it was fine.

 

[canvan14]

I travelled with just my COPR and US passport last month. I landed December 19th 2018 and flew to the states the same day.i came home to Canada January 10th. And the flight was fine. The CBSA officers were really nice. All he told me is he “hopes I get my pr card soon so I don’t have to be hasseled as much” and that was it. I worried for nothing. You’re fine. The only thing I noticed was when I was checking in online.. at first it asked for a return ticket/date. And I didn’t have one. So I said I didn’t have one. And it flagged my boarding pass to show proof that I can stay. So instead I re-checked into my flight and picked a random day that I would “return” and it was fine.

I think having an American passport automatically grant you the ok status to fly to Canada without raising any red flags. I don't think you even need to show your CoPR and can still get through immigration fine.

 

[andy1011]

The only thing they asked: "Your car has US plates?". I said, "It's a rental". She said, "Okay". Nothing more.

I provided them with both: a copy of the COPR (I had my original as well, safe inside, but did not provide that) and my passport. She just glanced at the COPR, scanned my passport and we were on our way

My most recent cross-border drive was when I moved to Montreal in August 2018. No PR card. We flew into Burlington, VT. Picked up an Avis at the airport, drove to Montreal (passport+COPR only), dropped off the car in Montreal. Simple.

Rental cars for personal use are NOT considered commercial and the CBSA gets that. Your plan of driving across will not have any problems using passport+COPR. Drive safe!

Hi Sid8tive again,

Just another question, when you presented the passport and a copy of the COPR to the CBSA officer, did she ask you to declare anything you brought with you in the car (personal stuff, clothes, laptop, etc.?). I will bring my cellphone, laptop, some personal stuff but nothing really costly, just want to be prepared just in case they want me to pull over and check my luggage in the truck of the rental car . Thanks again!

 

[gengori]

Hi All,

I have read all this message board and I am confused a bit. I have my interview tomorrow and I am going to the US for 3 days later in the week. I am not a US citizen. I have a study permit here and I can get an eTA (which I just did). Will my eTA be 'undone' if I get a COPR tomorrow? Can I still return by air to Canada?

 

[8494193]

Hi All,

I have read all this message board and I am confused a bit. I have my interview tomorrow and I am going to the US for 3 days later in the week. I am not a US citizen. I have a study permit here and I can get an eTA (which I just did). Will my eTA be 'undone' if I get a COPR tomorrow? Can I still return by air to Canada?

Usually the system takes a few days to sync, so chances are you may still be able to enter via your eTA. But legally speaking, your eTA is no longer valid once you have PR status (an activated CoPR), so I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[8494193]

Hi Sid8tive again,

Just another question, when you presented the passport and a copy of the COPR to the CBSA officer, did she ask you to declare anything you brought with you in the car (personal stuff, clothes, laptop, etc.?). I will bring my cellphone, laptop, some personal stuff but nothing really costly, just want to be prepared just in case they want me to pull over and check my luggage in the truck of the rental car . Thanks again!

Nope. they did not ask me. If they do, just be honest

 

[Snowman1308]

Well if you have your copr you can use it together with your passport and once it’s activated they ll cancel your ETA. That’s what they did with me in October

 

[vc6gc]

Hello,

I recently landed in Canada with a COPR and completed my PR processing. However I need to travel to India for a family emergency. I will be in India for 3 weeks, so I am not sure if I can get the PRTD with -in that time. My questions are:

1. I asked this question to the immigration officer who completed my landing procedures. He said I can travel with the COPR stamped document and with the landing stamp on my passport. (nothing about PRTD or not to travel). I am not sure he is correct or not? any thoughts?

2. I have a travel visa (tourist visa) and also a work permit visa from Canada (from the past - that are still valid as per date). I was wondering, if the airlines will look at these visas and let me board the plane?

3. If the other option is to land in USA and then travel by road, my passport expires in less than 6 months so I am not sure, if airline officials would let me sit in the plane to USA too.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[zardoz]

Hello,

I recently landed in Canada with a COPR and completed my PR processing. However I need to travel to India for a family emergency. I will be in India for 3 weeks, so I am not sure if I can get the PRTD with -in that time. My questions are:

1. I asked this question to the immigration officer who completed my landing procedures. He said I can travel with the COPR stamped document and with the landing stamp on my passport. (nothing about PRTD or not to travel). I am not sure he is correct or not? any thoughts?

