Travel document from Canadian embassy abroad while PR is in Process..

[egyo]

Hi everyone, I applied for the PR renewal like 3 months ago and last week the application has been sent to local office for more review..I need to leave Canada for a family emergency and was told that I can get a travel document issued to be able to re-enter Canada...but an immigration consultant warned me today that I might get hard time obtaining this travel document and that I might not be able to re-enter Canada. I spent more than 3 yrs in the last 5 yrs...my child attended school, I bought a house here, and I have a lot of supporting documents...I might get my file transferred to local office because of my many trips to the US...please advise and share any similar experiences. Thanks

 

[Msafiri]

You should be ok to apply for a TD if you can prove residency - buying a house and kids attending school doesn't mean you were personally in Canada. The visa office can ask for more solid proof of your claimed days in Canada. Did you work in the 5 year period that would be covered in a TD application? Best to submit T4s/NOAs. Also consider the number of days it takes to process a TD application at the visa post in question. Some visa post accept TD applications from those in Canada but as they need the passport to endorse the TD visa foil it doesn't hlep much other than you may get approval of TD prior to leaving Canada. I recall a poster handle 'jaycrew' that had a similar situation to you that got a TD ok.

Your options to avoid applying for a TD are:

1. If a visitor visa exempt national to Canada fly back to Canada - airline will think you are a regular visitor. Deal with CBSA at the airport when you get sent to secondary. Show them the expired PR Card - they will confirm your PR status and pending renewal. The airline may try to make you have a return ticket with starting point as your home country so that if you get bounced at the border they are not on the hook for the return cost.

2. If you are not visitor visa exempt but have a US visa then travel to the US and enter Canada via a land border. CBSA will again verify our status.

Good luck

 

[egyo]

Thanks Msafiri for your informative reply. Actually, I have a private business that doesn't make that much money but I file taxes and I asked for health history and CBSA report to support my application. BTW, Do you mean I can apply for a TC while I am here in Canada?! Can I mail all documents needed including my passport?!

 

[Msafiri]

Some visa posts offer this option but the logistics of mailing your application to include passport can be challenging but not impossible. You would have to contact the visa post for their local practices. The main problem with this is if they decide they need to interview you...this would require you to withdraw your application if they did have the original passport and you couldn't travel. It may be cheaper, easier and safer for your documents just to get a US visa from the consulate serving your province of residence in Canada and enter via the land border option.

 

[egyo]

Hi Msafiri, Thanks for your post. You mean I can use my expired PR card if i enter the land border?! Thanks!

 

[Msafiri]

Valid PR Card required for travel on commercial carriers so if you are crossing a land border in a private vehicle including a rental or say walking across then you don't need the card. Show CBSA agent the expired PR Card and/or landing documents. You will get sent to Secondary where they have the time and resource to check on your details.