RO met, but must travel for work very soon w/expired PR card

[tinycottage]

I put in application for renewal for my PR card in November when CIC stated the processing time was 60 days. It was received within a week at the beginning of December, but I wasn't notified it was in the system or received until January and now the processing time is up to 83 days. I'm required by work to travel in February, and completed all the requirements for urgent processing just before the three week deadline. All the flights, hotel rooms, and conference fees have been paid for and proof of this was sent to CIC. Today however, CIC decided that I was under the 3 week deadline and denied urgent processing.

I have over 1600 residency days at this point, and I'm married to a Canadian citizen, so I'm not concerned about RO. I'm also a U.S. citizen, so I know I can leave to the U.S. for the trip as that passport is in good standing. However, the conference only lasts 4 days, and it looks like I can't apply for a PRTD until I'm in the U.S. and it sounds like the application for the PRTD takes way longer than 4 days.

I'm scheduled to fly back into Canada as well. With an expired PR card, am I out of luck? Will I have to forfeit my flight and figure out a way to drive to and from this conference?

I'm incredibly frustrated because the processing times seem to keep changing, and even though I absolutely submitted my urgent request before the three week deadline, they decided I hadn't. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[canuck78]

You can fly to the border and cross by car.

 

[tinycottage]

Is there absolutely no way I can return on the flight?

 

[canuck78]

Is there absolutely no way I can return on the flight?

Unfortunately not without a valid PR card. You can fly to the closest US border town.

 

[Rob_TO]

US citizens are eTA exempt so just fly back to Canada on US passport and dont mention to airline you are a PR.

 

[tinycottage]

Mixed messages here..

I can't recall any airline ever asking for PR card when boarding a Canadian flight, but assuming they don't ask, what happens when I land in Canada? Wouldn't CBSA have an issue with the expired card? I'm happy to take an entire binder of documentation of my immigration with me, but will this put my PR card renewal or status at risk?

 

[Rob_TO]

CBSA wont care. They can easily determine your PR status from your passport and expired card. A valid PR card or PRTD is not needed.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Mixed messages here..

I can't recall any airline ever asking for PR card when boarding a Canadian flight, but assuming they don't ask, what happens when I land in Canada? Wouldn't CBSA have an issue with the expired card? I'm happy to take an entire binder of documentation of my immigration with me, but will this put my PR card renewal or status at risk?

Rob_TO is 100% correct. USA is the only country that is both visa-exempt and eTA-exempt, which means the American PRs can travel to Canada on the strength of just their passport. CBSA won't care.

 

[tinycottage]

Will it matter in the slightest if I am traveling as a guardian of students? I'm a teacher and will be escorting several minors with me to and from the conference.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Will it matter in the slightest if I am traveling as a guardian of students? I'm a teacher and will be escorting 10 minors with me to and from the conference.

No.

 

[tinycottage]

Thank you both for your quick responses. I'll be sure to come back after the event to update my experience!

 

[canuck78]

Sorry missed that you were a US citizen only saw PR and married to a Canadian. Long day.

 

[tinycottage]

Just an update on my situation.

Ironically, my husband received my PR card in the mail the day I had already left on my trip. While I now had verification that my PR card was valid, I didn't physically have it in my possession and CBSA likely wouldn't have cared about a photo anyway. Unfortunately, I know most people won't benefit from an approved card, so take from this what you will.

Air Canada didn't ask for my PR card upon boarding. The US passport was sufficient.

As for CBSA, the automated kiosk spit back my card and told me to go talk to an agent. First agent asked if I had tried the kiosk. I was straightforward with her, told her the card was expired, but that my new one had arrived. She was incredibly huffy with me, complained that the system "didn't like my card" (as she proceeded to try and get the scanner to read it backwards multiple times), and told me my card was "practically worthless". I just put up with her comments and answered all questions as briefly and clearly as possible until she bumped me to the second immigration station. She used like 3 different highlighters on my form and sent me on my way within 3 minutes.

Second agent typed my information in, asked me if I knew about my residency obligations (and I told her that I had enough to qualify for citizenship but just hadn't gotten around to it yet), restamped my form and added more highlighting, and sent me on my way in about 2 minutes.

I think it took more time for me to walk to the baggage carousel than it did for them to let me through. Not something I want to repeat, but all in all, the advice given here was spot on. Thank you everyone!