Do I need a Travel Document?

[sounion]

So I am currently waiting for my landing interview date to be sent to me, but doing my homework in the meantime. I am landing in Winnipeg, and it seems that most land within 30 days from receiving their DM. However, I am flying to the U.S. to visit my parents for Christmas (they are selling my childhood home and moving, this is the last I will see the place). I know I am not supposed to leave the country. However, if I were to land before December, do I need to apply for a Travel Document to return to Canada (as I will have landed and become a PR, but not have PR card yet). Or would I just need prove of my landing, and perhaps of my application for PR card? I would be flying, so this is why I ask, as driving into Canada doesn't require a PR card.

If you plan to return to Canada in a commercial vehicle — such as a plane, train, boat or bus — you must apply for a travel document at a visa office outside Canada before you return to Canada.

If you return to Canada in a private vehicle, such as your own car, you do not need a permanent resident card. You can use your Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688) instead.

A lot of people have said they returned to Canada no problem while their PR app was processing, but I haven't heard about those who left inbetween landing and receiving their PR.

Also, how long does it take to receive a Travel Document?

 

[scylla]

Can you confirm that you are American (US passport holder)? You don't mention what passport you hold in your post.

If so, then in my opinion / experience no TD is required. My husband left a re-entered Canada 2 or 3 times after landing / before he got his PR card and he had no issues. At least one of those re-entries was a flight.

 

[Rob_TO]

However, if I were to land before December, do I need to apply for a Travel Document to return to Canada (as I will have landed and become a PR, but not have PR card yet). Or would I just need prove of my landing, and perhaps of my application for PR card? I would be flying, so this is why I ask, as driving into Canada doesn't require a PR card.

Any potential problem would come when you try to board the plane in the USA. If you tell the check-in reps that you're a PR, they will demand to see the PR card and will not let you board without it. They are not trained to recognize COPR in most cases.

However what visa-exempt travelers can do, is to travel as a tourist. Just fly to Canada as you did before you ever got PR... tell them you're traveling as a visitor/tourist on your visa exempt passport. So they won't even ask for PR card.

When you get back to Canada, you don't need the PR card. Your COPR + passport will be good enough, and with that the immigration officer can just look up and confirm your PR status on the computer.

 

[quebec23]

I'm about to receive my passport with my visa. But I'm already in the USA and I'll go to Brazil to spend New Year's there, but I'm pretty sure I wont have my PR card.

What should I do:

 

[sounion]

Can you confirm that you are American (US passport holder)? You don't mention what passport you hold in your post.

If so, then in my opinion / experience no TD is required. My husband left a re-entered Canada 2 or 3 times after landing / before he got his PR card and he had no issues. At least one of those re-entries was a flight.

Yes, I hold a valid US passport. My landing interview is in Winnipeg on November 20th (found out today!!!!).

So any issue would be at the airport then trying to board for Canada. Would I have to tell them I am just visiting?? Wouldn't they be able to look at my landing documents (that i will be sure to bring) and say, "Hey, I am a PR, here's the proof."

 

[scylla]

Yes, I hold a valid US passport. My landing interview is in Winnipeg on November 20th (found out today!!!!).

So any issue would be at the airport then trying to board for Canada. Would I have to tell them I am just visiting?? Wouldn't they be able to look at my landing documents (that i will be sure to bring) and say, "Hey, I am a PR, here's the proof."

In my experience these questions have never come up when traveling from the US to Canada (and my husband travels extensively both between the US and Canada - as well as internationally). They just want to see the US passport. The only time he has ever been asked for his PR card by an airline was once when we were flying home to Canada from Bali via Seoul. Because his trip was ending in Canada and he held a US passport, Korean Air for some reason wanted to see a valid PR card for the Incheon (Seoul) to Toronto leg of our trip. In my experience, US passport holders are almost never asked for their PR cards by airlines when flying to Canada. My husband has probably flow 30 times since becoming a PR and this has happened once. Note that we have flown with Korean Air to Bali (via Seoul) twice since my husband became a PR. Once he was asked for his PR card and the other time he wasn't. I think the time he was asked for his PR card was the anomaly.

 

[Rob_TO]

Wouldn't they be able to look at my landing documents (that i will be sure to bring) and say, "Hey, I am a PR, here's the proof."

Just don't show them your COPR landing documents, its as simple as that. The airline reps don't have any access to the Canadian government online system that would show you're actually a PR.

All you need is a passport, and saying you're flying as a tourist/visitor to Canada with your visa-exempt passport.

 

[quebec23]

what about me:

Im in the same situation, however I need a visa.
I don't know what to do.

 

[Rob_TO]

what about me:

Im in the same situation, however I need a visa.
I don't know what to do.

If you aren't visa-exempt, then you 100% need a travel document. They will not let you board the plane without one.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/travel.asp

 

[QuebecOkie]

Hmmmm...so I can potentially fly to the U.S. and return, even if I haven't received my PR card yet? I desperately want to see my family (it's been over 15 months). I expect to receive my PR card in early to mid-December, but you just never know. I was scared to book a flight, not knowing if I'd have my card in hand or not yet. Maybe I should just go ahead and book the trip.

 

[sounion]

i am thinking more about when i go through customs in canada

 

[scylla]

what about me:

Im in the same situation, however I need a visa.
I don't know what to do.

Your situation is completely different since you are non visa exempt. You need a TD.

 

[scylla]

i am thinking more about when i go through customs in canada

You just say you're a recent PR (the CORP will prove this) and you haven't received your PR card yet.

IMHO you're over-thinking this.

 

[sounion]

You just say you're a recent PR (the CORP will prove this) and you haven't received your PR card yet.

IMHO you're over-thinking this.

that's what I like to hear! way better to overthink it and have you guys calm me down, then not think about it and be stranded and devastated. thanks

 

[Sweden]

Hmmmm...so I can potentially fly to the U.S. and return, even if I haven't received my PR card yet? I desperately want to see my family (it's been over 15 months). I expect to receive my PR card in early to mid-December, but you just never know. I was scared to book a flight, not knowing if I'd have my card in hand or not yet. Maybe I should just go ahead and book the trip.

yes - you can go and see your family, you're a PR now, and the process is complete - before, with inland application on-going, it would not have been a good idea to leave Canada, but now it's not a problem. Do as explained in this thread - when you come back to the US, when boarding the plane, do not mention anything about being a Canadian PR. Just say you're going for a visit. When you arrive at the Canada border, just show your COPR with landing stamp etc. and they'll let you in.