Any PRs from visa exempt countries - were you asked for PR card when flying?

[methyl]

If you:
1. Have a passport from a visa-exempt country
2. Landed sometime in the past
3. Made a trip outside of Canada and returned by air back to Canada sometime between Oct 2016 and now

Were you asked for your PR card during check in when flying back to Canada, or was your visa-exempt passport sufficient to do the check in?


This question is in reference to a discussion that is going on.
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/any-new-prs-flown-to-canada-with-eta-but-no-pr-card-t475436.0.html

 

[steaky]

There should a bunch of American passport holders who passports sufficient for check-in.

 

[methyl]

Would be interesting to hear from Americans, however, Americans are in a somewhat special category, they are excluded by ETA requirements.

So for purposes of determining of what really happens when a new PR from a visa-exempt country decides to leave Canada without a PR card for a short trip (that precludes them from getting a temp entry permit) it would be best to hear also from others.

 

[spyfy]

I am a Permanent Resident from a visa-exempt country, non-US.

I entered Canada via air three times since November 9, 2016 (which is when eTA finally became mandatory).

Here is what happened:
- Early November, Flight from New Orleans to Toronto: The boarding agent asked everyone who didn't have a printed boarding pass (= everyone who hasn't seen a check in agent because they checked in online) to come to the counter at the gate to verify documents. Everyone, including Canadian citizens, had to show their documents and then received a printed boarding pass if everything was in order. I didn't have an eTA (since I can't apply for one as a PR) which of course meant that when she scanned my passport, it said "no eTA - DO NOT BOARD". I also gave her my PR card. I then had a ten minute discussion, including a phone call by her with their hotline and me showing her the CIC website stating that as a PR I can't apply for an eTA and don't need one. After those stressful ten minutes, she finally let me board. To be fair, this was literally one day after eTA became mandatory so she was probably scared of doing something wrong, too.

- Late November, Hartford to Toronto: Before going through security, I went to the Air Canada counter, although I already checked in online. I showed them my passport and PR card for verification and they gave me a printed boarding pass. With that, I went through the gate without a problem.

- January, Zurich-London-Toronto: At the checkin in Zurich, they scanned my passport, then asked "do you have an eTA or visa for Canada?", I showed them my PR card (they didn't even take it in their hand, just glanced over it while I waved it) and said "OK" and printed both boarding passed for me (Zurich-London and London-Toronto). I was kind of surprised how easy it was this time, due to my earlier experiences. But I learned later, why they didn't care as much in Zurich: When I changed flights in London, I went to the gate and at the gate they scanned my passport, despite me having a printed boarding pass from Zurich already. Again, the system said "no eTA - DO NOT BOARD". She then asked me "do you have an eTA?". I said "No, I am a PR" and showed her my PR card. She took the card, then clicked some kind of "override" button on the computer (Don't remember what it said exactly), then typed my PR card number into a field and let me board. They can't verify PR card numbers live, I guess she just stored the PR card number for liability reasons to prove that they checked my immigration documents.

I assume your motive to ask this question is if you can risk taking a flight to Canada without your PR card and without an eTA. From the three experiences above, I'd like to say: Don't even try, you have no chance.

 

[methyl]

Interesting experiences, must've been nerve-wracking. Thanks for sharing.

My motive is to help others with information, I myself am a citizen of Canada.
If others have similar experiences, please share so that we have a concrete base of information.

 

[purplesnow]

PR - visa exempt

Yes, I was asked for my PR card. I also know of a lot of people who were refused boarding because they didn't have either an ETA or PRTD.

 

[ozlis]

Yes, PR from visa exempt.

Required PR card at check-in, two separate occasions.

This is now the firm requirement, the only exemption possibly being the USA.

 

[Rob_TO]

PR - visa exempt

Yes, I was asked for my PR card. I also know of a lot of people who were refused boarding because they didn't have either an ETA or PRTD.

Yes, PR from visa exempt.

Required PR card at check-in, two separate occasions.

This is now the firm requirement, the only exemption possibly being the USA.

Did either of you happen to have an eTA that you obtained prior to becoming a PR?

And if so, did you voluntarily tell the airline you were a PR, or did they just demand to see the card?

 

[Carmageddon]

What about those of us who did not land yet?
We are landing in April 19th, with COPRs issued.

Do we need to do an ETA? Our family splits in two: two hold passports that dont require visa to Canada, and two require visas.

 

[spyfy]

What about those of us who did not land yet?
We are landing in April 19th, with COPRs issued.

Do we need to do an ETA? Our family splits in two: two hold passports that dont require visa to Canada, and two require visas.

If your passport requires a visa, you should have received an immigration visa in your passport in addition to the CoPR. This is a valid visa for Canada and therefore no eTA is required.

If your passport doesn't require a visa, then the CoPR itself is enough to board the flight.

See here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1184&top=16

 

[Carmageddon]

If your passport requires a visa, you should have received an immigration visa in your passport in addition to the CoPR. This is a valid visa for Canada and therefore no eTA is required.

If your passport doesn't require a visa, then the CoPR itself is enough to board the flight.

See here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1184&top=16

Thanks!

 

[keesio]

Would be interesting to hear from Americans, however, Americans are in a somewhat special category, they are excluded by ETA requirements.

My wife and I are Americans (she is a Canadian PR and I am a dual Canadian/American). We have traveled multiple times, just a few weeks ago for our last trip. We are both NEXUS members so we just travel with our US passport and NEXUS cards for trips between US and Canada. We need the US passport to enter the US (via Global Entry kiosk) and the NEXUS card to enter Canada (via NEXUS kiosk). We both use our NEXUS cards to board our flights between US and Canada. We haven't flown internationally since the eTA enforcement but we tend to be more conservative with international flights and my wife presents her PR card from the start to be safe.

 

[ozlis]

Did either of you happen to have an eTA that you obtained prior to becoming a PR?

And if so, did you voluntarily tell the airline you were a PR, or did they just demand to see the card?

Yes - I had a valid ITA - I was asked for my PR card (both times it was more along the lines of....... er do you have a work permit or something for Canada?).

I spoke to another Aussie yesterday, she is currently stuck in the states - Air Canada won't let her travel without PR card. Looks like she will need to fly domestic to a border town and drive over the border using her passport.

 

[methyl]

Yes - I had a valid ITA - I was asked for my PR card (both times it was more along the lines of....... er do you have a work permit or something for Canada?).

I spoke to another Aussie yesterday, she is currently stuck in the states - Air Canada won't let her travel without PR card. Looks like she will need to fly domestic to a border town and drive over the border using her passport.

I think can also take commercial transportation - since there are no ETAs for land transport the passport should be accepted.

 

[spyfy]

I think can also take commercial transportation - since there are no ETAs for land transport the passport should be accepted.

That's correct. An eTA is only required for air travel. To board a bus, a visa-exempt passport is enough.