2. I have a travel visa (tourist visa) and also a work permit visa from Canada (from the past - that are still valid as per date). I was wondering, if the airlines will look at these visas and let me board the plane?

3. If the other option is to land in USA and then travel by road, my passport expires in less than 6 months so I am not sure, if airline officials would let me sit in the plane to USA too.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

The exact answers are:

1) this is incorrect. The COPR is not a travel document. You need either a PR card or a PR Travel Document.
2) as a "landed" Permanent Resident, you are not entitled to any form of Canadian visa or eTA, so all those in your passport are automatically void.
3) that's up to the USA and you may be correct about the 6 months validity requirement.

Having said that, it's possible that you might be able to pretend that your visas are still valid at the airline checkin. That's outside of the official process.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/permanent-residents.html
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/entry-requirements-country.html

 

[Bs65]

Hello,

I recently landed in Canada with a COPR and completed my PR processing. However I need to travel to India for a family emergency. I will be in India for 3 weeks, so I am not sure if I can get the PRTD with -in that time. My questions are:

1. I asked this question to the immigration officer who completed my landing procedures. He said I can travel with the COPR stamped document and with the landing stamp on my passport. (nothing about PRTD or not to travel). I am not sure he is correct or not? any thoughts?

2. I have a travel visa (tourist visa) and also a work permit visa from Canada (from the past - that are still valid as per date). I was wondering, if the airlines will look at these visas and let me board the plane?

3. If the other option is to land in USA and then travel by road, my passport expires in less than 6 months so I am not sure, if airline officials would let me sit in the plane to USA too.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Countries with a 6 month rule exemption for entering the US listed in link below.. Does not though of course guarantee an airline will not make something up at checkin so best also check as well with your airline that you plan to use if travelling back via the US.

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2017-Dec/Six-Month Club Update122017.pdf

 

[mohitprcanada]

Hi,
I have read this thread and came across some cases where people traveled from US to Canada by LAND using their Indian Passport + COPR. The most recent case I came across was about a few months ago. I just want to double check of that's allowed even today or have the rules changed in the past few months? Is there any official email ID where I can email and get a confirmation if I can travel with a CoPR.
I am in a very tricky situation - I am in the US and was hoping to get my PR card by the end of the month, but received a photo request a few days ago. This automatically pushes my application to the back of the queue. I have a job interview in Toronto on April 5, and need to be there in person. I am travelling for work and can't be at my base location to apply for a PRTD as well (at least not in the next 10 days). I have landed this interview after a lot of hassle, and now this delay jeopardizes everything. Please help.
Thanks!

 

[zardoz]

Hi,
I have read this thread and came across some cases where people traveled from US to Canada by LAND using their Indian Passport + COPR. The most recent case I came across was about a few months ago. I just want to double check of that's allowed even today or have the rules changed in the past few months? Is there any official email ID where I can email and get a confirmation if I can travel with a CoPR.
I am in a very tricky situation - I am in the US and was hoping to get my PR card by the end of the month, but received a photo request a few days ago. This automatically pushes my application to the back of the queue. I have a job interview in Toronto on April 5, and need to be there in person. I am travelling for work and can't be at my base location to apply for a PRTD as well (at least not in the next 10 days). I have landed this interview after a lot of hassle, and now this delay jeopardizes everything. Please help.
Thanks!

Yes, you can cross the border without a PR card. You will need to use transportation that does not need a PR card to allow you to board. Example, private car, taxi, Uber etc (or even by foot).

 

[mohitprcanada]

Yes, you can cross the border without a PR card. You will need to use transportation that does not need a PR card to allow you to board. Example, private car, taxi, Uber etc (or even by foot).

great, thanks a lot! one follow up question though - is there any email ID I can email them and get a response on some questions from IRCC? I keep reading on threads that people talked to an agent or got an email response, but I have sifted through the website without any success on email or a phone number for calling from OUTSIDE Canada?

 

[zardoz]

great, thanks a lot! one follow up question though - is there any email ID I can email them and get a response on some questions from IRCC? I keep reading on threads that people talked to an agent or got an email response, but I have sifted through the website without any success on email or a phone number for calling from OUTSIDE Canada?

For IRCC, not really. Only the Call Centre or the webform interfaces are available.

It's actually CBSA that you need to approach for information related to the border operations.
https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/bis-sif-eng.html

 

[aruunkk]

Hi

Need a suggestion which is the best land border to cross from USA to Canada With CoPR + Passport
Detroit -> Windsor
Buffalo -> Niagara
Seattle - > Vancouver