Landing without PRTD with different passport/eta

[magic55]

Hi,

I'm Canadian and due to some issues my wife doesn't have her PR card, only has CoPR. We return to Canada in a month and was told we could apply PRTD though with Covid told waiting times uncertain so difficult to guarantee processing time. Question is she actually has a different passport (HK) with a Canadian ETA that is both due to expire 2 weeks after we return. Could she use that passport/ETA (HK) to board the flight back to Canada from EU and then use her other passport (TW) linked with CoPR at CBSA once we arrive in Canada? I'm guessing we may need to show the airline we have a departing flight from Canada before expiry of other passport, but any other issues with this workaround? Being my spouse should be qualify her to enter as foreign national? Thanks.

 

[scylla]

Hi,

I'm Canadian and due to some issues my wife doesn't have her PR card, only has CoPR. We return to Canada in a month and was told we could apply PRTD though with Covid told waiting times uncertain so difficult to guarantee processing time. Question is she actually has a different passport with a Canadian ETA that is both due to expire 2 weeks after we return. Could she use that passport/ETA to board the flight back to Canada from EU and then use her other passport linked with CoPR at CBSA once we arrive in Canada? I'm guessing we may need to show the airline we have a departing flight for her before expiry of other passport, but any other issues with this workaround? Thanks.

It's risky. eTAs are generally canceled once someone has landed and become a PR. Airlines verify the validity of the eTA before boarding. Some chance it might work. Also quite possible it won't (probably a higher chance of this). The workaround is to apply for a PRTD once you are outside of Canada.

 

[magic55]

Thanks. We're away for few weeks and not close to VAC so just afraid not enough time to process the PRTD. Just to clarify her CoPR is tied to TW passport, and her Canadian ETA tied to HK passport and don't believe passports are linked so not sure how they'd cancel the ETA? I was more concerned with expiry fo ETA/Passport?

 

[Copingwithlife]

Thanks. We're away for few weeks and not close to VAC so just afraid not enough time to process the PRTD. Just to clarify her CoPR is tied to TW passport, and her Canadian ETA tied to HK passport and don't believe passports are linked so not sure how they'd cancel the ETA? I was more concerned with expiry fo ETA/Passport?

Is her name & DOB the same in both passports?

 

[magic55]

Is her name & DOB the same in both passports?

DOB is same, name is same except one has a hyphen in it, the other one doesn't.

 

[scylla]

Thanks. We're away for few weeks and not close to VAC so just afraid not enough time to process the PRTD. Just to clarify her CoPR is tied to TW passport, and her Canadian ETA tied to HK passport and don't believe passports are linked so not sure how they'd cancel the ETA? I was more concerned with expiry fo ETA/Passport?

CBSA's systems obviously link people well beyond just individual passports. Not at all uncommon to hold multiple passports. So yes, stilll quite possible the eTA will be canceled.

It's a dice roll. Might work out, might not. If it doesn't, your wife will need to get a PRTD to be able to fly back to Canada (or alternatively travel to the U.S. and re-enter Canada by land).

 

[magic55]

CBSA's systems obviously link people well beyond just individual passports. Not at all uncommon to hold multiple passports. So yes, stilll quite possible the eTA will be canceled.

It's a dice roll. Might work out, might not. If it doesn't, your wife will need to get a PRTD to be able to fly back to Canada (or alternatively travel to the U.S. and re-enter Canada by land).

Thanks.

CBSA's systems obviously link people well beyond just individual passports. Not at all uncommon to hold multiple passports. So yes, stilll quite possible the eTA will be canceled.

It's a dice roll. Might work out, might not. If it doesn't, your wife will need to get a PRTD to be able to fly back to Canada (or alternatively travel to the U.S. and re-enter Canada by land).

Thanks. My question is if the dice-roll would be with CBSA cancelling the ETA (is there any way to check anywhere if ETA is still valid?), or if the airlines will check the ETA on passport (my wife recalled in previous CX flights they'd ask her for email confirmation of ETA at check-in so not sure if they had access to ETA info. Any way to see which airlines have access to ETA info and which check manually?).

 

[scylla]

Thanks.

Thanks. My question is if the dice-roll would be with CBSA cancelling the ETA (is there any way to check anywhere if ETA is still valid?), or if the airlines will check the ETA on passport (my wife recalled in previous CX flights they'd ask her for email confirmation of ETA at check-in so not sure if they had access to ETA info. Any way to see which airlines have access to ETA info and which check manually?).

The dice roll will be boarding the airplane not knowing if the eTA is still valid or if it's been canceled as a result of your wife becoming a PR. Yes, airlines have the ability to check the validity of eTAs via computer systems and do this regularly as part of the check in / boarding process. I believe all airlines have the ability to check eTA info via computer systems to confirm the passenger is allowed to fly. I'm personally not aware of any exceptions to this.

I think there's a way to check eTA validity online (hopefully someone else can confirm). This can of course change day to day so you'd want to verify just before leaving for the airport.

 

[magic55]

The dice roll will be boarding the airplane not knowing if the eTA is still valid or if it's been canceled as a result of your wife becoming a PR. Yes, airlines have the ability to check the validity of eTAs via computer systems and do this regularly as part of the check in / boarding process. I believe all airlines have the ability to check eTA info via computer systems to confirm the passenger is allowed to fly. I'm personally not aware of any exceptions to this.

I think there's a way to check eTA validity online (hopefully someone else can confirm). This can of course change day to day so you'd want to verify just before leaving for the airport.

Thanks for your help. After some digging online, found the ETA Check Status Tool which shows wife ETA is no longer valid for reasons you pointed to earlier. We're flying TAP so will check with them to see if they do check in system or just manual email check. Otherwise prolly only option is apply for PRTD and delay return trip until it's approved.

 

[scylla]

Thanks for your help. After some digging online, found the ETA Check Status Tool which shows wife ETA is no longer valid for reasons you pointed to earlier. We're flying TAP so will check with them to see if they do check in system or just manual email check. Otherwise prolly only option is apply for PRTD and delay return trip until it's approved.

Documents are being checked more carefully / thoroughly these days due to COVID-19 and travel bans. Regardless what someone tells you on the phone, I would recommend you make the assumption their computer systems will know the eTA is no longer valid and won't let your wife board. IMO either delay the travel until your wife has a PR card.

The PRTD cannot be applied for in advance of your travel. You can't apply for the PRTD until you are outside of Canada and on your trip. PRTD processing times are very hard to guess right now. Previously they were available within a couple of weeks. Now it's more in the several months range.

 

[canuck78]

Thanks for your help. After some digging online, found the ETA Check Status Tool which shows wife ETA is no longer valid for reasons you pointed to earlier. We're flying TAP so will check with them to see if they do check in system or just manual email check. Otherwise prolly only option is apply for PRTD and delay return trip until it's approved.

If you can find out that ETA has been cancelled would guarantee the airline will also realize it is cancelled. Start applying for a PRTD now.