Travelling with Minor PR Applicant – Can I Accompany Instead of Parent?

[SyedZainulabideen]

Hi everyone,

My younger brother (under 18) has been granted permanent residency in Canada through our father’s sponsorship. He will be landing for the first time soon.

Our father is in Canada but cannot accompany him inside the airport due to work. Our mother also cannot travel due to visa issues.

I am a permanent resident of Canada and planning to travel with my younger brother. I understand that a parent or legal guardian usually must be present during a minor’s landing at the border.

My questions are:

1. Can I accompany my brother and complete the PR landing process on behalf of our father if I carry a notarized authorization letter from him?
2. Can CBSA allow our father to come inside the immigration area from outside the airport to sign, if needed?
3. Has anyone been in a similar situation where an older sibling was allowed to accompany a minor during landing?

Any advice or shared experience would be really appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

 

[armoured]

Hi everyone,

My younger brother (under 18) has been granted permanent residency in Canada through our father’s sponsorship. He will be landing for the first time soon.

Our father is in Canada but cannot accompany him inside the airport due to work. Our mother also cannot travel due to visa issues.

I am a permanent resident of Canada and planning to travel with my younger brother. I understand that a parent or legal guardian usually must be present during a minor’s landing at the border.

My questions are:

1. Can I accompany my brother and complete the PR landing process on behalf of our father if I carry a notarized authorization letter from him?
2. Can CBSA allow our father to come inside the immigration area from outside the airport to sign, if needed?
3. Has anyone been in a similar situation where an older sibling was allowed to accompany a minor during landing?

Any advice or shared experience would be really appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

1) You should be all right to accompany him (and fairly sure I've seen others have done this) but I'd suggest your father contact CBSA to confirm. Note, you don't say but it may be relevant whether you are over 18 or not; how old the younger brother is (although adult age is 18, there's at least common sense recognition that a child of 14 or 12 is somewhat cognizant of what's going on and less of a concern for some things); and, while a minor thing, if you both have the same family name and the like it may make things a wee bit easier.

2) I don't think so but he can ask CBSA.

3) I believe so but can't say for sure.