Entering Canada with an expired PR card by air

[rtsen]

Just wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation.

My wife's PR expired in Oct 2013 so she started her application for her renewal in June since the website stated it would take 3 months. In Oct we got invited to a wedding in Malaysia for Dec. We read that we could apply for PR renewal under urgent basis if we purchased the flight ticket first so we did.

Fast forward to Dec 8, my wife still has not received her PR card. We called CIC and they said it was processed on Nov 4 but it could take a while to get the card. They notified us that we could fly but my wife would have to apply for a temporary travel document for her to get back in the country. We thought great news and boarded the plane to Malaysia.

Bad news, we called the Canadian visa place in Malaysia and Singapore and both places take approximately 30 days to process the PR travel document. Our return ticket to Canada is Dec 27 so the document will not be ready by the time we leave.

We aren't sure what to do now, has anyone been in a similar situation? I did some research online, it seems like if you can board thd plane and get to canada that the CBSA are able to check your PR status. The problem is that the airline are train to not anyone on without a PR card or travel document as they can get fine.

We are flying Air Canada and my wife has a Malaysian passport which requires a visa to enter Canada. I'm not sure if it matters but my wife works for the Government of Alberta; I believe you need to be either a PR or citizen of Canada to be employed by the government. She is also receiving child tax credit.

 

[scylla]

Your wife will need to have either a valid PR card or a valid Travel Document to board the flight back to Canada. If she doesn't have one of these, you should expect boarding to be refused. Unfortunately there are no other option.

Is someone checking your mail back in Canada? If the new PR card arrives, they can courier the card to you in Malaysia.

You should apply for the Travel Document as soon as possible. If the TD isn't ready by the 27th and the PR card hasn't arrived - your wife will have to extend her visit to wait for the TD to become available.

 

[steaky]

If your wife has a US visa, she can return to Canada via a land border using the expired PR card. Otherwise, she must wait for the TD.

 

[scylla]

If your wife has a US visa, she can return to Canada via a land border using the expired PR card. Otherwise, she must wait for the TD.

Good point. That's the only other alternative. Fly to the US and then enter Canada by land.

 

[rtsen]

Thanks for all the replies. Yes she has a USA visa however it would be easier to apply for the TD. Best case is to hope the PR card gets sent to the house. when on the phone, CIC mention some cases require an interview.

It's just a little frustrating that you follow all the reccommeded procedures and the outcome doesn't come out favourable. we applied relatively early and sent an update for urgent processing after we purchased our tickets. I guess it's my fault to assume the TD can get done quickly if its truly needed go board the plane, not 30 days.
Worse case is my wife stays longer in Malaysia in +30 weather

I guess I have a new dilemma. if we apply for the TD, my wife has to submit her passport and wait 30 days but if the PR card arrives at the house there is no point to courier it to us since she has no passport to travel back.

Alternatively, we could wait until our flight to see if the PR card arrives first but if it doesn't, she will need to apply for the TD which will be 30 from Dec 28.