Travel document without passport

[Pg05]

I just received my PR last week and I had already booked my vacation of two weeks to UK/Paris/Barcelona. I asked the immigration officer about travel document and she mentioned I have to apply outside Canada. I checked the processing times and its 7working days in London and 10working days in Paris. I also looked at the checklist and they require you to submit your passport. The problem is, I am not staying in Any of the countries for more than 4 days and I need my passport to travel. I rang CIC in Canada, and she said, I have two options, one apply for the travel document and two reschedule my vacation until I get my PR card. I was so furious. These "phone people" are NEVER HELPFUL. I have called other times before and have always hung up, unsatisfied, even more stressed and furious than when I started.

I emailed VFS in London and they informed me I can send photocopies but would still need to submit my passport at a later date. My question is

Why do they need a travel document? What is the significance of it. Can't they just see in the system I am a permanent resident? I was very tempted to not apply at all and come back into Canada without any documents. However I feel it's too risky and the thought of not being let into Canada is pretty scary.

 

[scylla]

You don't say what country's passport you hold now - which makes it more difficult to answer your question. The answer will determine if you really need a travel document.

If you currently hold a visa exempt passport (visa exempt for entering Canada), no travel document is needed.

If you currently hold a non-visa exempt passport - you must obtain the travel document to return to Canada. Without the travel document, no airline will let you board the airplane to return.

 

[clearly]

You don't say what country's passport you hold now - which makes it more difficult to answer your question. The answer will determine if you really need a travel document.

If you currently hold a visa exempt passport (visa exempt for entering Canada), no travel document is needed.

If you currently hold a non-visa exempt passport - you must obtain the travel document to return to Canada. Without the travel document, no airline will let you board the airplane to return.

This. The travel documents is to help you get on the airplane, if you can get on the airplane anyway it doesn't matter so much. Once at Canada customs, even without PR card, they can look you up in their system to see if you are PR. The only annoying thing is you may be sent to secondary to do this and they may ask some invasive questions. Once they determine you are a PR, you MUST be allowed into the country. If you have any documents you can bring to support that you are a PR, I'd bring them with, as they are supporting evidence and they would basically be required to look you up in the system to check.

When you get to the border, and they ask you the purpose of your visit to Canada, just say that you are a returning resident. When they ask for your PR card, explain your situation and show any documents you have. They will probably send you to secondary and scold you but you must be let in.

 

[Pg05]

This. The travel documents is to help you get on the airplane, if you can get on the airplane anyway it doesn't matter so much. Once at Canada customs, even without PR card, they can look you up in their system to see if you are PR. The only annoying thing is you may be sent to secondary to do this and they may ask some invasive questions. Once they determine you are a PR, you MUST be allowed into the country. If you have any documents you can bring to support that you are a PR, I'd bring them with, as they are supporting evidence and they would basically be required to look you up in the system to check.

When you get to the border, and they ask you the purpose of your visit to Canada, just say that you are a returning resident. When they ask for your PR card, explain your situation and show any documents you have. They will probably send you to secondary and scold you but you must be let in.

I hold an Australian passport. How come when I spoke to the immigration officer, she told me I had to apply for a travel document? She was holding my passport in her hands. I also rang CIC and that useless woman told me it doesn't matter what passport I hold.

What you two are saying makes sense to me. I am a PR, can't the officers at the airport just look me up on the system and see my file? I will still go ahead and apply for a travel document because I am too much of a chicken not to.

Thank you both for your reply

 

[zardoz]

The travel document application guide makes no mention of visa exempt passport holders not needing to apply.
However, it is a common belief that such an application is not necessary.
I suspect that the reasoning is that a transport operator can refuse to carry you if you don't currently have a valid ticket to return from Canada if travelling only as a visa exempt tourist.

 

[Leon]

The travel document is more for the benefit of the airline than for immigration. If you have your landing documents or cancelled PR visa stamp and you explain to immigration that you had a vacation booked and you left before you got your PR card, they will let you enter. The airline will let you fly if you have a visa exempt passport or a non-visa exempt passport + travel document.

 

[egyo]

Hi Leon, Is this the case if your application is in process and has been sent to local office for more review?! If I leave Canada now, and come back with an expired PR card, will they let me in?! 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 have got my file transferred to local office due to my many trips to the US...please advise and share any similar experiences. Thanks

 

[Leon]

If you have an expired PR card too, they must let you enter. They are not allowed to refuse entry to a PR. The worst they can do to you is report you for not meeting the residency requirements if they think that is the case. You would then have the chance to appeal that.

However, if you apply for a travel document from another country and if they refuse that and you do not appeal it, they could revoke your PR status and that would not be a good thing. They can not revoke your PR at the border.

 

[Pg05]

The travel document is more for the benefit of the airline than for immigration. If you have your landing documents or cancelled PR visa stamp and you explain to immigration that you had a vacation booked and you left before you got your PR card, they will let you enter. The airline will let you fly if you have a visa exempt passport or a non-visa exempt passport + travel document.

Now I am getting tempted not to apply. I am in the process of applying now, gathering my documents and filling out paperwork. When I re-enter Canada, I'll ask the immigration officer at the airport whether visa exempt passport holders need to apply or not.