Safekeeping of PR card

[lieudefroid]

We got our PR cards a few months ago, and I'm using that as a 'Photo ID' document in several places such as airports etc and so carrying it in my wallet whenever I travel. I'm a bit worried about losing it in travels, cause we can never discount the possibility of missing stuff in hotel rooms or airports.

So I'm thinking, can we copy the original PR (color photocopy) and get it laminated so it looks like a card, and use the copy for ID purposes?

Is this allowed? If so, where can I get this done in Canada? Staples has a copy services, will they do it for me?

 

[Bs65]

So what do think might happen the first time you show this copy of a PR card which in effect could be considered to be a fake to someone in authority ? Would it be a good idea for a driving licence As well ? Just saying

 

[canuck_in_uk]

So I'm thinking, can we copy the original PR (color photocopy) and get it laminated so it looks like a card, and use the copy for ID purposes?

Is this allowed?

Sure, go right ahead and create a fake ID....

 

[Leon]

We got our PR cards a few months ago, and I'm using that as a 'Photo ID' document in several places such as airports etc and so carrying it in my wallet whenever I travel. I'm a bit worried about losing it in travels, cause we can never discount the possibility of missing stuff in hotel rooms or airports.

So I'm thinking, can we copy the original PR (color photocopy) and get it laminated so it looks like a card, and use the copy for ID purposes?

Is this allowed? If so, where can I get this done in Canada? Staples has a copy services, will they do it for me?

No, you can not make a copy of an ID, get it laminated and try to pass it off as an ID. Keep your PR card safe at home and use your DL as an ID instead. If you don't have a DL, get a provincial ID card.

 

[Bs65]

We got our PR cards a few months ago, and I'm using that as a 'Photo ID' document in several places such as airports etc and so carrying it in my wallet whenever I travel. I'm a bit worried about losing it in travels, cause we can never discount the possibility of missing stuff in hotel rooms or airports.

So I'm thinking, can we copy the original PR (color photocopy) and get it laminated so it looks like a card, and use the copy for ID purposes?

Is this allowed? If so, where can I get this done in Canada? Staples has a copy services, will they do it for me?

Just to add that using a copy of PR card in an airport or to travel if discovered could have serious legal consequences and who knows could even put your PR status at risk so as per other answers don't do it find an alternative ID that you can more easily replace if you lose it.

If you leave the country for any reason you should have your PR card with you anyway in order to return but for sure you would not want to show a copy to anyone for travel and don't forget that PR cards have RFID chips built in now so will your copy include one of those ?.

All in all a bad idea

 

[lieudefroid]

No, you can not make a copy of an ID, get it laminated and try to pass it off as an ID. Keep your PR card safe at home and use your DL as an ID instead. If you don't have a DL, get a provincial ID card.

Thanks Leon. I didn't know that a "provincial ID card" can be obtained, thank you for the useful information. Yeah, I heard Canada discourages laminating the Canadian birth certificate too. Things are a bit different here compared to 'back home'. It was a regular practice to take copies of DL and getting it laminated in India, not with a bad intention to commit fraud, but as a genuine good intention to have a copy when its lost.

 

[Leon]

Thanks Leon. I didn't know that a "provincial ID card" can be obtained, thank you for the useful information. Yeah, I heard Canada discourages laminating the Canadian birth certificate too. Things are a bit different here compared to 'back home'. It was a regular practice to take copies of DL and getting it laminated in India, not with a bad intention to commit fraud, but as a genuine good intention to have a copy when its lost.

Right, this is not "back home" so be careful It's ok to make a copy of a document you don't want to carry on your person on a daily basis and carry the copy with you in case somebody asks for it but it should be clear that it is a copy and therefore you should not laminate it and try to make it look like an ID because that could be seen as fraud. Also, there is no guarantee that anybody will accept this copy as a valid ID. Say if somebody really wanted to see your PR card and you show them a copy, it is up to them if they will accept seeing the copy or if the want you to bring the real thing.

For safekeeping your documents, scan them and store them on a USB drive and upload them to your email or other free storage. If you can not pass off a laminated copy of a DL as a DL if the cops pull you over, there is no point in making a copy and laminating it in the first place. Just keep the photo of it, both sides, on your phone and on your computer and if you need it, print out a copy any time.

Most provinces have some sort of ID card for people who don't have a drivers license and if the health card has a photo, you could also use that as an ID.

 

[lieudefroid]

Right, this is not "back home" so be careful

Thanks Leon for all the useful information, as always. And, on the 'be careful' part, I've only seen immigrants being extremely careful to the point of being impractical.

Just as one example, they buy a car for $3000 and pay the same amount for insurance per year (250 pm). That's because they take a full coverage including collision, while the government wants only 3rd party liability coverage. When we already have a personal accident insurance, and a health policy that covers accidents, why take a full policy for a 3k car and pay 3k as premium. Any serious collision damage on a 3K car makes the car total loss and worthless, and maybe there's no need to take such heavy coverage policies, but yeah, thats how careful we are maybe.

 

[Leon]

Thanks Leon for all the useful information, as always. And, on the 'be careful' part, I've only seen immigrants being extremely careful to the point of being impractical.

Just as one example, they buy a car for $3000 and pay the same amount for insurance per year (250 pm). That's because they take a full coverage including collision, while the government wants only 3rd party liability coverage. When we already have a personal accident insurance, and a health policy that covers accidents, why take a full policy for a 3k car and pay 3k as premium. Any serious collision damage on a 3K car makes the car total loss and worthless, and maybe there's no need to take such heavy coverage policies, but yeah, thats how careful we are maybe.

IMO it would make sense to have collision if you have a very expensive car but not for a $3000 car. However, even having a car in itself is a luxury and you can save money if you use public transport. Many first time immigrants come to Canada and spend a lot of their savings on renting a nice apartment, decorations and furniture and then end up having to move anyway because they can't find a job. IMO it's better to save your money until you have a job. Canadians themselves don't move to a nice place and then expect to find a job there. They move to where the jobs are.

 

[foodie69]

They move to where the jobs are.

So true! Makes perfect economic sense.

 

[Bs65]

We got our PR cards a few months ago, and I'm using that as a 'Photo ID' document in several places such as airports etc and so carrying it in my wallet whenever I travel. I'm a bit worried about losing it in travels, cause we can never discount the possibility of missing stuff in hotel rooms or airports.

So I'm thinking, can we copy the original PR (color photocopy) and get it laminated so it looks like a card, and use the copy for ID purposes?

Is this allowed? If so, where can I get this done in Canada? Staples has a copy services, will they do it for me?

take note of this post where someone laminated a work permit and now finds cannot do anything with it, not same as making a copy but similar http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/work-permit-lamination-t451298.0.html