Help! No PR card yet and travelling soon!

[mgrandolini]

Hi all,

Really need some advice. PR landed in Canada on March 10. On May 3, new photos requested for PR card to be issued, we sent them that evening. Do date we have not received the card or any correspondence. We travel soon and are worried about re-entering Canada. All we have is the COPR but that says "not a travel document" any advice? Tried to call CIC but no help obviously.

Thank you in advance.

 

[badpusacat]

You need to get a Permanent Resident Travel Document to be able to re-enter Canada again without a PR card.

HOW? Read here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/travel-document/

 

[mgrandolini]

You need to get a Permanent Resident Travel Document to be able to re-enter Canada again without a PR card.

HOW? Read here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/travel-document/

Can we apply for that before we leave Canada so that we know we have it to re-enter?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

You don't need a PRTD, provided you are returning to Canada prior to Sept 29th. You can travel on the strength of your Irish passport. Present yourself to the airline as a visitor; don't mention your PR status, as they may then refuse to board you without a PR card. When you enter Canada, present yourself to CBSA as a PR.

 

[mgrandolini]

You don't need a PRTD, provided you are returning to Canada prior to Sept 29th. You can travel on the strength of your Irish passport. Present yourself to the airline as a visitor; don't mention your PR status, as they may then refuse to board you without a PR card. When you enter Canada, present yourself to CBSA as a PR.

Would there not be an issue re-entering with the officer? We have the COPR which shows pr and I guess they can see under the name the day landed. Do you think it's a big risk? Only leaving for 9 days.

 

[CDNPR2014]

Would there not be an issue re-entering with the officer? We have the COPR which shows pr and I guess they can see under the name the day landed. Do you think it's a big risk? Only leaving for 9 days.

Nope, not at immigration. Technically, once they scan her passport, they will see her PR status in the system. All you need to enter Canada is the COPR and Passport. The PRTD and PR Card are really for the airlines. They won't let people board if they can't prove proper authorization to travel to canada. Since you don't need a visa to travel to canada, your passport should be acceptable to get you on the plane. As the other poster suggested, take the COPR out of the passport and tell the airline she is only visiting.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Would there not be an issue re-entering with the officer? We have the COPR which shows pr and I guess they can see under the name the day landed. Do you think it's a big risk? Only leaving for 9 days.

Zero risk. There is no requirement to have a PR card to enter Canada.

 

[mgrandolini]

Phew that is great news. Thanks for all your help everyone, I'll be able to sleep tonight!

 

[GoHaPPyCaN]

You don't need a PRTD, provided you are returning to Canada prior to Sept 29th. You can travel on the strength of your Irish passport. Present yourself to the airline as a visitor; don't mention your PR status, as they may then refuse to board you without a PR card. When you enter Canada, present yourself to CBSA as a PR.

Hello !

I'd like to have some updates about this issue.

As now there is the eTA requirements, things are different for PR who need to leave Canada without their PR Card.

I plan to leave Canada in 3 weeks (still hoping to receive my PR Card before) but what happen if I don't get my PR card before my departure ?
As I'm leaving for 1 week, there will be not enough time to receive a PRTD (which take about 3 weeks to be processed).
I can't board as a visitor any more (as some have done in the past) because of the eTA requirements : I guess my eTA has been cancelled once I landed as a PR, so airlines will be able to know I'm not a visitor.
Any experiences ? Ideas ? Thanks.

 

[Rob_TO]

Hello !

I'd like to have some updates about this issue.

As now there is the eTA requirements, things are different for PR who need to leave Canada without their PR Card.

I plan to leave Canada in 3 weeks (still hoping to receive my PR Card before) but what happen if I don't get my PR card before my departure ?
As I'm leaving for 1 week, there will be not enough time to receive a PRTD (which take about 3 weeks to be processed).
I can't board as a visitor any more (as some have done in the past) because of the eTA requirements : I guess my eTA has been cancelled once I landed as a PR, so airlines will be able to know I'm not a visitor.
Any experiences ? Ideas ? Thanks.

3 options for non-US citizens:
1. Fly to a US city and drive into Canada
2. Delay trip until you get PR card
3. Apply for PR TD at your destination, and delay return to Canada until you get PR TD

For US citizens who are eTA exempt, most likely you can still board an airplane just based on your US passport.

 

[GoHaPPyCaN]

3 options for non-US citizens:
1. Fly to a US city and drive into Canada
2. Delay trip until you get PR card
3. Apply for PR TD at your destination, and delay return to Canada until you get PR TD

For US citizens who are eTA exempt, most likely you can still board an airplane just based on your US passport.

Thank you though.
I'm in a very sad situation if I don't get my PR card then :'( as none of these options can be done.

 

[Aquakitty]

Are you sure your ETA is cancelled? Anyone ever confirm this? I think it's ridiculous if they immediately cancel people's ETA before they even have the PR card in hand. There should be a grace period.

 

[Rob_TO]

Are you sure your ETA is cancelled? Anyone ever confirm this? I think it's ridiculous if they immediately cancel people's ETA before they even have the PR card in hand. There should be a grace period.

I believe it was reported here from someone. And based on the eTA rules a PR, no matter how new they are a PR, does not qualify to hold an eTA. However it's easy enough to check, after landing just go online and check if your eTA is still active. https://onlineservices-servicesenligne.cic.gc.ca/eta/applicationQuery

However even if the eTA shows as still active, I'm not sure it's something you'd want to gamble on while at the airport trying to return home.

 

[GoHaPPyCaN]

Are you sure your ETA is cancelled? Anyone ever confirm this? I think it's ridiculous if they immediately cancel people's ETA before they even have the PR card in hand. There should be a grace period.

I agree, no grace period for new PR, as long as we don't have our PR Card in hand we are kind of stuck in Canada. This way of processing should be changed.